This is a database of peer-reviewed literature that focuses on Genetic Biocontrol research. The latest are shown here.
A confinable female-lethal population suppression system in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae
Background
Malaria is among the world’s deadliest diseases, predominantly affecting Sub-Saharan Africa and killing over half a million people annually. Controlling the principal vector, the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, as well as other anophelines, is among the most effective methods to control disease spread. Here, we develop a genetic population suppression system termed Ifegenia (inherited female elimination by genetically encoded nucleases to interrupt alleles) in this deadly vector. In this bicomponent CRISPR-based approach, we disrupt a female-essential gene, femaleless (fle), demonstrating complete genetic sexing via heritable daughter gynecide.
Smidler, A. L., Pai, J. J., Apte, R. A., Sánchez C, H. M., Corder, R. M., Jeffrey Gutiérrez, E., … & Akbari, O. S. (2023). A confinable female-lethal population suppression system in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. Science Advances, 9(27), eade8903.
Dual effector population modification gene-drive strains of the African malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii
Background
Novel genetic strategies for the malaria eradication agenda exploit Cas9/gRNA (guide RNA)-based autonomous gene-drive systems carrying antiparasite effector genes, and these effectively reduce prevalence and numbers of the human parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, in the African malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii. Results from laboratory assessments of population gene-drive dynamics, transgene genetic loads, and parasite suppression efficacy informed modeling of conceptual field releases that show that hypothetical strains based on the empirical data could have a meaningful epidemiological impact in reducing human incidence by 50 to 90%.
Carballar-Lejarazú, R., Dong, Y., Pham, T. B., Tushar, T., Corder, R. M., Mondal, A., … & James, A. A. (2023). Dual effector population modification gene-drive strains of the African malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(29), e2221118120.
Wolbachia-based strategies for control of agricultural pests
Background
Wolbachia-based incompatible insect technique (IIT) and pathogen blocking technique (PBT) have been shown to be effective at protecting humans from mosquito-borne diseases in the past decades. Population suppression based on IIT and population replacement based on PBT have become major field application strategies that have continuously been improved by the translational research on Wolbachia-transinfected mosquitoes. Similarly, Wolbachia-based approaches have been proposed for the protection of plants from agricultural pests and their associated diseases.
Gong, J. T., Li, T. P., Wang, M. K., & Hong, X. Y. (2023). Wolbachia-based strategies for control of agricultural pests. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 101039.
The optimal strategy of incompatible insect technique (IIT) using Wolbachia and the application to malaria control
Background
For decades, techniques to control vector population with low environmental impact have been widely explored in both field and theoretical studies. The incompatible insect technique (IIT) using Wolbachia, based on cytoplasmic incompatibility, is a technique that Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes are incapable of producing viable offspring after mating with wild-type female mosquitoes.
Matsufuji, T., & Seirin-Lee, S. (2023). The optimal strategy of incompatible insect technique (IIT) using Wolbachia and the application to malaria control. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 111519.
Gene Drives as Interventions into Nature: the Coproduction of Ontology and Morality in the Gene Drive Debate
Background
Gene drives are potentially ontologically and morally disruptive technologies. The potential to shape evolutionary processes and to eradicate (e.g. malaria-transmitting or invasive) populations raises ontological questions about evolution, nature, and wilderness. The transformative promises and perils of gene drives also raise pressing ethical and political concerns.
Boersma, K., Bovenkerk, B., & Ludwig, D. (2023). Gene Drives as Interventions into Nature: the Coproduction of Ontology and Morality in the Gene Drive Debate. NanoEthics, 17(1), 4.
The boundary problem: Defining and delineating the community in field trials with gene drive organisms
Background
Despite widespread and worldwide efforts to eradicate vector-borne diseases such as malaria, these diseases continue to have an enormous negative impact on public health. For this reason, scientists are working on novel control strategies, such as gene drive technologies (GDTs). As GDT research advances, researchers are contemplating the potential next step of conducting field trials. An important point of discussion regarding these field trials relates to who should be informed, consulted, and involved in decision-making about their design and launch.
de Graeff, N., Pirson, I., van der Graaf, R., Bredenoord, A. L., & Jongsma, K. R. (2023). The boundary problem: Defining and delineating the community in field trials with gene drive organisms. Bioethics.
The Promise and Challenge of Genetic Biocontrol Approaches for Malaria Elimination
Background
Malaria remains an ongoing public health challenge, with over 600,000 deaths in 2021, of which approximately 96% occurred in Africa. Despite concerted efforts, the goal of global malaria elimination has stalled in recent years. This has resulted in widespread calls for new control methods. Genetic biocontrol approaches, including those focused on gene-drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs), aim to prevent malaria transmission by either reducing the population size of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes or making the mosquitoes less competent to transmit the malaria parasite.
James, S., & Santos, M. (2023). The Promise and Challenge of Genetic Biocontrol Approaches for Malaria Elimination. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8(4), 201.
The sex pheromone heptacosane enhances the mating competitiveness of sterile Aedes aegypti males
Background
Aedes aegypti is a vector that transmits various viral diseases, including dengue and Zika. The radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) has a limited effect on mosquito control because of the difficulty in irradiating males without reducing their mating competitiveness. In this study, the insect sex pheromone heptacosane was applied to Ae. aegypti males to investigate whether it could enhance the mating competitiveness of irradiated males. The sex pheromone heptacosane enhanced the interaction between Ae. aegypti males and females. Perfuming males irradiated by X-rays or γ-rays with heptacosane led to a significant increase in mating competitiveness. This study provided a new idea for improving the application effect of SIT.
Wang, L. M., Li, N., Zhang, M., Tang, Q., Lu, H. Z., Zhou, Q. Y., … & Deng, S. Q. (2023). The sex pheromone heptacosane enhances the mating competitiveness of sterile Aedes aegypti males. Parasites & Vectors, 16(1), 1-9.
Regulatory and policy considerations for the implementation of gene drive-modified mosquitoes to prevent malaria transmission
Background
Gene drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) are being developed as possible new tools to prevent transmission of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. To date no GDMMs have yet undergone field testing. This early stage is an opportune time for developers, supporters, and possible users to begin to consider the potential regulatory requirements for eventual implementation of these technologies in national or regional public health programs, especially as some of the practical implications of these requirements may take considerable planning, time and coordination to address.
James, S. L., Dass, B., & Quemada, H. (2023). Regulatory and policy considerations for the implementation of gene drive-modified mosquitoes to prevent malaria transmission. Transgenic Research, 1-16.
Release of sterile Aedes aegypti mosquitoes: chilling effect on mass-reared males survival and escape ability and on irradiated males sexual competitiveness
Background
In the sterile insect technique, it is important to measure the impact of mass-rearing and handling of sterile males to allow a successful control of the target wild population. This study evaluates the effect of pre-release chilling on the survival, escape ability, and sexual competitiveness of male Aedes aegypti.
Sánchez-Aldana-Sánchez, G. A., Liedo, P., Bond, J. G., & Dor, A. (2023). Release of sterile Aedes aegypti mosquitoes: chilling effect on mass-reared males survival and escape ability and on irradiated males sexual competitiveness. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 3797.