Introduction

　　Dr. Yutao Xiao, research fellow and doctoral supervisor, director of Centre of Ecological Genomics, is honored as "Outstanding Young Talent" of CAAS, "Shenzhen High-level Talent", and national "Ten Thousand Talent Program". He has been engaged in studies of insect molecular biology for a long time and made major progress in the analysis of pesticide resistance mechanism, Bt resistance mechanism, insect host and environmental adaptability，insect genomics. He has published 12 papers in SCI journals as (co-) first author or corresponding author, including Ecology Letters, PLoS Pathogens, PHILOS T R SOC B, JBC, and Insect Molecular Biology. Additionally, he has been awarded 10 projects supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Major Project of Breeding for New Transgenic Organisms in China. One inventing patent has been authorized by the State Intellectual Property Office, and four items are being applied.

　　Research Interests

　　In order to meet the needs of national agriculture and focus on the green prevention and control of crop pests, the mechanism of plant-insect interaction was deeply studied in important agricultural pests, such as fall armyworm, cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and black cutworm. There are two main research directions: (1) molecular genetic mechanism and field evolution mechanism of targeted pest insecticide resistance, Bt resistance; (2) genomics and behavior evolution mechanism of important insects.

　　Major Achievements

　　1）The interaction between insects and Bt crops

　　Reviewed the commercial cultivation of Bt crops in the world and their effects on target pest control. Taking the pink bollworm as an example, three different evolutional processes of Bt resistance are summarized. The mechanism of Bt resistance of target pests was summarized in detail from three aspects: regulation of related enzymes involved in the process of toxin activation, mutation or down-regulation of Bt receptor and regulation of immune system. A new strategy of Bt resistance management was discussed in combination with the new techniques in the field of biology in recent years, expecting to provide theoretical guidance for the long-term effective utilization of Bt crops and comprehensive control of agricultural pests.

　　2）High-quality genome assembly of black cutworm

　　We successfully assembled 515 Mb genomic data of black cutworm, with N50 length of 6.75 Mb and N90 length of 1.29 Mb, through Illumina and PacBio sequencing. The genome was further assembled to chromosome level with Hi-C technology. The research team launched the "TOP1000 insect genome project", and cooperated with domestic and foreign units to carry out insect genome sequencing such as cotton bollworm, cotton pink bollworm, fall armyworm, Syrphidaes, etc.

　　3）The platform of insect genome editing

　　A genetic editing system for Lepidoptera insects was established based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Using double sgRNA strategy, deletion of large fragments of the target gene of Helicoverpa armigera was realized. We successfully applied this technique in HaABCC2 and HaCAD genes and obtained corresponding homozygous lines. Providing theoretical basis and technical reference for large genome fragment knockout in insect.

　　Selected Publication

　　1. Xiao Yutao, Liu Kaiyu, Zhang Dandan, Gong Lingling, He Fei, Soberón Mario, Bravo Alejandra, Tabashnik Bruce E, Wu Kongming. Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis mediated by an ABC transporter mutation increases susceptibility to toxins from other bacteria in an invasive insect. PLoS Pathogens, 2016, 12(2): e1005450.

　　2. Xiao Yutao, Dai Qing, Hu Ruqin, Pacheco Sabino, Yang Yongbo, Liang Gemei, Soberon Mario, Bravo Alejandra, Liu Kaiyu, Wu Kongming. A single point mutation resulting in cadherin mislocalization underpins resistance against Bacillus thuringiensis toxin in cotton bollworm. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2017, 292(7): 2933-2943.

　　3. Huang Xinzheng, Xiao Yutao, Köllner Tobias G, Jing Weixia, Kou Junfeng, Chen Jieyin, Liu Danfeng, Gu Shaohua, Wu Junxiang, Zhang Yongjun, Guo Yuyuan. The terpene synthase gene family in Gossypium hirsutum harbors a linalool synthase GhTPS12 implicated in direct defence responses against herbivores. Plant Cell and Environment, 2018, 41: 1-14.

　　4. Han Yongqiang, Wu Chao, Yang Lang, Zhang Deyong, Xiao Yutao. Resistance to Nilaparvata lugens in rice lines introgressed with the resistance genes Bph14 and Bph15 and related resistance types. PLoS ONE, 2018, 13(6): e0198630.

　　5. Jin Minghui, Xiao Yutao, Cheng Ying, Hu Jie, Xue Chaobin, Wu Kongming. Chromosomal deletions mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 in Helicoverpa armigera. Insect Science, 2018, 00: 1-8.

　　6. Xiao Yutao and Kongming Wu. Pecent progress on the interaction between insects and Bacillus thuringiensis crops. Philosophical Transactions B, 2019, 374.

　　7. Jin Minghui, Liao Chongyu, Swapan Chakrabarty, Zheng Weigang, Wu Kongming and Xiao Yutao. Transcriptional response of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters to insecticides in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 2019, 154:46-59.

　　8. Jin Minghui, Liao Chongyu, Swapan Chakrabarty, Wu Kongming and Xiao Yutao. Comparative Proteomics of Peritrophic Matrix Provides an Insight into its Role in Cry1Ac Resistance of Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. Toxins, 2019, 11: 92.