RNA interference in Manduca sexta induced by double-stranded RNA feeding

We used a double-stranded RNA feeding approach to silence cadherin-like gene: a protein reported as receptor in several lepidopteran insects for the Cry toxins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis. We analized the protein expression from dsRNA-fed and untreated laravae on western blott. M. sexta larvae that ingested dsRNA directed against cadherin exhibited a dramatic suppression of the protein and are resistant to the effect of the Cry1Ab toxin.