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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Making gene drive biodegradable
Tags: Gene drive, Gene drive synthetic, Genomics, Modeling, Self limiting, Selfish genetic elementsJ. Zapletal, N. Najmitabrizi, M. Erraguntla, M. A. Lawley, K. M. Myles and Z. N. Adelman, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 376:20190804. 2020.
Here, we consider the inclusion of self-elimination mechanisms into the design of homing-based gene drive transgenes. This approach not only caused the excision of the gene drive transgene, but also generates a transgene-free allele resistant to further action by the gene drive. ...
Vector dynamics influence spatially imperfect genetic interventions against disease
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Synthetic biology, Yeast and FungiM. K. Yuksel, C. H. Remien, B. Karki, J. J. Bull and S. M. Krone, Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 9:1-10. 2020.
In spatially structured populations, imperfect coverage of the vector will leave pockets in which the parasite may persist. Movement by humans may disrupt this local persistence and facilitate eradication when these pockets are small, spreading parasite reproduction outside ...
Application of the Relationship-Based Model to Engagement for Field Trials of Genetically Engineered Malaria Vectors
Tags: Ethics, Field trials, Gene drive synthetic, Malaria, Policy, Stakeholder engagementA. Kormos, G. C. Lanzaro, E. Bier, G. Dimopoulos, J. M. Marshall, J. Pinto, A. Aguiar dos Santos, A. Bacar, H. Sousa Pontes Sacramento Rompão and A. A. James, The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2020.
Although guidelines and recommendations for engagement for gene drives have recently been described, we argue here that communities and stakeholders should lead the planning, development, and implementation phases of engagement. The RBM provides a new approach to the development ...
CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of female-biased genes AeAct-4 or myo-fem in Ae. aegypti results in a flightless phenotype in female, but not male mosquitoes
Tags: Aedes, Arbovirus, Dengue, Genetic biocontrol, Sterile insect technique (SIT)S. O’Leary and Z. N. Adelman, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14:e0008971. 2020.
Author summary Ae. aegypti is the most important vector of arboviruses throughout the world, and new strategies are urgently needed to add to our existing arsenal of control methods to prevent or halt disease transmission. Importantly, only female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes transmit ...
Precise single base substitution in the shibire gene by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology directed repair in Bactrocera tryoni
Tags: Fruit fly, Genetic biocontrol, Sterile insect technique (SIT)A. Choo, E. Fung, I. Y. Chen, R. Saint, P. Crisp and S. W. Baxter, BMC Genetics, 21. 2020.
Here we introduce a known Drosophila melanogaster temperature sensitive embryonic lethal mutation into Bactrocera tryoni, a serious horticultural pest in Australia. A non-synonymous point mutation in the D. melanogaster gene shibire causes embryonic lethality at 29 degrees C and ...
Gene Drive-Modified Organisms: Developing Practical Risk Assessment Guidance
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safety, Risk assessmentY. Devos, M. B. Bonsall, L. G. Firbank, J. Mumford, F. Nogué and E. A. Wimmer, Trends in Biotechnology, 2020.
Risk assessors, risk managers, developers, potential applicants, and other stakeholders at many levels discuss the need for new or further risk assessment guidance for deliberate environmental releases of gene drive-modified organisms. However, preparing useful and practical ...
A CRISPR endonuclease gene drive reveals two distinct mechanisms of inheritance bias
Tags: Aedes, CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Genetics, Replicator/site directed nuclease, Self limitingS. A. N. Verkuijl, E. González, J. X. D. Ang, M. Li, N. P. Kandul, M. Anderson, O. S. Akbari, M. Bonsall and L. Alphey, bioRxiv, 2020.12.15.421271. 2020.
In this study, we report the functioning of sds3, bgcn, and nup50 expressed Cas9 in an Aedes aegypti homing split drive system targeting the white gene. We report their inheritance biasing capability, propensity for maternal deposition, and zygotic/somatic expression. ...
The Antiviral Small-Interfering RNA Pathway Induces Zika Virus Resistance in Transgenic Aedes aegypti
Tags: Aedes, Arbovirus, CRISPR, Gene drive, Gene editing, Genetic engineering, Vector controlA. E. Williams, I. Sanchez-Vargas, W. R. Reid, J. Y. Lin, A. W. E. Franz and K. E. Olson, Viruses, 12:18. 2020.
We used CRISPR/Cas9 to re-target a previously characterized locus (Chr2:321382225) and engineered mosquitoes expressing an inverted repeat (IR) dsRNA against the NS3/4A region of the ZIKV genome. Small RNA analysis revealed that the IR effector triggered the mosquito's siRNA ...
Evading resistance to gene drives
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Modeling, Population suppression, Replicator/site directed nuclease, Resistance, Toxin-antidoteR. Gomulkiewicz, M. L. Thies and J. J. Bull, bioRxiv, 2020.08.27.270611. 2020.
Our analyses suggest that among gene drives that cause moderate suppression, toxin-antidote systems are less apt to select for resistance than homing drives. Single drives of moderate effect might cause only moderate population suppression, but multiple drives (perhaps delivered ...
Polyandry blocks gene drive in a wild house mouse population
Tags: Ecology, Population genetics/dynamics, Rodents, Sex distorter, Transmission distortionA. Manser, B. Konig and A. K. Lindholm, Nature Communications, 11:8. 2020.
Here, we study the impact of polyandry on a well-known gene drive, called t haplotype, in an intensively monitored population of wild house mice. First, we show that house mice are highly polyandrous: 47% of 682 litters were sired by more than one male. Second, we find that ...
Interdisciplinary development of a standardized introduction to gene drives for lay audiences
Tags: Field trials, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic engineering, Policy, Stakeholder engagement, Vector controlC. E. Schairer, C. Triplett, A. Buchman, O. S. Akbari and C. S. Bloss, BMC Medical Research Methodology, 20:15. 2020.
While there is wide consensus that the public should be consulted about emerging technology early in development, it is difficult to elicit public opinion about innovations unfamiliar to lay audiences. We sought public input on a program of research on genetic engineering to ...
X-linked meiotic drive can boost population size and persistence
Tags: Population genetics/dynamics, Selfish genetic elements, Sex distorter, Transmission distortionC. Mackintosh, A. Pomiankowski and M. F. Scott, Genetics, 217:11. 2020.
Here, we find general conditions for the spread and fixation of X-linked alleles. Our conditions show that the spread of X-linked alleles depends on sex-specific selection and transmission rather than the time spent in each sex. Applying this logic to meiotic drive, we show that ...
A patent review on strategies for biological control of mosquito vector
Tags: Biological control, Gene drive, Gene editing, Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Genetically modified organisms, Incompatible insect technique, Mosquitoes, Sterile insect technique (SIT)K. Parihar, M. Telang and A. Ovhal, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 36:23. 2020.
This paper presents a comprehensive technology overview of patent documents disclosing biological agents for mosquito control. The patent analysis revealed that comparable number of patent documents were filed in two technology categories: non-recombinant agents and genetically ...
Engineering a Culturable Serratia symbiotica Strain for Aphid Paratransgenesis
Tags: Other SymbiontsK. M. Elston, J. Perreau, G. P. Maeda, N. A. Moran and J. E. Barrick, Applied Environmental Microbiology, 87. 2020.
Aphids are global agricultural pests and important models for bacterial symbiosis. To date, none of the native symbionts of aphids have been genetically manipulated, which limits our understanding of how they interact with their hosts. Serratia symbiotica CWBI-2.3(T) is a ...
Does RNAi-Based Technology Fit within EU Sustainability Goals?
C. N. T. Taning, B. Mezzetti, G. Kleter, G. Smagghe and E. Baraldi, Trends in Biotechnology, 2020.The Farm-to-Fork (F2F) strategyi, one of the pillars underneath the European Commission’s new Green Deal, aims to ensure a more sustainable and food-secure society. Its aims include a reduction in agrochemical inputs, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and antimicrobials, to ...
Targeting female flight for genetic control of mosquitoes
Tags: Aedes, Culex, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Genetics, Mosquitoes, Population suppressionD. Navarro-Payá, I. Flis, M. A. E. Anderson, P. Hawes, M. Li, O. S. Akbari, S. Basu and L. Alphey, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14:e0008876. 2020.
The yellow fever mosquito and the Southern house mosquito are important vectors of infectious diseases. Given their widespread presence across tropical and subtropical regions of the world and the increased risk of spread due to global warming there is a growing need for ...
Evaluating Gene Drive Approaches for Public Benefit
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Governance, Mosquitoes, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safetyM. R. Santos, GMOs: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Processes, 2020.
Gene drive approaches—those which bias inheritance of a genetic element in a population of sexually reproducing organisms—have the potential to provide important public benefits. The spread of selected genetic elements in wild populations of organisms may help address certain ...
Engineered Gene Drives and their Value in the Control of Vector-Borne Diseases, Weeds, Pests, and Invasive Species
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safetyK. Hefferon and R. Herring, GMOs: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Processes, 2020.
Genetic engineering has created potential for moving medical and agricultural research and application frontiers forward in unprecedented ways. Despite its accepted use as a powerful tool in medical research, genetic modification and genome editing technologies remain ...
Engineered Gene Drives: Ecological, Environmental, and Societal Concerns
Tags: Ethics, Gene drive synthetic, Governance, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safety, Stakeholder engagementJ. Kuzma, GMOs: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Processes, 2020.
This chapter overviews the types, purposes, and potential impacts of gene drive organisms (GDOs) and discusses challenges with foreseeing and assessing these impacts prior to their environmental release. It concludes with a few examples of risk analysis methods and governance ...
Genetically Engineered Fish: Potential Impacts on Aquaculture, Biodiversity, and the Environment
Tags: Fish, Gene drive synthetic, Gene editing, Genetic biocontrol, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safetyR. A. Dunham and B. Su, GMOs: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Processes, 2020.
Studies on transgenic fish for the aquaculture industry have focused on improving growth rates, enhancing disease resistance, altering body composition, acting as biological factories for medical proteins, and even altering temperature tolerance and coloration. The future impact ...
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