Professional Profile

Molecular analysis of growth, development, reproduction and xenobiotic response in insect pests and disease vectors with a goal to utilize this information for their control is the main focus of Palli laboratory. Our research program covers a wide variety of subject areas including insect physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, endocrinology, toxicology, and genomics. The current areas of our focus include

  1. Mechanisms and applications of RNA interference,
  2. Epigenetic, hormonal and nutritional regulation of growth, development, and reproduction and
  3. Molecular analysis of insecticide resistance.

Visit the Palli Laboratory homepage for more information about research and current personnel.

State Entomologist

As the Department Chair for the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology, I also serve as the State Entomologist of Kentucky. Read more about the program at the Office of the State Entomologist homepage.

CAMTech

I also serve as the Co-director of CAMTech, the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies, a National Science Foundation Industry / University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC). 

Scholars@UK

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Insect Cell Lines and RNAi

Arya, S. K. & Palli, S. R., Jan 1 2025, RNA interference in Agriculture: Basic Science to Applications: From Bioinformatics and Laboratory Assays Over Regulatory Issues to Field Uses. p. 339-366 28 p.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

The Road to RNAi-Based Pest Control: A Historical Perspective

Swevers, L., Palli, S. R. & Smagghe, G., Jan 1 2025, RNA interference in Agriculture: Basic Science to Applications: From Bioinformatics and Laboratory Assays Over Regulatory Issues to Field Uses. p. 1-23 23 p.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Preface

Smagghe, G., Palli, S. R. & Swevers, L., Jan 1 2025, RNA interference in Agriculture: Basic Science to Applications: From Bioinformatics and Laboratory Assays Over Regulatory Issues to Field Uses.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Foreword/postscript

RNA interference in Agriculture: Basic Science to Applications: From Bioinformatics and Laboratory Assays Over Regulatory Issues to Field Uses

Smagghe, G., Palli, S. R. & Swevers, L., Jan 1 2025, 715 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

Assessment of RNA interference effectiveness mediated by siRNA sequences and structures in Drosophila S2 cells

Kim, H. S., Pan, H., Palli, S. R. & Yoon, J. S., Dec 2025, In: Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 185, 104418.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Recent advances and applications of single-cell sequencing in insects

Nayyar, N., Arya, S. K., Harrison, D. A. & Palli, S. R., Feb 2026, In: Current Opinion in Insect Science. 73, 101455.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Histone Deacetylases Are Required for Female Reproduction and Embryonic Development in the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum

Sengodan, K. & Palli, S. R., Oct 2025, In: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 120, 2, e70105.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Computational Insights into the Coleopteran-Specific StaufenC in dsRNA Processing

Sahoo, S., Palli, S. R., Yoon, J. S. & Shin, D., Oct 7 2025, In: ACS Omega. 10, 39, p. 44858-44868 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20E-induced Kr-h1 expression facilitates developmental transitions depending on chromosome accessibility of BR-C enhancers

Long, S., Qiu, Y., Lin, T., Huang, S., Zhang, W., Liu, S., Tian, L., Palli, S. R., Li, S. & Li, K., Aug 12 2025, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 122, 32, e2509608122.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Identification of Carboxylesterase Genes and Function of Three Inducible α-Esterase Genes Involved in Insecticidal Activity of α-Solanine in Phthorimaea operculella

Ji, Y., Yan, J., Palli, S. R. & Gao, Y., Aug 6 2025, In: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 73, 31, p. 19764-19777 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Nanoparticles co-delivering double-stranded RNA and insecticide enhance control efficacy and overcome pest resistance

Hu, C., Yu, C., Li, J., Liu, Y., Zeng, Q., Wan, H., He, S., Li, Y., Gao, P., Lv, Y., Zhu, K., Palli, S. R. & Yang, X., Sep 1 2025, In: Chemical Engineering Journal. 519, 165188.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Histone and N-terminal acetyltransferases play important roles in female reproduction and embryogenesis of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

Sengodan, K. & Palli, S. R., Aug 2025, In: Insect Molecular Biology. 34, 4, p. 570-580 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

A testis-specific heat shock protein gene plays a critical role in male fertility in the fall armyworm

Zhao, Y., Wang, P., Cheng, Y., Tian, S., Zuo, J., Fang, Q., Ling, C., Palli, S. R. & Chen, X., Jun 2025, In: Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 181, 104332.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Environmental factors affecting RNAi efficacy: Temperature but not plant cultivar influences Colorado potato beetle's response to insecticidal dsRNA

Darrington, M., Solocinski, J., Zhou, S. K., Lecheta, M. C., Palli, S. R., Chen, Y. H. & Teets, N. M., Aug 2025, In: Insect Molecular Biology. 34, 4, p. 581-592 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

β2-tubulin regulates the development and migration of eupyrene sperm in Spodoptera frugiperda

Sun, H., Bu, L. A., Zhang, X. Y., Zhang, Z. R., Su, S. C., Guo, D., Gao, C. F., Palli, S. R., Champer, J. & Wu, S. F., Dec 2025, In: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 82, 1, 191.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Role of histone methylation in insect development: KMT5A regulates ecdysteroid biosynthesis during metamorphosis of Tribolium castaneum

Jiao, Y., Sengodan, K., Chen, J. & Palli, S. R., May 2025, In: Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 180, 104316.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Identification of Histone and N-Terminal Acetyltransferases Required for Reproduction and Embryonic Development of Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Balasubramani, S. & Palli, S. R., Aug 2025, In: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 118, 4, e70055.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Gut bacteria in potato tuberworm (Phthorimaea operculella) populations are dominated by Enterococcus spp. and these play a significant role in carbohydrate metabolism and host growth

Zhang, M., Yan, J., Zavala, J. A., Palli, S. R., Smagghe, G. & Gao, Y., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Pest Science. 98, 3, p. 1583-1598 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Knockout BR-C induces premature expression of E93 thus triggering adult differentiation under larval morphology

Liu, C., Wu, M. Z., Zheng, Z. J., Fan, S. T., Tan, J. F., Jiao, Y., Palli, S. R. & Zhu, G. H., Apr 2025, In: Pest Management Science. 81, 4, p. 1923-1933 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Knockout of a testis-specific gene cluster impairs male fertility in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Wang, P., Zhao, Y., Cheng, Y., Tian, S., Bai, Y., Zuo, J., Palli, S. R. & Chen, X., Apr 2025, In: Pest Management Science. 81, 4, p. 2355-2363 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY26 UK Entomology Tick Surveillance Contract (CL 7 FY26 HPAI Crisis Response)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/26

Project: Research project

Novel Delivery Strategies of DsRNA for RNAi-based Control of Wood-Boring Insects

Palli, S. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

6/16/25 → 10/31/26

Project: Research project

6.0339.01 Field testing of dsRNA formula

Palli, S. (PI)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9/30/25 → 9/29/26

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY26 State Entomologist (EPI)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/26

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY26 State Entomologist (PHPS) (CL6)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/26

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY26 UK Entomology Tick Surveillance Contract

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/26

Project: Research project

Novel Delivery Strategies of dsRNA for RNAi-Based Control of Wood-Boring Insects

Palli, S. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/1/24 → 6/15/25

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY25-26 State Entomologist (EPI)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/25

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY25-26 State Entomologist (PHPS)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/25

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C5107: FY25 UK Entomology Tick Surveillance Contract

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/24 → 6/30/25

Project: Research project

Sonoporation-Mediated Delivery of Reagents into Insect Embryos

Teets, N. (PI) & Palli, S. (CoI)

University of Florida

6/1/24 → 5/31/26

Project: Research project

Field Testing of dsRNA Formulations for Controlling ALB

Palli, S. (PI)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9/30/24 → 9/29/25

Project: Research project

Phase III IUCRC at UF: Center for Arthropod Management Technologies - Intestinal Stem Cells: Differentiation and Applications

Palli, S. (PI)

University of Florida

3/1/24 → 8/31/25

Project: Research project

Phase III IUCRC at UF: Center for Arthropod Management Technologies - Single Cell Sequencing of Nervous System from Pest Insects

Harrison, D. (PI) & Palli, S. (CoI)

University of Florida

6/1/24 → 8/31/25

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C3631: FY24 State Entomologist (EPI)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/22 → 6/30/24

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C3631: FY24 State Entomologist (PHPS)

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/22 → 6/30/24

Project: Research project

Entomology Tick Surveillance C3631: FY24 Entomology Tick Surveillance

Palli, S. (PI)

KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services

7/1/22 → 6/30/24

Project: Research project

The Japanese Beetle Control Near Airports And Cargo Transportation Facilities: Field Testing

Palli, S. (PI)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9/1/23 → 9/30/25

Project: Research project

Phase II IUCRC at UF: Center for Arthropod Management Technologies - Single Cell Sequencing of Nervous System from Pest Insects

Harrison, D. (PI) & Palli, S. (CoI)

University of Florida

1/1/23 → 5/31/25

Project: Research project

Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention - VECTOR BORNE

Palli, S. (PI), Sanderson, W. (CoI), Winter, K. (CoI) & Mazur, J. (Former CoI)

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

9/30/22 → 9/29/27

Project: Research project

Education

  • Ph.D
Curriculum Vitae

Associated Departments

Entomology

Plant Pathology