A quantitative sequencing (QS) protocol was established for predicting the frequencies of the A298S and G324A mutations in the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) type-1 acetylcholinesterase locus, putatively involved with organophosphate and carbamate insecticideresistance. The nucleotide signal ratio at each mutation site was generated from sequencing chromatograms and plotted against the corresponding resistance allele frequency. Frequency prediction equations were generatedfrom the plots by linear regression, and the signal ratios were shown to highly correlated with resistance allele frequencies (r2>0.987). QS analysis of 15 representative regional field populations of DBM in Korea revealed that the allele frequencies of both A298S and G324A were over 70% in most field populations. As judged by inhibition assay, all populations showed resistance to paraoxon, DDVP, carbaryl, and carbofuran. In addition, different DBM strains exhibited differential sensitivities to both OPs and CBs depending on the structure of inhibitor, implying that the resistance of DBM against OPs and CBs is saturated and widespread in Korea.

A quantitative sequencing (QS) protocol that detects the frequencies of sodium channel mutations (M815I, T917I and L920F) responsible for knockdown resistance in permethrin-resistant head lice was tested as a population genotyping method. Genomic DNA fragments of the sodium channel α-subunit gene that encompass the three mutation sites were PCR-amplified from individual head lice with either resistant or susceptible genotypes, and combined together in various ratios to generate standard DNA template mixtures for QS. Following sequencing, the signal ratios between resistant and susceptible nucleotides were calculated and plotted against the corresponding resistance allele frequencies. Quadratic regression coefficients of the plots were close to 1, demonstrating that QS is highly reliable for the prediction of resistance allele frequencies. Prediction of resistance allele frequencies by QS in several globally collected lice samples including 12 Korean lice populations suggested that permethrin resistance varied substantially amongst different geographical regions. Three local populations of Korean lice were determined to have 9.8-36.7% resistance allele frequencies, indicating that an urgent resistance management is needed. QS should serve as a preliminary resistance monitoring tool for proper management strategies by allowing early resistance detection.