Mosquito carboxylesterases: a review of the molecular biology and biochemistry of a major insecticide resistance mechanism.

The major mechanism of organophosphorus insecticide resistance in Culex mosquitoes involves the elevation of one or more esterases. The general mechanism underlying this resistance is the amplification of the structural genes. This review covers the classification of the mosquito esterases in the context of classical esterase nomenclature. The function of the amplified esterases and the structure of the amplified DNA on which they occur are also described. Implications of information on the esterase amplicons are discussed in relation to the evolution and migration of insecticide resistance in Culex.