Scholarly Literature

This is a database of scholarly literature that concentrates currently on natural and engineered selfish genetic elements (gene drives).  The latest are shown here.
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Microhomology-mediated end joining is the predominant form of DNA repair in the mosquito Aedes aegypti with implications for gene editing, gene drive, and transgene removal

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Joseph S Romanowski, Kevin M Myles, Zach N Adelman,  Nucleic Acids Research,  54. 2026.
Programmable site-specific nucleases have revolutionized the field of genetics, and in the field of mosquito vector control, gene editing by these tools has inspired a new wave of population control approaches that aim to prevent disease transmission. Little is known of how DNA ...

Assessing the population genetic structure and demographic history of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis at island and mainland sites in Uganda: implications for testing novel malaria vector control approaches

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Mwima, R., Hui, TY.J., Lukyamuzi, E. et al.,  Malar J,  2026.
Despite substantial investments in malaria control, the disease remains a major burden in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Uganda. Novel tools such as gene drive systems are being developed to suppress malaria vector populations, but their deployment requires detailed knowledge ...

The Genomic Arms Race in Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Integrating Entomopathogenic Fungi, Gene Drive, and Symbiont Technologies for Sustainable Vector Control

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Rajendran Yamini, Pagalahalli Sankaran Shanmugam, Marimuthu Murugan, et al.,  J Pure Appl Microbiol.,  20:53-65. 2026.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis continue to impose enormous health and economic burdens worldwide. The traditional reliance on chemical insecticides has been undermined by the rapid evolution of resistance, ecological ...

Beyond the static lab: environmental variability in genetically modified mosquito target gene identification for malaria control

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Luna Dael, Maria L. Simões,  Current Opinion in Insect Science,  2026.
As malaria remains a critical public health challenge causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, novel methods to combat it are urgently needed. Genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) offer a promising innovative approach to reduce malaria transmission. However, the ...

Gene drives tested against real-world malaria diversity

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Marchal, I,  Nature Biotechnology,  44. 2026.
Gene drive technology, which uses genetic engineering to propagate selected genes throughout a population, is a potential strategy for blocking the spread of malaria, either by suppressing mosquito populations or by making them unable to transmit the disease. However, gene drive ...

A male-transmitted B chromosome undergoes strong meiotic drag in females of the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis

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Ferree PM, Cummings J, Garman E, Solomon J, Martinez KS,  PLoS Biol,  24. 2026.
Many organisms carry extra, non-essential chromosomes known as B chromosomes (Bs), which are selfishly transmitted at super-mendelian levels to offspring. This heightened transmission, termed drive, occurs during gametogenesis, usually in one of the two parents. In some cases, Bs ...

Identification and evaluation of two testis-specific serine/threonine kinase genes from multi-tissue transcriptomes as potential genetic targets of sterile insect technique in Zeugodacus tau

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Weijun Li, Cuikang Xu, Hongshi Chen, et al.,  Pest Management Science,  2026.
Zeugodacus tau (Walker) is a notorious agricultural pest causing significant economic losses in vegetable production for many years. Sterile insect technique (SIT) has emerged as an environmentally sustainable pest management strategy. However, discovery of molecular targets ...

A systematic review and critical analysis of the evidence for transmission ratio distortion in humans

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Ziyi Dai, Gregory Costain,  Genetics,  2026.
Mendel's law of equal segregation states that during gamete formation, the 2 alleles at a gene locus segregate such that each gamete has an equal probability of containing either allele. Transmission ratio distortion (TRD) occurs when 1 of the 2 alleles from either parent is ...

Research Advances and Challenges of Gene Drive Technology in Mosquito-Borne Disease Control

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Yun Jiaqi, Ma Qin, Wang Guandong, et al.,  Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine,  45:773-783. 2026.
Mosquito-borne diseases (such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus disease, and Chikungunya) pose major threats to global public health, while traditional control methods based on chemical pesticides face severe challenges including enhanced drug resistance in vector mosquitoes ...

The symbiotic Wolbachia in Anopheles and its role in reducing the transmission of Plasmodium: updates and prospects

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Nehra, R., Dhanda, S., Singh, K. et al.,  Archives of Microbiology,  208. 2026.
Reducing malaria transmission and the prospects for vector control include multi-pronged strategies, such as interrupting the parasite cycle in both vectors and mosquitoes. Effective vector control remains essential to prevent malaria transmission. This is all the more important ...

Exploratory conversations with biodiversity-oriented civil society groups on the potential applications of gene drive-modified mosquitoes for malaria control in Tanzania

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Finda, M.F., Sambo, M., Malika, G. et al.,  Transgenic Res,  35. 2026.
Gene drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) are gaining attention as sustainable tools to complement existing malaria control strategies. Their ability to self-propagate and spread through wild mosquito populations offers the promise of low-cost, long-lasting impact, but also raises ...

Selfish chromosomes exploit a germline checkpoint to eliminate competing gametes

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Ridges, J.T., Bladen, J., King, T.D. et al.,  Nature,  2026.
Spermatid individualization is a common stage of spermiogenic failure suggesting that a male germline checkpoint may act at this stage during sperm development in Drosophila. However, the molecular identity of such a male germline checkpoint has remained elusive. Here, we show ...

Wolbachia for malaria control

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Zhang, Xinmi et al.,  Trends in Parasitology,  2026.
Malaria remains a major public health concern, and traditional vector control methods face growing challenges, underscoring the need for novel strategies. The success of Wolbachia-based dengue control, together with the establishment ...

Sterile insect technique reduces cabbage maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) infestation in root crucifers in Canada

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Anne-Marie Fortier, Allen Bush-Beaupré, Jade Savage, et al.,  Journal of Economic Entomology,  118:2710–2717. 2026.
The cabbage maggot (Delia radicum (L.)) is a major pest of brassica vegetables in Canada that has traditionally been managed with soil-applied insecticides. However, recent regulatory restrictions on key products such as chlorpyrifos have created a pressing need for alternative ...

Behavior modification in fruit flies through male annihilation technique: field applications, olfactory mechanisms, and future directions

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Liu, Wei; Zhang, Sijia; Wang, Guirong,  Entomologia Generalis,  45:1565 - 1576. 2026.
The male annihilation technique (MAT), as a method of insect behavior manipulation, is an environmentally friendly approach that has been successfully applied in over 150 fruit fly eradication programs worldwide. Despite their effectiveness in integrated pest management programs, ...

Increasing the effective gene drive homing rate by targeting the haploinsufficient spermatogenesis gene KLHL10

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Ceili L. Peng, W. Sebastian Kamau, Julien Freeman, et al.,  bioRxiv,  2026.
CRISPR-based gene drives represent a powerful new technology for limiting disease transmission and controlling invasive populations. These systems rely on homology-directed repair (HDR) to ‘drive’ a genetic element through a population. However, mammals tend to favor ...

From song to stories: assessing the impact of exposure to arts-based community engagement tools in shaping knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability toward the Sterile Insect Technique for malaria control in South Africa

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Manana, P.N., Jewett, S. & Munhenga, G.,  Malaria Journal,  24. 2026.
Community engagement (CE) is essential for public health interventions. This is particularly important when introducing novel technologies, such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), that require strong community understanding and acceptance. Against this background, arts-based ...

Monitoring the Capacity of Microsporidia MB Transgenerational Spread in Anopheles arabiensis Populations

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Boanyah, G. Y., Koekemoer, L. L., Herren, J. K., & Bukhari, T.,  Insects,  16. 2026.
Microsporidia MB is a natural symbiont of Anopheles arabiensis Patton, 1905 that blocks Plasmodium transmission without compromising mosquito fitness. Developing this symbiont for malaria control requires a thorough understanding of its transmission dynamics across ...

Genetic Biocontrol Strategy Considerations for Mosquito Control in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories

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Adam E. Vorsino, Tim Harvey-Samuel, Limb K. Hapairai, et al.,  Current Opinion in Insect Science,  2026.
Mosquito-borne diseases pose an existential threat to the health, economies, and unique ecosystems of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The remoteness of these islands, combined with the presence of highly competent mosquito vectors, complicates disease ...

Genetic Allee Effects for Controlling Invasive Populations

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Louis Nowell Nicolle, Alex Fournier-Level, Charles Robin, et al.,  Molecular Ecology,  2026.
Invasive pests threaten food security and devastate ecosystems. A universal problem in their management is that small populations can easily evade detection. This makes identifying new incursions challenging and complicates efforts to eradicate or contain established populations. ...

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