Understanding Resistance and Induced Responses of Insects to Xenobiotics and Insecticides in the Age of "Omics" and Systems Biology

We tend to think of the word resistance in terms of evolutionary changes in an insect population that occur in response to repetitive exposures to pesticides or other xenobiotics used to manage insect pests in crops, homes, and gardens, or on livestock or humans (including disease vectors). Resistance can also be defined in broader terms since insects are "resistant" to many naturally occurring abiotic and biotic factors they encounter in their environment. In this chapter, we will outline the concepts associated with pesticide resistance, as well as provide examples of some of the known mechanisms associated with resistance. In addition, we will also discuss the broader context of how we can use emergent ". omics" tools, such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to better understand and discover resistance mechanisms. As RNAi is an emerging potential approach for insect control, we also discuss the potential for resistance in insect populations to RNAi pest control strategies. Finally, we will discuss how we can use this information to develop strategies that minimize the impact of insects on human health, food, and property.