Scholarly Literature
This is an aggregation of scholarly literature from peer-reviewed journals, bioRxiv , medRxiv and arXiv preprint servers focused on natural and engineered selfish genetic elements and genetic biocontrol. New citations are added as they appear. This content is intended for anyone interested in the scholarly literature on gene drive and genetic biocontrol.
Hybrid mosquitoes? Evidence from rural Tanzania on how local communities conceptualize and respond to modified mosquitoes as a tool for malaria control
Tags: Africa, Ethics, Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Stakeholder engagementM. F. Finda, F. O. Okumu, E. Minja, R. Njalambaha, W. Mponzi, B. B. Tarimo, P. Chaki, J. Lezaun, A. H. Kelly and N. Christofides, Malaria Journal, 20:134. 2021.
Different forms of mosquito modifications are being considered as potential high-impact and low-cost tools for future malaria control in Africa. Although still under evaluation, the eventual success of these technologies will require high-level public acceptance. Understanding ...
A confinable home and rescue gene drive for population modification
Tags: CRISPR, Fruit fly, Gene drive synthetic, Modeling, Replicator/site directed nuclease, ResistanceN. P. Kandul, J. Liu, J. B. Bennett, J. M. Marshall and O. S. Akbari, eLife, 10:e65939. 2021.
Homing based gene drives, engineered using CRISPR/Cas9, have been proposed to spread desirable genes throughout populations. However, invasion of such drives can be hindered by the accumulation of resistant alleles. To limit this obstacle, we engineer a confinable population ...
Engineered expression of the invertebrate-specific scorpion toxin AaHIT reduces adult longevity and female fecundity in the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella
Tags: Genetic biocontrol, Oxitec, Pest management, Sterile insect technique (SIT)T. Harvey-Samuel, X. Xu, E. Lovett, T. Dafa'alla, A. Walker, V. C. Norman, R. Carter, J. Teal, L. Akilan, P. T. Leftwich, C. M. Reitmayer, H. A. Siddiqui and L. Alphey, Pest Management Science, 2021.
To increase the flexibility of future genetic pest management systems in the diamondback moth, we aimed to assess the use of a non-cell-autonomous, invertebrate-specific, neurotoxic effector ? the scorpion toxin AaHIT. This AaHIT effector was designed to be secreted by ...
Quantifying the risk of vector-borne disease transmission attributable to genetically modified vectors
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Gene editing, Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Malaria, Modeling, Population modification/replacement, Population suppression, Regulation, Risk assessmentG. R. Hosack, A. Ickowicz and K. R. Hayes, Royal Society Open Science, 8:201525. 2021.
The relative risk of disease transmission caused by the potential release of transgenic vectors, such as through sterile insect technique or gene drive systems, is assessed with comparison with wild-type vectors. The probabilistic risk framework is demonstrated with an assessment ...
Developing GDi-CRISPR System for Multi-copy Integration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Synthetic biology, Yeast and FungiZ.-X. Zhang, Y.-Z. Wang, Y.-S. Xu, X.-M. Sun and H. Huang, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2021.
This study aims to develop a low-cost and easy-to-use multi-copy integration tool in S. cerevisiae. Firstly, twenty-one Cas proteins from different microorganisms were tested in S. cerevisiae to find the functional Cas proteins with optimal cleavage ability. Results showed that ...
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Survey in Greece before the Implementation of Sterile Insect Technique against Aedes albopictus
Tags: Aedes, Mosquitoes, Stakeholder engagement, Sterile insect technique (SIT)A. Stefopoulou, S. L. LaDeau, N. Syrigou, G. Balatsos, V. Karras, I. Lytra, E. Boukouvala, D. P. Papachristos, P. G. Milonas, A. Kapranas, P. Vahamidis and A. Michaelakis, Insects, 12. 2021.
A KAP tool was used to shed light on the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of local community members in order to better prepare and motivate participation in household mosquito control and to assess current understanding of SIT. Each household also received specific ...
Demographic and psychographic drivers of public acceptance of novel invasive pest control technologies
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Invasive species, Policy, Stakeholder engagementF. Eppink, P. J. Walsh and E. MacDonald, Ecology and Society, 26. 2021.
Invasive mammals are a primary threat to New Zealand's endemic species. In remote areas, aerial delivery of poison is the preferred method of pest management, although it faces some public backlash. Novel pest control technologies are currently being investigated as alternatives ...
Meiotic drive does not cause condition-dependent reduction of the sexual ornament in stalk-eyed flies
Tags: Other arthropods, Sex distorter, Transmission distortionS. R. Finnegan, M. Mondani, K. Fowler and A. Pomiankowski, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 11. 2021.
Meiotic drive systems are associated with low-frequency chromosomal inversions. These are expected to accumulate deleterious mutations due to reduced recombination and low effective population size. We test this prediction using the 'sex-ratio' (SR) meiotic drive system of the ...
Designing gene drives to limit spillover to non-target populations
Tags: Biodiversity/Conservation, CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Invasive species, Malaria, Modeling, Replicator/site directed nucleaseG. Greenbaum, M. W. Feldman, N. A. Rosenberg and J. Kim, PLOS Genetics, 17:e1009278. 2021.
We develop mathematical models of gene-drive dynamics that incorporate migration between a target and non-target populations to investigate the possibility of effectively applying a gene drive in the target population while limiting its spillovers to the non-target population ...
Sterile Insect Technique: Lessons From the Past
Tags: Genetic biocontrol, Mosquitoes, Sterile insect technique (SIT)M. Q. Benedict, Journal of Medical Entomology, 58:1974-1979. 2021.
When E.F. Knipling conceived of the release of sexually sterile insects to suppress wild populations, he laid down several fundamental qualities that characterized suitable target species—some of which mosquitoes generally violate—including high reproductive rates and large ...
Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) against Aedes Species Mosquitoes: A Roadmap and Good Practice Framework for Designing, Implementing and Evaluating Pilot Field Trials
Tags: Aedes, Field trials, Mosquitoes, Stakeholder engagement, Sterile insect technique (SIT), Vector controlC. F. Oliva, M. Q. Benedict, C. M. Collins, T. Baldet, R. Bellini, H. Bossin, J. Bouyer, V. Corbel, L. Facchinelli, F. Fouque, M. Geier, A. Michaelakis, D. Roiz, F. Simard, C. Tur and L.-C. Gouagna, Insects, 12. 2021.
We offer here a pragmatic and accessible ‘roadmap’ for the pre-pilot and pilot phases to guide any interested party. This will support stakeholders, non-specialist scientists, implementers, and decision-makers. Applying these concepts will ensure, given adequate resources, a ...
Population genomics of invasive rodents on islands: Genetic consequences of colonization and prospects for localized synthetic gene drive
Tags: Containment, CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Gene editing, Genetic biocontrol, Risk and safety, Rodents, Synthetic biologyK. P. Oh, A. B. Shiels, L. Shiels, D. V. Blondel, K. J. Campbell, J. R. Saah, A. L. Lloyd, P. Q. Thomas, F. Gould, Z. Abdo, J. R. Godwin and A. J. Piaggio, Evolutionary Applications, 2021.
Here we used pooled whole-genome sequencing of invasive mouse (Mus musculus) populations on four islands along with paired putative source populations to test genetic predictions of island colonization and characterize locally fixed Cas9 genomic targets. Patterns of variation ...
Modeling impact and cost-effectiveness of gene drives for malaria elimination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tags: Africa, Gene drive synthetic, Population suppression, Replicator/site directed nuclease, X chromosomeN. Metchanun, C. Borgemeister, G. Amzati, J. von Braun, M. Nikolov, P. Selvaraj and J. Gerardin, medRxiv, 2020.06.29.20142760. 2021.
Using a spatially explicit, agent-based model of malaria transmission in eight representative provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we predict the impact and cost-effectiveness of integrating driving-Y gene drive mosquitoes in malaria elimination strategies that ...
Holocentric Chromosomes Probably Do Not Prevent Centromere Drive in Cyperaceae
Tags: Agriculture, Transmission distortionM. Kratka, J. Smerda, K. Lojdova, P. Bures and F. Zedek, Frontiers in Plant Science, 12:9. 2021.
In response to these selfish centromeres, the histone protein CenH3, which recruits kinetochore components, adaptively evolves to restore chromosomal parity and counter the detrimental effects of centromere drive. Holocentric chromosomes, whose kinetochores are assembled along ...
Split versions of Cleave and Rescue selfish genetic elements for measured self limiting gene drive
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive mechanisms, Gene drive synthetic, Self limiting, Toxin-antidoteG. Oberhofer, T. Ivy and B. A. Hay, PLoS genetics, 17:e1009385. 2021.
Self-sustaining Cleave and Rescue (ClvR) elements include a DNA sequence-modifying enzyme such as Cas9/gRNAs that disrupts endogenous versions of an essential gene, a tightly linked recoded version of the essential gene resistant to cleavage (the Rescue), and a Cargo. ClvR ...
Emergent challenges for CRISPR: biosafety, biosecurity, patenting, and regulatory issues
Tags: CRISPR, Gene editing, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safetyBraddick, D. , and Ramarohetra, R. F., Genome Engineering Via Crispr-Cas9 System, 2021.
The recent advancements of CRISPR-Cas technologies have transformed this simple and efficient gene editing technique into an extraordinarily powerful tool. The most anticipated applications could create novel therapeutics against mankind's most serious afflictions and help ...
Scientifically framed gene drive communication perceived as credible but riskier
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, Invasive species, Policy, Risk and safety, Stakeholder engagement, Synthetic biologyE. A. MacDonald, E. D. Edwards, J. Balanovic and F. Medvecky, People and Nature, 2021.
Framing is a communication technique in which certain beliefs or values are emphasized that resonate with the target audience. Framing may increase how much people objectively think about new information and update their opinions; framing may mitigate emo
ReMOT Control Delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Complex to Induce Germline Mutagenesis in the Disease Vector Mosquitoes Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae)
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive, Genetic biocontrolX. X. Li, Y. Xu, H. B. Zhang, H. T. Yin, D. Zhou, Y. Sun, L. Ma, B. Shen and C. L. Zhu, Journal of Medical Entomology, 58. 2021.
The wide distribution of Culex (Cx.) pipiens complex mosquitoes makes it difficult to prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases in humans. Gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 is an effective technique with the potential to solve the growing problem of mosquito-borne ...
Operational Parameters for the Aerial Release of Sterile Codling Moths Using an Uncrewed Aircraft System
Tags: Moths, Sterile insect technique (SIT)E. D. Esch, R. M. Horner, D. C. Krompetz, N. Moses-Gonzales, M. R. Tesche and D. M. Suckling, Insects, 12:2/13/2021. 2021.
The codling moth is a serious pest of apples in most regions of the world where this fruit is produced. The sterile insect technique is one strategy used to control this pest and is employed as part of an area-wide integrated pest management program for the codling moth in ...
Optimized CRISPR tools and site-directed transgenesis in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes for gene drive development
Tags: CRISPR, Culex, Gene drive synthetic, Gene editing, Genetic biocontrolX. Feng, V. Lopez Del Amo, E. Mameli, M. Lee, A. L. Bishop, N. Perrimon and V. M. Gantz, bioRxiv, 2021.02.10.430702. 2021.
Here, we developed a Culex-specific Cas9/gRNA expression toolkit and used site-directed homology-based transgenesis to generate and validate a Culex quinquefasciatus Cas9-expressing line. We showed that gRNA scaffold variants improve transgenesis efficiency in both Culex and ...
Hidden genomic features of an invasive malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, revealed by a chromosome-level genome assembly
Tags: Anopheles, Gene drive synthetic, Genomics, MalariaM. Chakraborty, A. Ramaiah, A. Adolfi, P. Halas, B. Kaduskar, L. T. Ngo, S. Jayaprasad, K. Paul, S. Whadgar, S. Srinivasan, S. Subramani, E. Bier, A. A. James and J. J. Emerson, BMC Biology, 19:28. 2021.
The mosquito Anopheles stephensi is a vector of urban malaria in Asia that recently invaded Africa. Studying the genetic basis of vectorial capacity and engineering genetic interventions are both impeded by limitations of a vector’s genome assembly. The existing assemblies of ...
A Code of Ethics for Gene Drive Research
Tags: Biodiversity/Conservation, CRISPR, Ethics, Gene drive synthetic, Invasive species, Policy, Risk and safety, Risk assessmentG. J. Annas, C. L. Beisel, K. Clement, A. Crisanti, S. Francis, M. Galardini, R. Galizi, J. Grünewald, G. Immobile, A. S. Khalil, R. Müller, V. Pattanayak, K. Petri, L. Paul, L. Pinello, A. Simoni, C. Taxiarchi and J. K. Joung, The CRISPR Journal, 4:19:1-8. 2021.
A code of ethics can be a useful tool for all parties involved in the development and regulation of gene drives and can be used to help ensure that a balanced analysis of risks, benefits, and values is taken into consideration for the interest of society and humanity. We have ...
In Our Image: The Ethics of CRISPR Genome Editing
Tags: CRISPR, Ethics, Gene drive synthetic, Gene editing, Synthetic biologyJ. C. Eissenberg, Biomolecular Concepts, 12:1-7. 2021.
Here, I discuss the ethics surrounding the transformative CRISPR/Cas9mediated genome editing technology in the contexts of human genome editing to eradicate genetic disease and of gene drive technology to eradicate animal vectors of human disease.
How to engage communities on a large scale? Lessons from World Mosquito Program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
Tags: Arbovirus, Cytoplasmic incompatibility, Dengue, Ethics, Genetic biocontrol, Policy, Stakeholder engagement, WolbachiaG. B. Costa, R. Smithyman, S. L. O'Neill and L. A. Moreira, Gates Open Research, 2021.
Here we discuss and analyse the framework for community engagement implemented by the WMP in Brazil, during the large-scale deployment of the method in the municipalities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our experience indicates that the community engagement work for ...
Reply to: Issues with combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques
Tags: Aedes, Genetic biocontrol, Incompatible insect technique, WolbachiaY. Li, L. A. Baton, D. Zhang, J. Bouyer, A. G. Parker, A. A. Hoffmann, L. C. Ng, C. H. Tan and Z. Xi, Nature, 590:E3-E5. 2021.
When the aim is elimination of the target population, Uni-CI and Bi-CI do not have appreciably different risks of population replacement. The small-scale field trial8 cited by Moretti and Calvitti in their Comment1 does not provide evidence that Bi-CI protects against population ...
The complete mitogenome sequence of the agricultural pest, clover root weevil: the key to its own demise?
Tags: Genetic biocontrolR. A. Al-Jiab, J. Gillum, A. Alexander, D. M. Tompkins, C. B. Phillips, P. K. Dearden and N. J. Gemmell, Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 4:878-879. 2021.
AbstractWe report the complete mitogenome of Sitona obsoletus, an agricultural pest in New Zealand and some European countries. Like other Sitona mitogenomes, the 6 tRNA gene box is ordered RNSAEF, supporting the hypothesis that this signature is common to, and potentially ...
Issues with combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques
Tags: Aedes, Genetic biocontrol, Incompatible insect technique, WolbachiaR. Moretti and M. Calvitti, Nature, 590:E1-E2. 2021.
In a recent paper, Zheng at al.1 performed field experiments that tested a strategy of mosquito suppression based on the release of functionally sterile males produced by the combination of reproductive unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility (which is induced by the bacterium ...
Improving the Phenotypic Properties of the Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Temperature-Sensitive Lethal Genetic Sexing Strain in Support of Sterile Insect Technique Applications
Tags: Fruit fly, Genetic biocontrol, Mosquito husbandry, Sterile insect technique (SIT)M. F. Porras, J. S. Meza, E. G. Rajotte, K. Bourtzis and C. Caceres, Journal of Economic Entomology, 113:2688-2694. 2021.
We present the first evidence that this slower development is due to a different gene, here namely slow development (sd), which is closely linked to the tsl gene. Taking advantage of recombination phenomena between the two loci, we report the isolation of a novel temperature ...
Regulating the expression of gene drives is key to increasing their invasive potential and the mitigation of resistance
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Genetics, Mosquitoes, Replicator/site directed nuclease, Resistance, Selfish genetic elementsA. Hammond, X. Karlsson, I. Morianou, K. Kyrou, A. Beaghton, M. Gribble, N. Kranjc, R. Galizi, A. Burt, A. Crisanti and T. Nolan, PLOS Genetics, 17:e1009321. 2021.
Here we show that restricting the cutting activity of the gene drive to the germline tissue is crucial to maintaining its potency and we illustrate how failure to restrict this activity can lead to the generation of mutations that can make mosquitoes resistant to the gene drive.
Sexual Competitiveness and Induced Egg Sterility by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Gamma-Irradiated Males: A Laboratory and Field Study in Mexico
Tags: Aedes, Arbovirus, Dengue, Mosquitoes, Sterile insect technique (SIT)J. G. Bond, S. Aguirre-Ibáñez, A. R. Osorio, C. F. Marina, Y. Gómez-Simuta, R. Tamayo-Escobar, A. Dor, P. Liedo, D. O. Carvalho and T. Williams, Insects, 12. 2021.
The sterile insect technique may prove useful for the suppression of mosquito vectors of medical importance in regions where arboviruses pose a serious public health threat. In the present study, we examined the effects of sterilizing irradiation doses across different ratios of ...
GENE DRIVE ACCEPTANCE SURVEY
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safety, Stakeholder engagementYouGov, Pollinis, 2021.
This representative survey was conducted by the international market research institute YouGov and polled 8.826 citizens from 8 EU countries in December 2020. It was commissioned by WeMove Europe, Save Our Seeds (Germany), Skiftet (Sweden), France Nature Environnement (FNE) ...
Demographic feedbacks can hamper the spatial spread of a gene drive
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Modeling, Population genetics/dynamics, Population modification/replacement, Population suppression, Replicator/site directed nuclease, WolbachiaL. Girardin and F. Débarre, arXiv, 2021.
Our results indicate that taking into account the interplay between population dynamics and population genetics might actually be crucial, as it can effectively reverse the direction of the invasion and lead to failure. Our findings can be extended to other bistable systems, such ...
Playing God and tampering with nature: popular labels for real concerns in synthetic biology
Tags: Biodiversity/Conservation, Ethics, Gene drive, Genetic biocontrol, Policy, Risk and safety, Risk assessment, Stakeholder engagement, Synthetic biologyL. Carter, A. Mankad, E. V. Hobman and N. B. Porter, Transgenic Research, 2021.
We present the findings from a large Australian study (N = 4593) which suggests ‘playing God’ objections and their variants can be multilayered and, at times, accompanied by meaningful information about risk perceptions. We use qualitative analysis of ope
Anopheles gambiae Genome Conservation as a Resource for Rational Gene Drive Target Site Selection
Tags: Gene drive syntheticN. Kranjc, A. Crisanti, T. Nolan and F. Bernardini, Insects, 12. 2021.
In this study we describe a bioinformatic pipeline that allows the analysis of whole genome data for the identification of highly conserved regions that can point at potential functional or structural constraints. The analysis was conducted across the genomes of 22 insect species ...
Drivers of mosquito mating
Tags: Anopheles, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Pest management, Sterile insect technique (SIT)N. C. Manoukis, Science, 371:340. 2021.
Gene drive systems are based on the release of organisms whose genomes have been modified or engineered to spread a desired allele or trait (such as resistance to the parasites that cause malaria) through a population. Success will depend on the release of genetically modified ...
Clock genes and environmental cues coordinate Anopheles pheromone synthesis, swarming, and mating
Tags: Anopheles, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Sterile insect technique (SIT)G. Wang, J. Vega-Rodríguez, A. Diabate, J. Liu, C. Cui, C. Nignan, L. Dong, F. Li, C. O. Ouedrago, A. M. Bandaogo, P. S. Sawadogo, H. Maiga, T. L. Alves e Silva, T. V. Pascini, S. Wang and M. Jacobs-Lorena, Science, 371:411. 2021.
Knockdown of per and tim expression affects Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles stephensi male mating in the laboratory, and it reduces male An. coluzzii swarming and mating under semifield conditions. Light and temperature affect mosquito mating, possibly by modulating per ...
The Promises and Realities of Integration in Synthetic Biology: A View From Social Science
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Invasive species, Policy, Stakeholder engagement, Synthetic biologyL. Carter and A. Mankad, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8. 2021.
We take stock of thepromises and realities of science integration by sharing our experiences of embarking onthis very challenge in Australia. We conclude by offering suggestions for bringing aboutthe enabling conditions for improved integration across the natural and social ...
White pupae phenotype of tephritids is caused by parallel mutations of a MFS transporter
Tags: Fruit fly, Sterile insect technique (SIT)C. M. Ward, R. A. Aumann, M. A. Whitehead, K. Nikolouli, G. Leveque, G. Gouvi, E. Fung, S. J. Reiling, H. Djambazian, M. A. Hughes, S. Whiteford, C. Caceres-Barrios, T. N. M. Nguyen, A. Choo, P. Crisp, S. B. Sim, S. M. Geib, F. Marec, I. Hacker, J. Ragous, Nature Communications, 12. 2021.
Here, we use classical and modern genetic approaches to identify and functionally characterize causal wp(-) mutations in these distantly related fruit fly species. We find that the wp phenotype is produced by parallel mutations in a single, conserved gene. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ...
Co‐developing a common glossary with stakeholders for engagement on new genetic approaches for malaria control in a local African setting
Tags: Ethics, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Stakeholder engagement, Target malariaE. Chemonges Wanyama, B. Dicko, L. Pare Toe, M. B. Coulibaly, N. Barry, K. Bayala Traore, A. Diabate, M. Drabo, J. K. Kayondo, S. Kekele, S. Kodio, A. D. Ky, R. R. Linga, E. Magala, W. I. Meda, S. Mukwaya, A. Namukwaya, B. Robinson, H. Samoura, K. Sanogo, Malaria Journal, 20:53. 2021.
Scientific terminologies are mainly lacking in local languages, yet when research activities involve international partnership, the question of technical jargon and its translation is crucial for effective and meaningful communication with stakeholders. Target Malaria, a ...
Combining refuges with transgenic insect releases for the management of an insect pest with non-recessive resistance to Bt crops in agricultural landscapes
Tags: Agriculture, Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified organismsT. R. Brewer and M. B. Bonsall, Journal of Theoretical Biology, 509:11. 2021.
Reinforcing the high-dose/refuge strategy with releases of transgenic insects has been suggested as a method for simultaneously managing agricultural pest populations and resistance to transgenic crops. Theoretical and empirical studies have shown that these approaches can work ...
Manipulation of Gut Symbionts for Improving the Sterile Insect Technique: Quality Parameters of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) Genetic Sexing Strain Males After Feeding on Bacteria-Enriched Diets
Tags: Fruit fly, Genetic biocontrol, Sterile insect technique (SIT)Q. Zhang, P. Cai, B. Wang, X. Liu, J. Lin, R. Hua, H. Zhang, C. Yi, X. Song, Q. Ji, J. Yang and S. Chen, Journal of Economic Entomology, 114:560-570. 2021.
One environmentally friendly method used to manage Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), a key agricultural pest of substantial economic importance, is the sterile insect technique (SIT). Nevertheless, several deficiencies related to this strategy impair the success of the SIT, including ...
Widespread haploid-biased gene expression enables sperm-level natural selection
Tags: Other mammals, Selfish genetic elements, Transmission distortionK. Bhutani, K. Stansifer, S. Ticau, L. Bojic, A.-C. Villani, J. Slisz, C. M. Cremers, C. Roy, J. Donovan, B. Fiske and R. C. Friedman, Science, eabb1723. 2021.
Here, we show that a large class of mammalian genes are not completely shared across these bridges. We term these genes “genoinformative markers” (GIMs) and show that a subset can act as selfish genetic elements that spread alleles unevenly through murine, bovine, and human ...
Selfing is the safest sex for Caenorhabditis tropicalis
Tags: Genetic incompatibilities, Other invertebrates, Population genetics/dynamics, Toxin-antidoteL. M. Noble, J. Yuen, L. Stevens, N. D. Moya, R. Persaud, M. Moscatelli, J. L. Jackson, G. Zhang, R. Chitrakar, L. R. Baugh, C. Braendle, E. C. Andersen, H. S. Seidel and M. V. Rockman, eLife, 10:e62587. 2021.
We generated a chromosomal-scale genome for C. tropicalis and surveyed global diversity. Population structure is very strong, and islands of extreme divergence punctuate a genomic background that is highly homogeneous around the globe. Outbreeding depression in the laboratory is ...
Population Dynamics of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Two Rural Villages in Southern Mexico: Baseline Data for an Evaluation of the Sterile Insect Technique
Tags: Aedes, Dengue, Genetic biocontrol, Sterile insect technique (SIT)C. F. Marina, J. G. Bond, K. Hernández-Arriaga, J. Valle, A. Ulloa, I. Fernández-Salas, D. O. Carvalho, K. Bourtzis, A. Dor, T. Williams and P. Liedo, Insects, 12. 2021.
Indoor and outdoor ovitraps were placed in 15 randomly selected houses in two rural villages in Chiapas, southern Mexico. In addition, ovitraps were placed in five transects surrounding each village, with three traps per transect, one at the edge, one at 50 m, and another at 100 ...
Double drives and private alleles for localised population genetic control
Tags: Anopheles, Containment, Gene drive synthetic, Modeling, Mosquitoes, Population suppressionK. Willis and A. Burt, bioRxiv, 2021.01.08.425856. 2021.
In this paper we propose and model a series of low threshold double drive designs for population suppression, each consisting of two constructs, one imposing a reproductive load on the population and the other inserted into a differentiated locus and controlling the drive of the ...
Targeting evolutionary conserved sequences circumvents the evolution of resistance in a viral gene drive against human cytomegalovirus
Tags: Arbovirus, CRISPR, Gene drive synthetic, ResistanceM. Walter, R. Perrone and E. Verdin, bioRxiv, 2021.01.08.425902. 2021.
Here, we analyze in cell culture experiments the evolution of resistance in a gene drive against human cytomegalovirus. We report that after an initial invasion of the wildtype population, a drive-resistant population is positively selected over time and outcompetes gene drive ...
Suppression gene drive in continuous space can result in unstable persistence of both drive and wild-type alleles
Tags: Ecology, Gene drive mechanisms, Gene drive synthetic, ModelingJ. Champer, I. K. Kim, S. E. Champer, A. G. Clark and P. W. Messer, Mol Ecol, 2021.
Using spatially explicit simulations, we show that the release of a suppression drive can result in what we term "chasing" dynamics, in which wild-type individuals recolonize areas where the drive locally eliminated the population. Despite the drive subsequently reconquering ...
Demystifying the Risk Assessment Process for Laboratory-Based Experiments Utilizing Invasive Genetic Elements: It Is More Than Gene Drive
Tags: Containment, Gene drive synthetic, Policy, Regulation, Risk assessmentZ. N. Adelman, Applied Biosafety, 2021.
Advances in recombinant DNA approaches have resulted in the development of transgene architectures that severely bias their own inheritance, a process commonly referred to as ?gene drive.? The rapid pace of development, combined with the complexity of many gene drive approaches, ...
Ubiquitous Selfish Toxin-Antidote Elements in Caenorhabditis Species
Tags: Genetic incompatibilities, Other invertebrates, Toxin-antidoteE. Ben-David, P. Pliota, S. A. Widen, A. Koreshova, T. Lemus-Vergara, P. Verpukhovskiy, S. Mandali, C. Braendle, A. Burga and L. Kruglyak, Current Biology, 2021.
Here, we report the discovery of maternal-effect TAs in both C. tropicalis and C. briggsae, two distant relatives of C. elegans. In C. tropicalis, multiple TAs combine to cause a striking degree of intraspecific incompatibility: five elements reduce the fitness of >70% of the ...
Next-generation tools to control biting midge populations and reduce pathogen transmission
Tags: Agriculture, Cytoplasmic incompatibility, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, Other mammals, Policy, Population modification/replacement, Population suppression, Regulation, Stakeholder engagement, WolbachiaP. Shults, L. W. Cohnstaedt, Z. N. Adelman and C. Brelsfoard, Parasites and Vectors, 14:31. 2021.
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides transmit disease-causing agents resulting in a significant economic impact on livestock industries in many parts of the world. Localized control efforts, such as removal of larval habitat or pesticide application, can be logistically ...
