Research Advances on Periplaneta americana as an Experimental Animal Model

doi:10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2025.110

Abstract

Abstract:

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), as a representative species of Blattodea and one of the most ancient extant insect groups, is gradually developing from a public-health pest into an emerging experimental animal model in developmental biology and regenerative medicine, due to its remarkable environmental adaptability, fecundity, developmental plasticity, and high sensitivity to RNA interference (RNAi). This review aims to systematically integrate the latest research advances in biological characteristics, genomic resources, developmental regulatory mechanisms, and application value of P. americana, to expand its application potential in basic research and translational medicine, elucidating following aspects: (1) Biological traits of P. americana and its standardized laboratory rearing protocols are outlined, laying a foundation for its use as a stable experimental model. (2) Analysis results of high-quality genome sequencing are elaborated, revealing evolutionary characteristics of repeat sequence-driven expansion and association between significant expansion of metabolism and stress response gene families and their strong environmental adaptation. (3) In developmental biology, the review summarizes how dynamic balance between 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH) governs molting and metamorphic plasticity, how insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway and target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) pathway integrate nutritional signals to regulate developmental rate, and how JH precisely coordinates efficient reproduction regulatory network through multiple mechanisms. (4) The exceptional limb regeneration capacity of P. americana and synergistic effects of conserved pathways and novel regulatory factors behind it are detailed. (5) Concerning environmental adaptation mechanisms, the significant expansion of detoxification-related gene families and innate immune pathways, and JH-mediated sexually dimorphic stress response characteristics are highlighted. (6) The application value of P. americana in traditional drug development (e.g., Kangfuxin Liquid) and precise allergen diagnostics is discussed, and future research directions are prospected. Although technical challenges such as insufficient genetic manipulation tools exist, through deep integration of multi-omics technologies and development of gene-editing tools, P. americana model is expected to play a more significant role in revealing developmental plasticity, regeneration mechanisms, and new targets for pest control.

Key words: Periplaneta americana, Experimental animal, Developmental regulation, Application value, Insect

CLC Number:

Q95-33

ZHOU Guanyu,ZHU Shiming,LIU Fangfang. Research Advances on Periplaneta americana as an Experimental Animal Model[J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 794-802. DOI: 10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2025.110.

Figures/Tables 1

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