We also noted that in G. pallidipes, the siRNA pathway was compromised during symptomatic infection as evidenced by the low expression of AGO2. However, although knockdown of AGO2 in G. pallidipes did not have an impact on virus infection, it would be worthwhile to further investigate the long-term effects of the gene knockdowns on GpSGHV transmission and the expression of SGH symptoms in F1 progeny produced by the parents with the knockdown. Here, AGO2 is linked to viral infectious disease.