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Zhang D, Maiga H, Li Y, Bakhoum MT, Wang G, Sun Y, Damiens D, Mamai W, Bimbilé Somda NS, Wallner T, Bueno-Masso O, Martina C, Kotla SS, Yamada H, Lu D, Tan CH, Guo J, Feng Q, Zhang J, Zhao X, Paerhande D, Pan W, Wu Y, Zheng X, Wu Z, Xi Z, Vreysen MJB, Bouyer J. Mating harassment may boost the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique for Aedes mosquitoes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1980. [PMID: 38438367 PMCID: PMC10912119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46268-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The sterile insect technique is based on the overflooding of a target population with released sterile males inducing sterility in the wild female population. It has proven to be effective against several insect pest species of agricultural and veterinary importance and is under development for Aedes mosquitoes. Here, we show that the release of sterile males at high sterile male to wild female ratios may also impact the target female population through mating harassment. Under laboratory conditions, male to female ratios above 50 to 1 reduce the longevity of female Aedes mosquitoes by reducing their feeding success. Under controlled conditions, blood uptake of females from an artificial host or from a mouse and biting rates on humans are also reduced. Finally, in a field trial conducted in a 1.17 ha area in China, the female biting rate is reduced by 80%, concurrent to a reduction of female mosquito density of 40% due to the swarming of males around humans attempting to mate with the female mosquitoes. This suggests that the sterile insect technique does not only suppress mosquito vector populations through the induction of sterility, but may also reduce disease transmission due to increased female mortality and lower host contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjing Zhang
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hamidou Maiga
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest (IRSS-DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Yongjun Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Wolbaki Biotech Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mame Thierno Bakhoum
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest (IRSS-DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires, BP 2057, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Gang Wang
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - David Damiens
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS/IRD/Université de Montpellier), IRD Réunion/GIP CYROI (Recherche Santé Bio-innovation), Sainte Clotilde, Reunion Island, France
| | - Wadaka Mamai
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nanwintoum Séverin Bimbilé Somda
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Science et Technologie (UFR/ST), UniversitéNorbert ZONGO (UNZ), BP 376, Koudougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Thomas Wallner
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Odet Bueno-Masso
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Martina
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Simran Singh Kotla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanano Yamada
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Deng Lu
- National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Jiatian Guo
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingdeng Feng
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junyan Zhang
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xufei Zhao
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dilinuer Paerhande
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Pan
- SYSU Nuclear and Insect Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Dongguan, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Guangzhou Wolbaki Biotech Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Marc J B Vreysen
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jérémy Bouyer
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, IAEA, Vienna, Austria.
- ASTRE, CIRAD, F-34398, Montpellier, France.
- ASTRE, Cirad, INRAE, Univ. Montpellier, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, Sainte-Clotilde, La Réunion, France.
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Mohapatra RK, Bhattacharjee P, Desai DN, Kandi V, Sarangi AK, Mishra S, Sah R, Ibrahim AAAL, Rabaan AA, Zahan KE. Global health concern on the rising dengue and chikungunya cases in the American regions: Countermeasures and preparedness. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e1831. [PMID: 38274135 PMCID: PMC10808844 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Severe morbidity and mortality due to seasonal infectious diseases are common global public health issues. Vector-borne viral illnesses like dengue and chikungunya overload the healthcare systems leading to critical financial burden to manage them. There is no effective drug or vaccine currently available to control these two diseases. Methods The review was formulated by incorporating relevant reports on chikungunya and dengue in the Americas regions through a comprehensive search of literature that were available on dedicated scientific publication portals such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Results The strategies of public health administrations to control largely the mosquito vectors during tropical monsoon seem to be effective. Yet, it seems practically impossible to completely eliminate them. The mosquito vector disseminates the virus via transovarian route thereby internalising the virus through generations, a reason behind reappearing and recurring outbreaks. The numerous factors associated with industrialisation, urbanisation, population density, and easy transboundary movements appear to have contributed to the spread of vectors from an endemic region to elsewhere. Conclusion The article made a state-of-affair comprehensive analysis of the rising dengue and chikungunya cases in the tropics, particularly the tropical Americas, as a human health concern, the countermeasures undertaken and the overall preparedness. The viral transmission is a hard situation to tackle as the vector survives in diverse temperature and ecology, is resistant to insecticides, and the unavailability of drugs. Better vector-control measures and improved understanding of the reemerging arboviral infections could offer an extended reaction time to counter outbreaks, and minimise associated morbidity/mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dhruv N. Desai
- Department of PathobiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Venkataramana Kandi
- Department of MicrobiologyPrathima Institute of Medical SciencesKarimnagarTelanganaIndia
| | - Ashish K. Sarangi
- Department of ChemistryCenturion University of Technology and ManagementBalangirOdishaIndia
| | - Snehasish Mishra
- School of BiotechnologyKIIT Deemed UniversityBhubaneswarOdishaIndia
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Department of MicrobiologyTribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of MedicineKathmanduNepal
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyDr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil VidyapeethPuneMaharashtraIndia
| | | | - Ali A. Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic LaboratoryJohns Hopkins Aramco HealthcareDhahranSaudi Arabia
- Department of Medicine, College of MedicineAlfaisal UniversityRiyadhSaudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and NutritionThe University of HaripurHaripurPakistan
| | - Kudrat E. Zahan
- Department of ChemistryRajshahi UniversityRajshahiBangladesh
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3
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Ramezannia Z, Shamekh A, Bannazadeh Baghi H. CRISPR-Cas system to discover host-virus interactions in Flaviviridae. Virol J 2023; 20:247. [PMID: 37891676 PMCID: PMC10605781 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02216-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Flaviviridae virus family members cause severe human diseases and are responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Therefore, researchers have conducted genetic screens to enhance insight into viral dependency and develop potential anti-viral strategies to treat and prevent these infections. The host factors identified by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system can be potential targets for drug development. Meanwhile, CRISPR technology can be efficiently used to treat viral diseases as it targets both DNA and RNA. This paper discusses the host factors related to the life cycle of viruses of this family that were recently discovered using the CRISPR system. It also explores the role of immune factors and recent advances in gene editing in treating flavivirus-related diseases. The ever-increasing advancements of this technology may promise new therapeutic approaches with unique capabilities, surpassing the traditional methods of drug production and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ramezannia
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ali Shamekh
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 5166/15731, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 5166/15731, Iran.
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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4
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Du S, Murray RL. Road salt pollution alters sex ratios in emerging mosquito populations. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122203. [PMID: 37453680 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
De-icing road salt is a persistent emerging pollutant in temperate freshwater systems, where winter salting is necessary for road and pedestrian safety. Experts argue that road salts may increase salt-tolerant mosquito populations and, potentially, disease transmission in urban areas. Only adult females consume bloodmeals and may carry zoonotic diseases. While there are some species with naturally occurring male-biased sex ratios, it is unclear whether road salt differentially affects male and female mosquitoes to alter sex ratios. We hypothesized that road salts would masculinize emergence sex ratios and decrease female success because females may face higher exposure to stressors during their lengthy juvenile development compared to males. We measured mosquito emergence sex ratios of control (0 g/L added salt) and salt (4.5 g/L added salt) mesocosms in southern Ontario, Canada across the West Nile Virus season (May to October). We found female-biased sex ratios (i.e., <50% male frequency) in both 0 and 4.5 g/L. While mosquito abundance was significantly higher in 4.5 g/L compared to 0 g/L, road salt significantly increased the proportion of emerging males from 32.8% to 40.8% (Negative Binomial Model; Estimate ± SE = 0.283 ± 0.108; P = 0.009); mosquitoes shift their sex ratios from female-biased towards parity (50:50) in response to salt. Our study illustrates the need to evaluate sex-specific abundance in pollution-related mosquito population studies. By showing a shift toward more male mosquitoes emerging in high salinity compared to control treatments, our results suggest that road salts may have the potential to decrease female mosquito success and indirectly reduce disease transmission in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry Du
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada.
| | - Rosalind L Murray
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
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5
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Liu Z, Zhang Q, Li L, He J, Guo J, Wang Z, Huang Y, Xi Z, Yuan F, Li Y, Li T. The effect of temperature on dengue virus transmission by Aedes mosquitoes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1242173. [PMID: 37808907 PMCID: PMC10552155 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1242173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. As an arbovirus disease, it is mainly transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. According to the previous studies, temperature is closely related to the survival of Aedes mosquitoes, the proliferation of dengue virus (DENV) and the vector competence of Aedes to transmit DENV. This review describes the correlations between temperature and dengue epidemics, and explores the potential reasons including the distribution and development of Aedes mosquitoes, the structure of DENV, and the vector competence of Aedes mosquitoes. In addition, the immune and metabolic mechanism are discussed on how temperature affects the vector competence of Aedes mosquitoes to transmit DENV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuanzhuan Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Center for Tropical Disease Control and Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qingxin Zhang
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Liya Li
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Junjie He
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jinyang Guo
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zichen Wang
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yige Huang
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zimeng Xi
- School of Imaging Medical Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fei Yuan
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yiji Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Center for Tropical Disease Control and Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Center for Tropical Disease Control and Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
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6
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Nourani L, Mehrizi AA, Pirahmadi S, Pourhashem Z, Asadollahi E, Jahangiri B. CRISPR/Cas advancements for genome editing, diagnosis, therapeutics, and vaccine development for Plasmodium parasites, and genetic engineering of Anopheles mosquito vector. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 109:105419. [PMID: 36842543 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Malaria as vector-borne disease remains important health concern with over 200 million cases globally. Novel antimalarial medicines and more effective vaccines must be developed to eliminate and eradicate malaria. Appraisal of preceding genome editing approaches confirmed the CRISPR/Cas nuclease system as a novel proficient genome editing system and a tool for species-specific diagnosis, and drug resistance researches for Plasmodium species, and gene drive to control Anopheles population. CRISPR/Cas technology, as a handy tool for genome editing can be justified for the production of transgenic malaria parasites like Plasmodium transgenic lines expressing Cas9, chimeric Plasmodium transgenic lines, knockdown and knockout transgenic parasites, and transgenic parasites expressing alternative alleles, and also mutant strains of Anopheles such as only male mosquito populations, generation of wingless mosquitoes, and creation of knock-out/ knock-in mutants. Though, the incorporation of traditional methods and novel molecular techniques could noticeably enhance the quality of results. The striking development of a CRISPR/Cas-based diagnostic kit that can specifically diagnose the Plasmodium species or drug resistance markers is highly required in malaria settings with affordable cost and high-speed detection. Furthermore, the advancement of genome modifications by CRISPR/Cas technologies resolves contemporary restrictions to culturing, maintaining, and analyzing these parasites, and the aptitude to investigate parasite genome functions opens up new vistas in the better understanding of pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Nourani
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Abouie Mehrizi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sakineh Pirahmadi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Pourhashem
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Asadollahi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Jahangiri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Kientega M, Kranjc N, Traoré N, Kaboré H, Soma DD, Morianou I, Namountougou M, Belem AMG, Diabaté A. Analysis of the Genetic Variation of the Fruitless Gene within the Anopheles gambiae ( Diptera: Culicidae) Complex Populations in Africa. INSECTS 2022; 13:1048. [PMID: 36421951 PMCID: PMC9699577 DOI: 10.3390/insects13111048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Targeting genes involved in sexual determinism, for vector or pest control purposes, requires a better understanding of their polymorphism in natural populations in order to ensure a rapid spread of the construct. By using genomic data from An. gambiae s.l., we analyzed the genetic variation and the conservation score of the fru gene in 18 natural populations across Africa. A total of 34,339 SNPs were identified, including 3.11% non-synonymous segregating sites. Overall, the nucleotide diversity was low, and the Tajima’s D neutrality test was negative, indicating an excess of low frequency SNPs in the fru gene. The allelic frequencies of the non-synonymous SNPs were low (freq < 0.26), except for two SNPs identified at high frequencies (freq > 0.8) in the zinc-finger A and B protein domains. The conservation score was variable throughout the fru gene, with maximum values in the exonic regions compared to the intronic regions. These results showed a low genetic variation overall in the exonic regions, especially the male sex-specific exon and the BTB-exon 1 of the fru gene. These findings will facilitate the development of an effective gene drive construct targeting the fru gene that can rapidly spread without encountering resistance in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahamadi Kientega
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 545, Burkina Faso
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale Tropicale, Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso
| | - Nace Kranjc
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nouhoun Traoré
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 545, Burkina Faso
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale Tropicale, Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso
| | - Honorine Kaboré
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 545, Burkina Faso
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale Tropicale, Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso
| | - Dieudonné Diloma Soma
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 545, Burkina Faso
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale Tropicale, Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso
| | - Ioanna Morianou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Moussa Namountougou
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 545, Burkina Faso
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale Tropicale, Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso
| | - Adrien Marie Gaston Belem
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale Tropicale, Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso
| | - Abdoulaye Diabaté
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 545, Burkina Faso
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8
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Barillas-Mury C, Ribeiro JMC, Valenzuela JG. Understanding pathogen survival and transmission by arthropod vectors to prevent human disease. Science 2022; 377:eabc2757. [PMID: 36173836 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc2757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Many endemic poverty-associated diseases, such as malaria and leishmaniasis, are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Pathogens must interact with specific molecules in the vector gut, the microbiota, and the vector immune system to survive and be transmitted. The vertebrate host, in turn, is infected when the pathogen and vector-derived factors, such as salivary proteins, are delivered into the skin by a vector bite. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of the biology of pathogen transmission from the human to the vector and back, from the vector to the host. We also highlight recent advances in the biology of vector-borne disease transmission, which have translated into additional strategies to prevent human disease by either reducing vector populations or by disrupting their ability to transmit pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
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9
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Grogan C, Bennett M, Lampe DJ. An evaluation of fusion partner proteins for paratransgenesis in Asaia bogorensis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273568. [PMID: 36048823 PMCID: PMC9436115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes transmit many pathogens responsible for human diseases, such as malaria which is caused by parasites in the genus Plasmodium. Current strategies to control vector-transmitted diseases are increasingly undermined by mosquito and pathogen resistance, so additional methods of control are required. Paratransgenesis is a method whereby symbiotic bacteria are genetically modified to affect the mosquito’s phenotype by engineering them to deliver effector molecules into the midgut to kill parasites. One paratransgenesis candidate is Asaia bogorensis, a Gram-negative bacterium colonizing the midgut, ovaries, and salivary glands of Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. Previously, engineered Asaia strains using native signals to drive the release of the antimicrobial peptide, scorpine, fused to alkaline phosphatase were successful in significantly suppressing the number of oocysts formed after a blood meal containing P. berghei. However, these strains saw high fitness costs associated with the production of the recombinant protein. Here, we report evaluation of five different partner proteins fused to scorpine that were evaluated for effects on the growth and fitness of the transgenic bacteria. Three of the new partner proteins resulted in significant levels of protein released from the Asaia bacterium while also significantly reducing the prevalence of mosquitoes infected with P. berghei. Two partners performed as well as the previously tested Asaia strain that used alkaline phosphatase in the fitness analyses, but neither exceeded it. It may be that there is a maximum level of fitness and parasite inhibition that can be achieved with scorpine being driven constitutively, and that use of a Plasmodium specific effector molecule in place of scorpine would help to mitigate the stress on the symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Grogan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Marissa Bennett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - David J. Lampe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Kojin BB, Compton A, Adelman ZN, Tu Z. Selective targeting of biting females to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:791-804. [PMID: 35952630 PMCID: PMC9372635 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors for a number of infectious diseases. Only females feed on blood to provision for their embryos and, in doing so, transmit pathogens to the associated vertebrate hosts. Therefore, sex is an important phenotype in the context of genetic control programs, both for sex separation in the rearing facilities to avoid releasing biting females and for ways to distort the sex ratio towards nonbiting males. We review recent progress in the fundamental knowledge of sex determination and sex chromosomes in mosquitoes and discuss new methods to achieve sex separation and sex ratio distortion to help control mosquito-borne infectious diseases. We conclude by suggesting a few critical areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca B Kojin
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Austin Compton
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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11
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Abstract
Insects have evolved highly diverse genetic sex-determination mechanisms and a relatively balanced male to female sex ratio is generally expected. However, selection may shift the optimal sex ratio while meiotic drive and endosymbiont manipulation can result in sex ratio distortion (SRD). Recent advances in sex chromosome genomics and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing brought significant insights into the molecular regulators of sex determination in an increasing number of insects and provided new ways to engineer SRD. We review these advances and discuss both naturally occurring and engineered SRD in the context of the Anthropocene. We emphasize SRD-mediated biological control of insects to help improve One Health, sustain agriculture, and conserve endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Compton
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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12
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Zhao Y, Jin B, Liu P, Xiao X, Cai L, Xie Z, Kong L, Liu T, Yang W, Wu Y, Gu J, Tu Z, James AA, Chen XG. The AalNix3&4 isoform is required and sufficient to convert Aedes albopictus females into males. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010280. [PMID: 35737710 PMCID: PMC9258803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes albopictus is one of the most invasive insect species in the world and an effective vector for many important arboviruses. We reported previously that Ae. albopictus Nix (AalNix) is the male-determining factor of this species. However, whether AalNix alone is sufficient to initiate male development is unknown. Transgenic lines that express each of the three AalNix isoforms from the native promoter were obtained using piggyBac transformation. We verified the stable expression of AalNix isoforms in the transgenic lines and confirm that one isoform, AalNix3&4, is sufficient to convert females into fertile males (pseudo-males) that are indistinguishable from wild-type males. We also established a stable sex-converted female mosquito strain, AalNix3&4-♂4-pseudo-male. The pseudo-male mosquitoes can fly and mate normally with wild-type female, although their mating competitiveness is lower than wild-type. This work further clarifies the role of AalNix in the sex determination pathway and will facilitate the development of Ae. albopictus control strategies that rely on male-only releases such as SIT and sex-ratio distortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Zhao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Binbin Jin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiwen Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaolin Xiao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Cai
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhensheng Xie
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Kong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinbao Gu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and the Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine California United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine California United States of America
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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13
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Agarwal A, Sarma DK, Chaurasia D, Maan HS. Novel molecular approaches to combat vectors and vector-borne viruses: Special focus on RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms. Acta Trop 2022; 233:106539. [PMID: 35623398 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, zika, yellow fever etc pose significant burden among the infectious diseases globally, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Globalization, deforestation, urbanization, climate change, uncontrolled population growth, inadequate waste management and poor vector-management infrastructure have all contributed to the expansion of vector habitats and subsequent increase in vector-borne diseases throughout the world. Conventional vector control methods, such as use of insecticides, have significant negative environmental repercussions in addition to developing resistance in vectors. Till date, a very few vaccines or antiviral therapies have been approved for the treatment of vector borne diseases. In this review, we have discussed emerging molecular approaches like CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas-9, sterile insect technique (SIT), release of insects carrying a dominant lethal (RIDL), Wolbachia (virus transmission blocking) and RNA interference (RNAi) to combat vector and vector-borne viruses. Due to the extensive advancements in RNAi research, a special focus has been given on its types, biogenesis, mechanism of action, delivery and experimental studies evaluating their application as anti-mosquito and anti-viral agent. These technologies appear to be highly promising in terms of contributing to vector control and antiviral drug development, and hence can be used to reduce global vector and vector-borne disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Agarwal
- State Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
| | - Devojit Kumar Sarma
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal 462030, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Deepti Chaurasia
- State Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Harjeet Singh Maan
- State Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India
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14
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Liu C, Cao J, Zhang H, Wu J, Yin J. Profiling of Transcriptome-Wide N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Modifications and Identifying m6A Associated Regulation in Sperm Tail Formation in Anopheles sinensis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094630. [PMID: 35563020 PMCID: PMC9101273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent discoveries of reversible N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation on messenger RNA (mRNA) and mapping of m6A methylomes in many species have revealed potential regulatory functions of this RNA modification by m6A players—writers, readers, and erasers. Here, we first profile transcriptome-wide m6A in female and male Anopheles sinensis and reveal that m6A is also a highly conserved modification of mRNA in mosquitoes. Distinct from mammals and yeast but similar to Arabidopsis thaliana, m6A in An. sinensis is enriched not only around the stop codon and within 3′-untranslated regions but also around the start codon and 5′-UTR. Gene ontology analysis indicates the unique distribution pattern of m6A in An. sinensis is associated with mosquito sex-specific pathways such as tRNA wobble uridine modification and phospholipid-binding in females, and peptidoglycan catabolic process, exosome and signal recognition particle, endoplasmic reticulum targeting, and RNA helicase activity in males. The positive correlation between m6A deposition and mRNA abundance indicates that m6A can play a role in regulating gene expression in mosquitoes. Furthermore, many spermatogenesis-associated genes, especially those related to mature sperm flagellum formation, are positively modulated by m6A methylation. A transcriptional regulatory network of m6A in An. sinensis is first profiled in the present study, especially in spermatogenesis, which may provide a new clue for the control of this disease-transmitting vector.
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15
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Ranian K, Kashif Zahoor M, Zulhussnain M, Ahmad A. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated sex-ratio distortion by sex specific gene editing in Aedes aegypti. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 29:3015-3022. [PMID: 35531165 PMCID: PMC9073027 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is a principal vector for several viruses including dengue virus, chikungunya virus and zika virus. Economic burden of mosquito-borne diseases, relative failure of traditional control strategies and the resistance development against insecticides enforces towards genetic manipulation of Ae. aegypti. Hence, a key gene doublesex (Aedsx) which regulate sex differentiation and alternatively splices to form male and female specific transcripts (AedsxM and AedsxF ). CRISPR/Cas9 technique was employed to sex specifically disrupt the female-specific isoforms, AedsxF1 and AedsxF2 , both of which were shown to be expressed only in female mosquitoes. Targeting of dsxF at the developmental stage has resulted in various phenotypic anomalies of adult females. The rate of adult mutation phenotype was recorded between 29 and 37% along with anomalies of wing size, proboscis length and reduction in the sizes of pre-blood-meal and after blood-meal ovaries in dsxF1 and dsxF2 microinjected groups, respectively. These findings can be correlated with reduced fecundity rate of Go female, where AedsxF1 and AedsxF2 groups showed reduction rate in range of 23-31%. Furthermore, hatching inhibition rate of 28 to 36% was also observed in G1 generation when compared to the wildtype. Overall, these results demonstrated that AedsxF disruption has resulted in multiple female traits disruption including decreased fertility of the female that could directly or indirectly associated with reproduction and its disease transmitting abilities. All these findings suggesting that CRISPR works to alter the developmental pathways as predicted, and therefore this method potentially gives us the basis for the sex-ratio distortion system as genetic control approach for the management of this vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwal Ranian
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Aftab Ahmad
- Centre of Department of Biochemistry/US-Pakistan Center for Advance Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (USPCAS-AFS), University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
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16
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Mysore K, Sun L, Li P, Roethele JB, Misenti JK, Kosmach J, Igiede J, Duman-Scheel M. A Conserved Female-Specific Requirement for the GGT Gene in Mosquito Larvae Facilitates RNAi-Mediated Sex Separation in Multiple Species of Disease Vector Mosquitoes. Pathogens 2022; 11:169. [PMID: 35215113 PMCID: PMC8879970 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although several emerging mosquito control technologies are dependent on mass releases of adult males, methods of sex-sorting that can be implemented globally have not yet been established. RNAi screens led to the discovery of siRNA, which targets gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), a gene which is well conserved in multiple species of mosquitoes and located at the sex-determining M locus region in Aedes aegypti. Silencing the A. aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae, Culex pipiens, and Culex quinquefasciatus GGT genes resulted in female larval death, with no significant impact on male survival. Generation of yeast strains that permitted affordable expression and oral delivery of shRNA corresponding to mosquito GGT genes facilitated larval target gene silencing and generated significantly increased 5 males:1 female adult ratios in each species. Yeast targeting a conserved sequence in Culex GGT genes was incorporated into a larval mass-rearing diet, permitting the generation of fit adult male C. pipiens and C. quinquefasciatus, two species for which labor-intensive manual sex separation had previously been utilized. The results of this study indicate that female-specific yeast-based RNAi larvicides may facilitate global implementation of population-based control strategies that require releases of sterile or genetically modified adult males, and that yeast RNAi strategies can be utilized in various species of mosquitoes that have progressed to different stages of sex chromosome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshava Mysore
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Longhua Sun
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Joseph B. Roethele
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Joi K. Misenti
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - John Kosmach
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Jessica Igiede
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (L.S.); (P.L.); (J.B.R.); (J.K.M.); (J.K.); (J.I.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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17
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Dronina J, Samukaite-Bubniene U, Ramanavicius A. Towards application of CRISPR-Cas12a in the design of modern viral DNA detection tools (Review). J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:41. [PMID: 35062978 PMCID: PMC8777428 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01246-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early detection of viral pathogens by DNA-sensors in clinical samples, contaminated foods, soil or water can dramatically improve clinical outcomes and reduce the socioeconomic impact of diseases such as COVID-19. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and its associated protein Cas12a (previously known as CRISPR-Cpf1) technology is an innovative new-generation genomic engineering tool, also known as 'genetic scissors', that has demonstrated the accuracy and has recently been effectively applied as appropriate (E-CRISPR) DNA-sensor to detect the nucleic acid of interest. The CRISPR-Cas12a from Prevotella and Francisella 1 are guided by a short CRISPR RNA (gRNA). The unique simultaneous cis- and trans- DNA cleavage after target sequence recognition at the PAM site, sticky-end (5-7 bp) employment, and ssDNA/dsDNA hybrid cleavage strategies to manipulate the attractive nature of CRISPR-Cas12a are reviewed. DNA-sensors based on the CRISPR-Cas12a technology for rapid, robust, sensitive, inexpensive, and selective detection of virus DNA without additional sample purification, amplification, fluorescent-agent- and/or quencher-labeling are relevant and becoming increasingly important in industrial and medical applications. In addition, CRISPR-Cas12a system shows great potential in the field of E-CRISPR-based bioassay research technologies. Therefore, we are highlighting insights in this research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julija Dronina
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology, Department of Functional Materials and Electronics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio av. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Urte Samukaite-Bubniene
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology, Department of Functional Materials and Electronics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio av. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geoscience, Vilnius University, Naugarduko str. 24, 03225, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arunas Ramanavicius
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology, Department of Functional Materials and Electronics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio av. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geoscience, Vilnius University, Naugarduko str. 24, 03225, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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18
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Abstract
Gene drives are an emerging technology with tremendous potential to impact public health, agriculture, and conservation. While gene drives can be described simply as selfish genetic elements (natural or engineered) that are inherited at non-Mendelian rates, upon closer inspection, engineered gene drive technology is a complex class of biotechnology that uses a diverse number of genetic features to bias rates of inheritance. As a complex technology, gene drives can be difficult to comprehend, not only for the public and stakeholders, but also to risk assessors, risk managers, and decisionmakers not familiar with gene drive literature. To address this difficulty, we describe a gene drive classification system based on 5 functional characteristics. These characteristics include a gene drive's objective, mechanism, release threshold, range, and persistence. The aggregate of the gene drive's characteristics can be described as the gene drive's architecture. Establishing a classification system to define different gene drive technologies should make them more comprehensible to the public and provide a framework to guide regulatory evaluation and decisionmaking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Overcash
- Justin Overcash, PhD, is an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Science Fellow, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Riverdale, MD
| | - Andrew Golnar
- Andrew Golnar, PhD, is an APHIS Science Fellow, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO
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19
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Walker M, Chandrasegaran K, Vinauger C, Robert MA, Childs LM. Modeling the effects of Aedes aegypti's larval environment on adult body mass at emergence. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009102. [PMID: 34807904 PMCID: PMC8608295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes vector harmful pathogens that infect millions of people every year, and developing approaches to effectively control mosquitoes is a topic of great interest. However, the success of many control measures is highly dependent upon ecological, physiological, and life history traits of mosquito species. The behavior of mosquitoes and their potential to vector pathogens can also be impacted by these traits. One trait of interest is mosquito body mass, which depends upon many factors associated with the environment in which juvenile mosquitoes develop. Our experiments examined the impact of larval density on the body mass of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are important vectors of dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and other pathogens. To investigate the interactions between the larval environment and mosquito body mass, we built a discrete time mathematical model that incorporates body mass, larval density, and food availability and fit the model to our experimental data. We considered three categories of model complexity informed by data, and selected the best model within each category using Akaike’s Information Criterion. We found that the larval environment is an important determinant of the body mass of mosquitoes upon emergence. Furthermore, we found that larval density has greater impact on body mass of adults at emergence than on development time, and that inclusion of density dependence in the survival of female aquatic stages in models is important. We discuss the implications of our results for the control of Aedes mosquitoes and on their potential to spread disease. In this work we examined how the environment in which juvenile mosquitoes develop affects their adult body size as measured by adult body mass. Adult size has potential impacts on mosquito behavior and the ability of mosquitoes to transmit disease. We used a combination of experimental work and mathematical modeling to determine important factors affecting adult mosquito body size. In our model, we incorporated potentially interacting aspects of the mosquito life cycle and traits that affect mosquito growth as juveniles. These aspects include body mass, density of the population, and level of available resource. We compared different models to determine the one that best describes the data. As mass at emergence is linked to the success of adult mosquitoes to produce offspring and to their ability transmit pathogens, we discuss how important influences on development and survival of young mosquitoes affect mosquito control and disease spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Walker
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Current address: Laboratory for Systems Medicine, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | | | - Clément Vinauger
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Robert
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Lauren M. Childs
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Mysore K, Sun L, Roethele JB, Li P, Igiede J, Misenti JK, Duman-Scheel M. A conserved female-specific larval requirement for MtnB function facilitates sex separation in multiple species of disease vector mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:338. [PMID: 34174948 PMCID: PMC8234664 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04844-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clusters of sex-specific loci are predicted to shape the boundaries of the M/m sex-determination locus of the dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti, but the identities of these genes are not known. Identification and characterization of these loci could promote a better understanding of mosquito sex chromosome evolution and lead to the elucidation of new strategies for male mosquito sex separation, a requirement for several emerging mosquito population control strategies that are dependent on the mass rearing and release of male mosquitoes. This investigation revealed that the methylthioribulose-1-phosphate dehydratase (MtnB) gene, which resides adjacent to the M/m locus and encodes an evolutionarily conserved component of the methionine salvage pathway, is required for survival of female larvae. Results Larval consumption of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) strains engineered to express interfering RNA corresponding to MtnB resulted in target gene silencing and significant female death, yet had no impact on A. aegypti male survival or fitness. Integration of the yeast larvicides into mass culturing protocols permitted scaled production of fit adult male mosquitoes. Moreover, silencing MtnB orthologs in Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus revealed a conserved female-specific larval requirement for MtnB among different species of mosquitoes. Conclusions The results of this investigation, which may have important implications for the study of mosquito sex chromosome evolution, indicate that silencing MtnB can facilitate sex separation in multiple species of disease vector insects. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04844-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshava Mysore
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Longhua Sun
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Joseph B Roethele
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jessica Igiede
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Joi K Misenti
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA. .,University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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Grogan C, Bennett M, Moore S, Lampe D. Novel Asaia bogorensis Signal Sequences for Plasmodium Inhibition in Anopheles stephensi. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:633667. [PMID: 33664722 PMCID: PMC7921796 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.633667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes vector many pathogens that cause human disease, such as malaria that is caused by parasites in the genus Plasmodium. Current strategies to control vector-transmitted diseases are hindered by mosquito and pathogen resistance, so research has turned to altering the microbiota of the vectors. In this strategy, called paratransgenesis, symbiotic bacteria are genetically modified to affect the mosquito's phenotype by engineering them to deliver antiplasmodial effector molecules into the midgut to kill parasites. One paratransgenesis candidate is Asaia bogorensis, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium colonizing the midgut, ovaries, and salivary glands of Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. However, common secretion signals from E. coli and closely related species do not function in Asaia. Here, we report evaluation of 20 native Asaia N-terminal signal sequences predicted from bioinformatics for their ability to mediate increased levels of antiplasmodial effector molecules directed to the periplasm and ultimately outside the cell. We tested the hypothesis that by increasing the amount of antiplasmodials released from the cell we would also increase parasite killing power. We scanned the Asaia bogorensis SF2.1 genome to identify signal sequences from extra-cytoplasmic proteins and fused these to the reporter protein alkaline phosphatase. Six signals resulted in significant levels of protein released from the Asaia bacterium. Three signals were successfully used to drive the release of the antimicrobial peptide, scorpine. Further testing in mosquitoes demonstrated that these three Asaia strains were able to suppress the number of oocysts formed after a blood meal containing P. berghei to a significantly greater degree than wild-type Asaia, although prevalence was not decreased beyond levels obtained with a previously isolated siderophore receptor signal sequence. We interpret these results to indicate that there is a maximum level of suppression that can be achieved when the effectors are constitutively driven due to stress on the symbionts. This suggests that simply increasing the amount of antiplasmodial effector molecules in the midgut is insufficient to create superior paratransgenic bacterial strains and that symbiont fitness must be considered as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Grogan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Marissa Bennett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Shannon Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - David Lampe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Main BJ, Marcantonio M, Johnston JS, Rasgon JL, Brown CT, Barker CM. Whole-genome assembly of Culex tarsalis. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkaa063. [PMID: 33585869 PMCID: PMC8022977 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mosquito, Culex tarsalis, is a key vector in the western United States due to its role in transmission of zoonotic arboviruses that affect human health. Extensive research has been conducted on Cx. tarsalis ecology, feeding behavior, vector competence, autogeny, diapause, genetics, and insecticide resistance. Population genetic analyses in the western U.S. have identified at least three genetic clusters that are geographically distinct. However, in-depth genetic studies have been hindered by the lack of a reference genome. In this study, we present the first whole-genome assembly of this mosquito species (CtarK1) based on PacBio HiFi reads from high-molecular-weight DNA extracted from a single male. The CtarK1 assembly is 790 Mb with an N50 of 58 kb, which is 27% larger than Culex quinquefasciatus (578 Mb). This difference appears to be mostly composed of transposable elements. To annotate CtarK1, we used a previously assembled Cx. tarsalis transcriptome and approximately 17,456 protein genes from Cx. quinquefasciatus (N = 17,456). Genome completeness was assessed using the Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) tool, which identified 84.8% of the 2799 Dipteran BUSCO genes. Using a Bayesian phylogeny based on mitochondrial genomes, we place Cx. tarsalis in the context of other mosquito species and estimate the divergence between Cx. tarsalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus to be between 15.8 and 22.2 million years ago (MYA). Important next steps from this work include characterizing the genetic basis of diapause and sex determination in Culex mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley J Main
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Matteo Marcantonio
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - J Spencer Johnston
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - C Titus Brown
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Christopher M Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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23
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Lule-Chávez AN, Carballar-Lejarazú R, Cabrera-Ponce JL, Lanz-Mendoza H, Ibarra JE. Genetic transformation of mosquitoes by microparticle bombardment. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:30-41. [PMID: 33009687 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes constitute the major living beings causing human deaths in the world. They are vectors of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, zika, filariases, chikungunya, among other diseases. New strategies to control/eradicate mosquito populations are based on newly developed genetic manipulation techniques. However, genetic transformation of mosquitoes is a major technical bottleneck due to low efficiency, the need of sophisticated equipment, and highly trained personnel. The present report shows the transgenerational genetic transformation of Aedes aegypti, using the particle inflow gun (PIG), by integrating the ecfp gene in the AAEL000582 mosquito gene with the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, achieving a mean efficiency of 44.5% of bombarded individuals (G0) that showed ECFP expression in their tissues, and a mean of 28.5% transformation efficiency measured on G1 individuals. The same transformation technique was used to integrate the egfp/scorpine genes cloned in the Minos transposon pMinHygeGFP into the Anopheles albimanus genome, achieving a mean efficiency of 43.25% of bombarded individuals (G0) that showed EGFP expression in their tissues. Once the technique was standardized, transformation of Ae. aegypti neonate larvae and An. albimanus eggs was achieved when exposed to gold microparticle bombardment. Integration of genes and heterologous protein expression were confirmed by PCR, sequencing, fluorescent microscopy, mass spectrometry, Western blot and dot blot analyses. Transgenerational inheritance of the transgenes was observed only on Ae. aegypti, as all transformed An. albimanus individuals died at the pupal stage of the G0 generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Lule-Chávez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (Cinvestav-IPN), Unidad Irapuato, Irapuato, Mexico
| | - R Carballar-Lejarazú
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (Cinvestav-IPN), Unidad Irapuato, Irapuato, Mexico
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - J L Cabrera-Ponce
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (Cinvestav-IPN), Unidad Irapuato, Irapuato, Mexico
| | - H Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - J E Ibarra
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (Cinvestav-IPN), Unidad Irapuato, Irapuato, Mexico
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24
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O’Leary S, Adelman ZN. 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. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008971. [PMID: 33338046 PMCID: PMC7781531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is a vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Current vector control strategies such as community engagement, source reduction, and insecticides have not been sufficient to prevent viral outbreaks. Thus, interest in novel strategies involving genetic engineering is growing. Female mosquitoes rely on flight to mate with males and obtain a bloodmeal from a host. We hypothesized that knockout of genes specifically expressed in female mosquitoes associated with the indirect flight muscles would result in a flightless female mosquito. Using CRISPR-Cas9 we generated loss-of-function mutations in several genes hypothesized to control flight in mosquitoes, including actin (AeAct-4) and myosin (myo-fem) genes expressed specifically in the female flight muscle. Genetic knockout of these genes resulted in 100% flightless females, with homozygous males able to fly, mate, and produce offspring, albeit at a reduced rate when compared to wild type males. Interestingly, we found that while AeAct-4 was haplosufficient, with most heterozygous individuals capable of flight, this was not the case for myo-fem, where about half of individuals carrying only one intact copy could not fly. These findings lay the groundwork for developing novel mechanisms of controlling Ae. aegypti populations, and our results suggest that this mechanism could be applicable to other vector species of mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah O’Leary
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zach N. Adelman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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25
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Batool A, Malik F, Andrabi KI. Expansion of the CRISPR/Cas Genome-Sculpting Toolbox: Innovations, Applications and Challenges. Mol Diagn Ther 2020; 25:41-57. [PMID: 33185860 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-020-00500-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of the versatile gene-editing technology using programmable sequence-specific endonuclease system (CRISPR-Cas9) has instigated a major upheaval in biomedical research. In a brief span of time, CRISPR/Cas has been adopted by research labs around the globe because of its potential for significant progress and applicability in terms of efficiency, versatility and simplicity. It is a breakthrough technique for systematic genetic engineering, genome labelling, epigenetic and transcriptional modulation, and multiplexed gene editing, amongst others. This review provides an illustrative overview of the current research trends using CRISPR/Cas technology. We highlight the latest developments in CRISPR/Cas technique including CRISPR imaging, discovery of novel CRISPR systems, and applications in altering the genome, epigenome or RNA in different organisms. Finally, we address the potential challenges of this technique for its future use. Development of new CRISPR/Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asiya Batool
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Branch Srinagar, Jammu, J&K, 190005, India. .,Department of Biotechnology, Science Block, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India.
| | - Fayaz Malik
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Branch Srinagar, Jammu, J&K, 190005, India
| | - Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Block, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India
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26
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Reuss F, Kreß A, Braun M, Magdeburg A, Pfenninger M, Müller R, Mehring M. Knowledge on exotic mosquitoes in Germany, and public acceptance and effectiveness of Bti and two self-prepared insecticides against Aedes japonicus japonicus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18901. [PMID: 33144626 PMCID: PMC7641113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75780-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases are a continuous challenge to public health. To prevent transmission, Integrated Vector Management (IVM) applies preventive, control, and communicational strategies that should be feasible, environmentally benign, and sustainable. IVM shows higher efficiency when being supported by local communities. Accordingly, we applied a social-ecological approach to identify the public acceptance of control measures and effectiveness of Eurocent coins containing copper, clove essential oil (EO) and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). We performed field and laboratory experiments to demonstrate the toxicity of alternative substances against Aedes japonicus japonicus. In expert interviews, we asked for (1) knowledge on exotic mosquitoes in Germany, (2) potential chances of alternative substances in future mosquito control, and (3) their needs for further clarification before application. We assessed potential users' (4) awareness of exotic mosquitoes and (5) willingness to apply the substances. Self-prepared copper coins and EO were clearly preferred by potential users over Bti. However, 100% mortality of the sensitive first stage could not be reached with the number of ten 5-Eurocent coins showing limited toxicity. Clove EO was shown to work as oviposition deterrent and larvicide with a LC50 of 17 mg l-1 (95% CI: 15-19 mg l-1). This study shows the importance of potential users' perspectives in IVM and the need for authorised insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Reuss
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Straße 14-16, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Aljoscha Kreß
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Markus Braun
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Axel Magdeburg
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Straße 14-16, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Markus Pfenninger
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Straße 14-16, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE TBG (Translational Biodiversity Genomics), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iOME), Johannes Gutenberg University, Gresemundweg 2, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ruth Müller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marion Mehring
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Straße 14-16, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- ISOE - Institute for Social-Ecological Research, Biodiversity and People, Hamburger Allee 45, 60486, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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27
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De La Vega SR, Smith DJ, Fritz JA, Lucchesi EF, Huang S. Gynandromorphic Specimens of Culex erythrothorax, Culex pipiens Complex, Culex tarsalis, and Culiseta incidens Collected in Northern San Joaquin Valley, California. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2020; 36:208-211. [PMID: 33600593 DOI: 10.2987/20-6943.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gynandromorphic insects bear both male and female characteristics. In mosquitoes, gynandromorphy has been documented in multiple species and it can include many different combinations of sex-specific traits such as plumose or filiform antennae, short or elongated palpi, and male or female terminalia. Here we report 4 gynandromorphic specimens of Culex erythrothorax, Cx. pipiens complex, Cx. tarsalis, and Culiseta incidens collected in the Northern San Joaquin Valley of California. Each of the specimens exhibited heads with female characteristics of short palpi and filiform antennae while displaying fully developed external male terminalia including basistyles and dististyles. The potential implication of gynandromorphism in genetic control of mosquito vectors is discussed.
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28
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Nix alone is sufficient to convert female Aedes aegypti into fertile males and myo-sex is needed for male flight. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:17702-17709. [PMID: 32661163 PMCID: PMC7395513 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001132117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of a dominant male-determining locus (M-locus) in one of a pair of autosomes establishes the male sex in the dengue fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. The Ae. aegypti M-locus contains 30 genes, including Nix, a previously reported male-determining factor. Here we show that the Nix transgene alone was sufficient to convert females into fertile males, which continued to produce sex-converted progeny. We also show that a second M-locus gene named myo-sex was needed for male flight. Nix-mediated sex conversion was 100% penetrant, heritable, and stable, indicating great potential for developing mosquito-control strategies to reduce vector populations by female-to-male conversion. This work also sheds lights into the molecular basis of the function of the M-locus. A dominant male-determining locus (M-locus) establishes the male sex (M/m) in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Nix, a gene in the M-locus, was shown to be a male-determining factor (M factor) as somatic knockout of Nix led to feminized males (M/m) while transient expression of Nix resulted in partially masculinized females (m/m), with male reproductive organs but retained female antennae. It was not clear whether any of the other 29 genes in the 1.3-Mb M-locus are also needed for complete sex-conversion. Here, we report the generation of multiple transgenic lines that express Nix under the control of its own promoter. Genetic and molecular analyses of these lines provided insights unattainable from previous transient experiments. We show that the Nix transgene alone, in the absence of the M-locus, was sufficient to convert females into males with all male-specific sexually dimorphic features and male-like gene expression. The converted m/m males are flightless, unable to perform the nuptial flight required for mating. However, they were able to father sex-converted progeny when presented with cold-anesthetized wild-type females. We show that myo-sex, a myosin heavy-chain gene also in the M-locus, was required for male flight as knockout of myo-sex rendered wild-type males flightless. We also show that Nix-mediated female-to-male conversion was 100% penetrant and stable over many generations. Therefore, Nix has great potential for developing mosquito control strategies to reduce vector populations by female-to-male sex conversion, or to aid in a sterile insect technique that requires releasing only non-biting males.
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Bouyer J, Culbert NJ, Dicko AH, Pacheco MG, Virginio J, Pedrosa MC, Garziera L, Pinto ATM, Klaptocz A, Germann J, Wallner T, Salvador-Herranz G, Herrero RA, Yamada H, Balestrino F, Vreysen MJB. Field performance of sterile male mosquitoes released from an uncrewed aerial vehicle. Sci Robot 2020; 5:5/43/eaba6251. [DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aba6251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Genetic control methods of mosquito vectors of malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika are becoming increasingly popular due to the limitations of other techniques such as the use of insecticides. The sterile insect technique is an effective genetic control method to manage insect populations. However, it is crucial to release sterile mosquitoes by air to ensure homogeneous coverage, especially in large areas. Here, we report a fully automated adult mosquito release system operated from an uncrewed aerial vehicle or drone. Our system, developed and tested in Brazil, enabled a homogeneous dispersal of sterile male Aedes aegypti while maintaining their quality, leading to a homogeneous sterile-to-wild male ratio due to their aggregation in the same sites. Our results indicate that the released sterile males were able to compete with the wild males in mating with the wild females; thus, the sterile males were able to induce sterility in the native female population. The use of drones to implement the sterile insect technique will lead to improvements in areal coverage and savings in operational costs due to the requirement of fewer release sites and field staff.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Bouyer
- Unité Mixte de Recherche ASTRE, CIRAD, INRA, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - N. J. Culbert
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Integrative Biology and the Centre for Genomic Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
| | - A. H. Dicko
- WeRobotics, Rue d’Italie 11, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
- Statistics for Development–STATS4D, Sacre Coeur III, 1 bis, P.O 11000, Dakar, Senegal
| | - M. Gomez Pacheco
- Biofábrica Moscamed Brasil, Av. C1, 992 - Quadra D 13, Lote 15, Distrito Industrial do São Francisco, Bahia, Brazil
| | - J. Virginio
- Biofábrica Moscamed Brasil, Av. C1, 992 - Quadra D 13, Lote 15, Distrito Industrial do São Francisco, Bahia, Brazil
| | - M. C. Pedrosa
- Biofábrica Moscamed Brasil, Av. C1, 992 - Quadra D 13, Lote 15, Distrito Industrial do São Francisco, Bahia, Brazil
| | - L. Garziera
- Biofábrica Moscamed Brasil, Av. C1, 992 - Quadra D 13, Lote 15, Distrito Industrial do São Francisco, Bahia, Brazil
| | - A. T. Macedo Pinto
- Biofábrica Moscamed Brasil, Av. C1, 992 - Quadra D 13, Lote 15, Distrito Industrial do São Francisco, Bahia, Brazil
| | - A. Klaptocz
- WeRobotics, Rue d’Italie 11, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - J. Germann
- WeRobotics, Rue d’Italie 11, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T. Wallner
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
- WeRobotics, Rue d’Italie 11, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - G. Salvador-Herranz
- WeRobotics, Rue d’Italie 11, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (I3B), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - R. Argiles Herrero
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
| | - H. Yamada
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
| | - F. Balestrino
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
- Centro Agricoltura Ambiente “Giorgio Nicoli” S.r.l. (CAA), Via Sant’Agata, 835, 40014 Crevalcore BO, Italy
| | - M. J. B. Vreysen
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
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30
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McFarlane M, Almire F, Kean J, Donald CL, McDonald A, Wee B, Lauréti M, Varjak M, Terry S, Vazeille M, Gestuveo RJ, Dietrich I, Loney C, Failloux AB, Schnettler E, Pondeville E, Kohl A. The Aedes aegypti Domino Ortholog p400 Regulates Antiviral Exogenous Small Interfering RNA Pathway Activity and ago-2 Expression. mSphere 2020; 5:e00081-20. [PMID: 32269152 PMCID: PMC7142294 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00081-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Arboviruses are pathogens of humans and animals. A better understanding of the interactions between these pathogens and the arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, that transmit them is necessary to develop novel control measures. A major antiviral pathway in the mosquito vector is the exogenous small interfering RNA (exo-siRNA) pathway, which is induced by arbovirus-derived double-stranded RNA in infected cells. Although recent work has shown the key role played by Argonaute-2 (Ago-2) and Dicer-2 (Dcr-2) in this pathway, the regulatory mechanisms that govern these pathways have not been studied in mosquitoes. Here, we show that the Domino ortholog p400 has antiviral activity against the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (Togaviridae) both in Aedes aegypti-derived cells and in vivo Antiviral activity of p400 was also demonstrated against chikungunya virus (Togaviridae) and Bunyamwera virus (Peribunyaviridae) but not Zika virus (Flaviviridae). p400 was found to be expressed across mosquito tissues and regulated ago-2 but not dcr-2 transcript levels in A. aegypti mosquitoes. These findings provide novel insights into the regulation of an important aedine exo-siRNA pathway effector protein, Ago-2, by the Domino ortholog p400. They add functional insights to previous observations of this protein's antiviral and RNA interference regulatory activities in Drosophila melanogasterIMPORTANCE Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors of human-infecting arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). In recent decades, the incidence of arthropod-borne viral infections has grown dramatically. Vector competence is influenced by many factors, including the mosquito's antiviral defenses. The exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is a major antiviral response restricting arboviruses in mosquitoes. While the roles of the effectors of this pathway, Argonaute-2 and Dicer-2 are well characterized, nothing is known about its regulation in mosquitoes. In this study, we demonstrate that A. aegypti p400, whose ortholog Domino in Drosophila melanogaster is a chromatin-remodeling ATPase member of the Tip60 complex, regulates siRNA pathway activity and controls ago-2 expression levels. In addition, we found p400 to have antiviral activity against different arboviruses. Therefore, our study provides new insights into the regulation of the antiviral response in A. aegypti mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie McFarlane
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Floriane Almire
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Joy Kean
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Claire L Donald
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Alma McDonald
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Bryan Wee
- Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences & Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mathilde Lauréti
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Margus Varjak
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Sandra Terry
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Marie Vazeille
- Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Rommel J Gestuveo
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Philippines
| | - Isabelle Dietrich
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Colin Loney
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Esther Schnettler
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Emilie Pondeville
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Alain Kohl
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland
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Liu P, Jin B, Li X, Zhao Y, Gu J, Biedler JK, Tu ZJ, Chen XG. Nix is a male-determining factor in the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 118:103311. [PMID: 31901476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The initial signal that governs sex determination is highly variable among insects. A homolog of Nix, the male-determining factor in Aedes aegypti, was previously found in the Asian tiger mosquito Ae. albopictus. Here we show that the Ae. albopictus Nix (AalNix) is more complex in gene structure and splice isoforms than its Ae. aegypti homolog (AaeNix). AalNix shows a similar transcription profile compared to AaeNix. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockouts of AalNix in vivo and in the Ae. albopictus C6/36 cells lead to a shift of dsx and fru splicing towards the female isoforms. G0 knockout males showed feminization and deformities including feminized antennae, absence or partial absence of gonocoxites, gonostyli, testes and accessory glands, and the formation of ovaries. Despite ~70 MY of divergence, Nix functions as a conserved male-determining factor in the two most important arboviral vectors, namely Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwen Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Binbin Jin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Xiaocong Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Yijie Zhao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Jinbao Gu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - James K Biedler
- Department of Biochemistry and the Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Zhijian Jake Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and the Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
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32
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Pereira Cabral B, da Graça Derengowski Fonseca M, Mota FB. Long term prevention and vector control of arboviral diseases: What does the future hold? Int J Infect Dis 2019; 89:169-174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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33
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Xu Y, Dong Y, Xu Y, Lai Z, Jin B, Hao Y, Gao Y, Sun Y, Chen XG, Gu J. Differentiation of Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA Expression Profiles in Male and Female Aedes albopictus. Front Genet 2019; 10:975. [PMID: 31681418 PMCID: PMC6802003 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asia tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is an important vector of arboviruses, and females can transmit pathogens such as the dengue, zika, and chikungunya viruses. Understanding sex-related differences in this mosquito is fundamental for vector control. However, there are no reports of systematic characterization of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in male and female Ae. albopictus. To investigate the roles of coding and non-coding RNAs in both sexes of Ae. albopictus, RNA sequencing was performed on male and female samples. The results showed 305 differentially expressed protein-coding genes (DEGs) between males and females, of which 198 were highly expressed in males and 125 were highly expressed in females. Sex-associated gene ontology terms were enriched. Analysis with the FEELnc software identified 2,623 novel lncRNAs, of which 26 showed male high expression and 11 showed female high expression. Quantitative real-time PCR of randomly selected DEGs and lncRNAs supported the validity of the RNA sequencing results. Knocking down male high-expressed gene AALF000433 in male adults reduced the egg hatching rate. This study provides valuable data on sex-specific expression of protein-coding genes and lncRNAs in adult Ae. albopictus, which will guide further studies aimed at understanding sex development and determination mechanisms in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunqiao Dong
- Reproductive Medical Center of Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yazhou Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zetian Lai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Binbin Jin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanqiang Hao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yonghui Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinbao Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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34
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Zheng W, Li Q, Sun H, Ali MW, Zhang H. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9-mediated mutagenesis of the multiple edematous wings gene induces muscle weakness and flightlessness in Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:222-234. [PMID: 30260055 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9) system is a versatile, efficient and heritable gene editing tool that can be useful for genome engineering. Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is a major pest of agriculture that causes great economic losses. We used the B. dorsalis multiple edematous wings (Bdmew) gene as the target gene to explore the effectiveness of CRISPR/Cas9 for B. dorsalis genome manipulation. We studied the physiological functions of the Bdmew gene, particularly those related to muscle development. Site-specific genome editing was feasible using direct microinjection of specific guide RNA and the Cas9-plasmid into B. dorsalis embryos. Mutation frequencies ranged from 12.1 to 30.2% in the injected generation. Mosaic G0, with the mew mutation, was heritable to the next generation. The G1 displayed a series of defective phenotypes including muscle weakness, flightlessness, failure to eclose, wing folds and unbalanced movement. These results demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 can act as a highly specific, efficient, heritable tool for genome manipulation in B. dorsalis and this has significance for gene function research and genetic control of pests. The Bdmew gene possesses key functions in muscle development of B. dorsalis. Bdmew mutations cause a series of serious defects by interfering with muscle development and may provide a means for controlling B. dorsalis via a gene-based method such as gene drive.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, China-Australia Joint Research Center for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Q Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, China-Australia Joint Research Center for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - H Sun
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, China-Australia Joint Research Center for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - M Waqar Ali
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, China-Australia Joint Research Center for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - H Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, China-Australia Joint Research Center for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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35
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Facchinelli L, North AR, Collins CM, Menichelli M, Persampieri T, Bucci A, Spaccapelo R, Crisanti A, Benedict MQ. Large-cage assessment of a transgenic sex-ratio distortion strain on populations of an African malaria vector. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:70. [PMID: 30728060 PMCID: PMC6366042 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3289-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Novel transgenic mosquito control methods require progressively more realistic evaluation. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of a transgene that causes a male-bias sex ratio on Anopheles gambiae target populations in large insectary cages. Methods Life history characteristics of Anopheles gambiae wild type and Ag(PMB)1 (aka gfp124L-2) transgenic mosquitoes, whose progeny are 95% male, were measured in order to parameterize predictive population models. Ag(PMB)1 males were then introduced at two ratios into large insectary cages containing target wild type populations with stable age distributions and densities. The predicted proportion of females and those observed in the large cages were compared. A related model was then used to predict effects of male releases on wild mosquitoes in a west African village. Results The frequency of transgenic mosquitoes in target populations reached an average of 0.44 ± 0.02 and 0.56 ± 0.02 after 6 weeks in the 1:1 and in the 3:1 release ratio treatments (transgenic male:wild male) respectively. Transgenic males caused sex-ratio distortion of 73% and 80% males in the 1:1 and 3:1 treatments, respectively. The number of eggs laid in the transgenic treatments declined as the experiment progressed, with a steeper decline in the 3:1 than in the 1:1 releases. The results of the experiment are partially consistent with predictions of the model; effect size and variability did not conform to the model in two out of three trials, effect size was over-estimated by the model and variability was greater than anticipated, possibly because of sampling effects in restocking. The model estimating the effects of hypothetical releases on the mosquito population of a West African village demonstrated that releases could significantly reduce the number of females in the wild population. The interval of releases is not expected to have a strong effect. Conclusions The biological data produced to parameterize the model, the model itself, and the results of the experiments are components of a system to evaluate and predict the performance of transgenic mosquitoes. Together these suggest that the Ag(PMB)1 strain has the potential to be useful for reversible population suppression while this novel field develops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Facchinelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Present address: Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Ace R North
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, New Radcliffe House, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - C Matilda Collins
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, 16-18 Princes Gardens, London, SW7 1NE, UK
| | - Miriam Menichelli
- Polo di Genomica Genetica e Biologia, Via mazzieri 3, 05100, Terni, Italy
| | - Tania Persampieri
- Polo di Genomica Genetica e Biologia, Via mazzieri 3, 05100, Terni, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bucci
- Polo di Genomica Genetica e Biologia, Via mazzieri 3, 05100, Terni, Italy
| | - Roberta Spaccapelo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building Imperial College Road South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Mark Q Benedict
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
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36
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Identification and characterization of a mosquito-specific eggshell organizing factor in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000068. [PMID: 30620728 PMCID: PMC6324781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases are responsible for several million human deaths annually around the world. One approach to controlling mosquito populations is to disrupt molecular processes or antagonize novel metabolic targets required for the production of viable eggs. To this end, we focused our efforts on identifying proteins required for completion of embryonic development that are mosquito selective and represent potential targets for vector control. We performed bioinformatic analyses to identify putative protein-coding sequences that are specific to mosquito genomes. Systematic RNA interference (RNAi) screening of 40 mosquito-specific genes was performed by injecting double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This experimental approach led to the identification of eggshell organizing factor 1 (EOF1, AAEL012336), which plays an essential role in the formation and melanization of the eggshell. Eggs deposited by EOF1-deficient mosquitoes have nonmelanized fragile eggshells, and all embryos are nonviable. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis identified that exochorionic eggshell structures are strongly affected in EOF1-deficient mosquitoes. EOF1 is a potential novel target, to our knowledge, for exploring the identification and development of mosquito-selective and biosafe small-molecule inhibitors. An RNAi functional screen of 40 Aedes aegypti genes specific to the mosquito lineage helped to identify EOF1, a protein that plays an essential role in mosquito eggshell formation and melanization. Mosquito-borne pathogens infect millions of people worldwide, and the rise in insecticide resistance is exacerbating this problem. A new generation of environmentally safe insecticides will be essential to control insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. One potential route to such novel insecticide targets is the identification of proteins specifically needed for mosquito reproduction. Female mosquitoes feed on blood to produce eggs, which are covered with an eggshell; using RNA interference screening of mosquito-specific genes in Aedes aegypti (the mosquito that transmits yellow fever), we identified the eggshell organizing factor 1 (EOF1) protein that plays an essential role in eggshell melanization and embryonic development. Nearly 100% of eggs laid by EOF1-deficient females had a defective eggshell and were not viable. Bleach assays on eggs further confirmed that mosquito-specific EOF1 is required for embryonic development in A. aegypti. Additional experiments revealed that EOF1 also plays an essential role in eggshell formation in Aedes albopictus (the tiger mosquito, a carrier of Zika virus and dengue fever). We hypothesize that EOF1 has evolved within the Culicidae family to effect eggshell formation and therefore maximize egg survival. The results provide new insights, to our knowledge, into mosquito egg maturation and eggshell synthesis and could lead to key advances in the field of mosquito vector control.
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37
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Nash A, Urdaneta GM, Beaghton AK, Hoermann A, Papathanos PA, Christophides GK, Windbichler N. Integral gene drives for population replacement. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio037762. [PMID: 30498016 PMCID: PMC6361204 DOI: 10.1242/bio.037762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A first generation of CRISPR-based gene drives has now been tested in the laboratory in a number of organisms, including malaria vector mosquitoes. Challenges for their use in the area-wide genetic control of vector-borne disease have been identified, including the development of target site resistance, their long-term efficacy in the field, their molecular complexity, and practical and legal limitations for field testing of both gene drive and coupled anti-pathogen traits. We have evaluated theoretically the concept of integral gene drive (IGD) as an alternative paradigm for population replacement. IGDs incorporate a minimal set of molecular components, including drive and anti-pathogen effector elements directly embedded within endogenous genes - an arrangement that in theory allows targeting functionally conserved coding sequences without disrupting their function. Autonomous and non-autonomous IGD strains could be generated, optimized, regulated and imported independently. We performed quantitative modeling comparing IGDs with classical replacement drives and show that selection for the function of the hijacked host gene can significantly reduce the establishment of resistant alleles in the population, while drive occurring at multiple genomic loci prolongs the duration of transmission blockage in the face of pre-existing target site variation. IGD thus has potential as a more durable and flexible population replacement strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Nash
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Giulia Mignini Urdaneta
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andrea K Beaghton
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Centre of Functional Genomics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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38
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Gomulski LM, Mariconti M, Di Cosimo A, Scolari F, Manni M, Savini G, Malacrida AR, Gasperi G. The Nix locus on the male-specific homologue of chromosome 1 in Aedes albopictus is a strong candidate for a male-determining factor. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:647. [PMID: 30583734 PMCID: PMC6304787 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3215-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Global concern over the rapid expansion of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and its vector competence has highlighted an urgent need to improve currently available population control methods, like the Sterile Insect Technique. Knowledge of the sex determination cascade is a prerequisite for the development of early-stage sexing systems. To this end, we have characterised the putative sex determination gene, Nix, in this species. In Aedes species the chromosome complement consists of three pairs of chromosomes. The sex determination alleles are linked to the smallest homomorphic chromosome. Results We identified the male-specific chromosome 1 of Ae. albopictus that carries the putative male-determining gene Nix. We have also characterised the complete genomic sequence of the Nix gene which is composed of two exons and a short intron. The gene displays different levels of intron retention during development. Comparison of DNA sequences covering most of the Nix gene from individuals across the species range revealed no polymorphism. Conclusions Our characterisation of the Nix gene in Ae. albopictus represents an initial step in the analysis of the sex determination cascade in this species. We found evidence of intron retention (IR) in Nix. IR might play a role in regulating the expression of Nix during development. Our results provide the basis for the development of new genetic control strategies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3215-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marina Mariconti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Cosimo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mosè Manni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Gasperi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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Abstract
Background Aedes aegypti is an important mosquito vector that transmits arboviruses that cause devastating diseases including Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya. Improved understanding of gene regulation in the early development of Ae. aegypti will facilitate genetic studies and help the development of novel control strategies of this important disease vector. Results In this study, we demonstrated through transgenic assays that the promoter of an endogenous early zygotic gene KLC2 could drive gene expression in the syncytial blastoderm and early cellular blastoderm, which is a stage that the developing germline and the rest of embryo are accessible to genetic manipulation. An unexpected expression of the reporter gene in transgenic male testes was also observed. Further analysis confirmed the expression of the endogenous KLC2 in the testes, which was not detected in the previous RNA sequencing data. Conclusions Our finding provided a new promoter element that can be used in future genetic studies and applications in Ae. aegypti. Moreover, our transgenic reporter assays showed that cautions are needed when interpreting RNA sequencing data as transient or tissue-specific transcription may go undetected by RNAseq. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3210-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanqi Hu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, 303 Fralin, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.,Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Zhijian Jake Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, 303 Fralin, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA. .,Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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40
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Yang Y, Wang YH, Chen XE, Tian D, Xu X, Li K, Huang YP, He L. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Tyrosine hydroxylase knockout resulting in larval lethality in Agrotis ipsilon. INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 25:1017-1024. [PMID: 30328670 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is involved in insect melanin and the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway. TH as an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine is the first step reaction in the pathway. Although TH has been proven to affect the pigmentation of the epidermis and development in many insects, there is no report about physiological function of the TH gene in Agrotis ipsilon. Here we cloned the TH gene from A. ipsilon. Semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that AiTH was expressed at all development stages. Moreover, its high expression levels in the head and epidermis suggest that it is mainly related to pigment deposition and insect development. Then, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 system to target the AiTH gene: deletion events were detected at the target sites. Compared with the control group, a few mutants with the phenomenon of narrowing in the egg shell and embryos can develop but cannot hatch; the other hatched embryos were seriously dehydrated after hatching and died within the first day. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that TH was down-regulated in AiTH mutants. Here, our work demonstrated that AiTH plays an important role in growth and development of newly hatched larvae; meanwhile, it would be a promising target to explore a control strategy for A. ipsilon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao-Hui Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi-En Chen
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Tian
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Xu
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Ping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin He
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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41
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Matthews BJ, Dudchenko O, Kingan SB, Koren S, Antoshechkin I, Crawford JE, Glassford WJ, Herre M, Redmond SN, Rose NH, Weedall GD, Wu Y, Batra SS, Brito-Sierra CA, Buckingham SD, Campbell CL, Chan S, Cox E, Evans BR, Fansiri T, Filipović I, Fontaine A, Gloria-Soria A, Hall R, Joardar VS, Jones AK, Kay RGG, Kodali VK, Lee J, Lycett GJ, Mitchell SN, Muehling J, Murphy MR, Omer AD, Partridge FA, Peluso P, Aiden AP, Ramasamy V, Rašić G, Roy S, Saavedra-Rodriguez K, Sharan S, Sharma A, Smith ML, Turner J, Weakley AM, Zhao Z, Akbari OS, Black WC, Cao H, Darby AC, Hill CA, Johnston JS, Murphy TD, Raikhel AS, Sattelle DB, Sharakhov IV, White BJ, Zhao L, Aiden EL, Mann RS, Lambrechts L, Powell JR, Sharakhova MV, Tu Z, Robertson HM, McBride CS, Hastie AR, Korlach J, Neafsey DE, Phillippy AM, Vosshall LB. Improved reference genome of Aedes aegypti informs arbovirus vector control. Nature 2018; 563:501-507. [PMID: 30429615 PMCID: PMC6421076 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0692-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 315] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infect more than 400 million people each year with dangerous viral pathogens including dengue, yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya. Progress in understanding the biology of mosquitoes and developing the tools to fight them has been slowed by the lack of a high-quality genome assembly. Here we combine diverse technologies to produce the markedly improved, fully re-annotated AaegL5 genome assembly, and demonstrate how it accelerates mosquito science. We anchored physical and cytogenetic maps, doubled the number of known chemosensory ionotropic receptors that guide mosquitoes to human hosts and egg-laying sites, provided further insight into the size and composition of the sex-determining M locus, and revealed copy-number variation among glutathione S-transferase genes that are important for insecticide resistance. Using high-resolution quantitative trait locus and population genomic analyses, we mapped new candidates for dengue vector competence and insecticide resistance. AaegL5 will catalyse new biological insights and intervention strategies to fight this deadly disease vector. An improved, fully re-annotated Aedes aegypti genome assembly (AaegL5) provides insights into the sex-determining M locus, chemosensory systems that help mosquitoes to hunt humans and loci involved in insecticide resistance and will help to generate intervention strategies to fight this deadly disease vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Matthews
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA. .,Kavli Neural Systems Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Olga Dudchenko
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Theoretical and Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Sergey Koren
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - William J Glassford
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Margaret Herre
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Kavli Neural Systems Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seth N Redmond
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noah H Rose
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Gareth D Weedall
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.,Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Yang Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sanjit S Batra
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carlos A Brito-Sierra
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Steven D Buckingham
- Centre for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK
| | - Corey L Campbell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Saki Chan
- Bionano Genomics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eric Cox
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin R Evans
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Thanyalak Fansiri
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Igor Filipović
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Albin Fontaine
- Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité de Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département des Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 2000, Paris, France.,Aix Marseille Université, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, UMR Vecteurs - Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), IHU - Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Andrea Gloria-Soria
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Vinita S Joardar
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrew K Jones
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Raissa G G Kay
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Vamsi K Kodali
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joyce Lee
- Bionano Genomics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gareth J Lycett
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | - Michael R Murphy
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Arina D Omer
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Frederick A Partridge
- Centre for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Aviva Presser Aiden
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vidya Ramasamy
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Gordana Rašić
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sourav Roy
- Department of Entomology, Center for Disease Vector Research and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Karla Saavedra-Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Shruti Sharan
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Atashi Sharma
- Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | | | - Joe Turner
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Zhilei Zhao
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Omar S Akbari
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - William C Black
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Han Cao
- Bionano Genomics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alistair C Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Catherine A Hill
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - J Spencer Johnston
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Terence D Murphy
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander S Raikhel
- Department of Entomology, Center for Disease Vector Research and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - David B Sattelle
- Centre for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK
| | - Igor V Sharakhov
- Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Laboratory of Ecology, Genetics and Environmental Protection, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | | | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erez Lieberman Aiden
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Theoretical and Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Richard S Mann
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Louis Lambrechts
- Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 2000, Paris, France
| | - Jeffrey R Powell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maria V Sharakhova
- Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Laboratory of Ecology, Genetics and Environmental Protection, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Hugh M Robertson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Carolyn S McBride
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam M Phillippy
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Leslie B Vosshall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA.,Kavli Neural Systems Institute, New York, NY, USA
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42
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Turner J, Krishna R, Van't Hof AE, Sutton ER, Matzen K, Darby AC. The sequence of a male-specific genome region containing the sex determination switch in Aedes aegypti. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:549. [PMID: 30342535 PMCID: PMC6195999 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aedes aegypti is the principal vector of several important arboviruses. Among the methods of vector control to limit transmission of disease are genetic strategies that involve the release of sterile or genetically modified non-biting males, which has generated interest in manipulating mosquito sex ratios. Sex determination in Ae. aegypti is controlled by a non-recombining Y chromosome-like region called the M locus, yet characterisation of this locus has been thwarted by the repetitive nature of the genome. In 2015, an M locus gene named Nix was identified that displays the qualities of a sex determination switch. Results With the use of a whole-genome bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, we amplified and sequenced a ~200 kb region containing the male-determining gene Nix. In this study, we show that Nix is comprised of two exons separated by a 99 kb intron primarily composed of repetitive DNA, especially transposable elements. Conclusions Nix, an unusually large and highly repetitive gene, exhibits features in common with Y chromosome genes in other organisms. We speculate that the lack of recombination at the M locus has allowed the expansion of repeats in a manner characteristic of a sex-limited chromosome, in accordance with proposed models of sex chromosome evolution in insects. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3090-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Turner
- Centre for Genomic Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.,Oxitec Ltd., 71 Innovation Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RQ, UK
| | - Ritesh Krishna
- Centre for Genomic Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.,IBM Research UK, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, WA4 4AD, UK
| | - Arjen E Van't Hof
- Centre for Genomic Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.,Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Elizabeth R Sutton
- Oxitec Ltd., 71 Innovation Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RQ, UK.,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.,Sistemic, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP, UK
| | - Kelly Matzen
- Oxitec Ltd., 71 Innovation Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RQ, UK
| | - Alistair C Darby
- Centre for Genomic Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
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43
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Shane JL, Grogan CL, Cwalina C, Lampe DJ. Blood meal-induced inhibition of vector-borne disease by transgenic microbiota. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4127. [PMID: 30297781 PMCID: PMC6175951 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06580-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases are a substantial portion of the global disease burden; one of the deadliest of these is malaria. Vector control strategies have been hindered by mosquito and pathogen resistances, and population alteration approaches using transgenic mosquitos still have many hurdles to overcome before they can be implemented in the field. Here we report a paratransgenic control strategy in which the microbiota of Anopheles stephensi was engineered to produce an antiplasmodial effector causing the mosquito to become refractory to Plasmodium berghei. The midgut symbiont Asaia was used to conditionally express the antiplasmodial protein scorpine only when a blood meal was present. These blood meal inducible Asaia strains significantly inhibit pathogen infection, and display improved fitness compared to strains that constitutively express the antiplasmodial effector. This strategy may allow the antiplasmodial bacterial strains to survive and be transmitted through mosquito populations, creating an easily implemented and enduring vector control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackie L Shane
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - Christina L Grogan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - Caroline Cwalina
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - David J Lampe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
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44
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Challenges and opportunities in controlling mosquito-borne infections. Nature 2018; 559:490-497. [PMID: 30046071 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0318-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the tropical regions. Despite much progress in the control of malaria, malaria-associated morbidity remains high, whereas arboviruses-most notably dengue-are responsible for a rising burden of disease, even in middle-income countries that have almost completely eliminated malaria. Here I discuss how new interventions offer the promise of considerable future reductions in disease burden. However, I emphasize that intervention programmes need to be underpinned by rigorous trials and quantitative epidemiological analyses. Such analyses suggest that the long-term goal of elimination is more feasible for dengue than for malaria, even if malaria elimination would offer greater overall health benefit to the public.
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45
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Burt A, Deredec A. Self-limiting population genetic control with sex-linked genome editors. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.0776. [PMID: 30051868 PMCID: PMC6083257 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In male heterogametic species the Y chromosome is transmitted solely from fathers to sons, and is selected for based only on its impacts on male fitness. This fact can be exploited to develop efficient pest control strategies that use Y-linked editors to disrupt the fitness of female descendants. With simple population genetic and dynamic models we show that Y-linked editors can be substantially more efficient than other self-limiting strategies and, while not as efficient as gene drive approaches, are expected to have less impact on non-target populations with which there is some gene flow. Efficiency can be further augmented by simultaneously releasing an autosomal X-shredder construct, in either the same or different males. Y-linked editors may be an attractive option to consider when efficient control of a species is desired in some locales but not others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Burt
- Life Sciences, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Anne Deredec
- UMR BIOGER, INRA AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue Lucien Bretignières, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
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46
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De La Fuente J, Villar M, Estrada-Peña A, Olivas JA. High throughput discovery and characterization of tick and pathogen vaccine protective antigens using vaccinomics with intelligent Big Data analytic techniques. Expert Rev Vaccines 2018; 17:569-576. [DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1493928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José De La Fuente
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Margarita Villar
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | - José A. Olivas
- Technologies and Information Systems Institute UCLM, Ciudad Real, Spain
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47
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Gillum D, Carrera LAO, Mendoza IA, Bates P, Bowens D, Jetson Z, Maldonado J, Mancini C, Miraldi M, Moritz R, O’Donnell M, Kiani S. The 2017 Arizona Biosecurity Workshop. APPLIED BIOSAFETY 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/1535676018781854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Alberto Ochoa Carrera
- National Reference Laboratory, Institute for Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference, InDRE, Colonia Lomas de Plateros, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, Ciudad de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Juan Maldonado
- Arizona State University Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ, USA
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48
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de la Fuente J. Controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases…looking forward. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1354-1357. [PMID: 29656834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) represent a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. Several approaches including the use of chemicals with repellency and parasiticidal activity, habitat management, genetic selection of hosts with higher resistance to ticks, and vaccines have been implemented for reducing the risk of TBDs. However, the application of latest gene editing technologies in combination with vaccines likely combining tick and pathogen derived antigens and other control measures should result in the development of effective, safe, and environmentally sound integrated control programs for the prevention and control of TBDs. This paper is not a review of current approaches for the control of ticks and TBDs, but an opinion about future directions in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA, USA.
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49
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Adelman ZN, Pledger D, Myles KM. Developing standard operating procedures for gene drive research in disease vector mosquitoes. Pathog Glob Health 2017; 111:436-447. [PMID: 29350584 PMCID: PMC6066849 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1424514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous arthropod species represent potential targets for gene-drive-based population suppression or replacement, including those that transmit diseases, damage crops, or act as deleterious invasive species. Containment measures for gene drive research in arthropods have been discussed in the literature, but the importance of developing safe and effective standard operating procedures (SOPs) for these types of experiments has not been adequately addressed. Concisely written SOPs link safe work practices, containment measures, institutional training, and research-specific protocols. Here we discuss information to be considered by principal investigators, biosafety officers, and institutional biosafety committees as they work together to develop SOPs for experiments involving gene drive in arthropods, and describe various courses of action that can be used to maintain the effectiveness of SOPs through evaluation and revision. The information provided herein will be especially useful to investigators and regulatory personnel who may lack extensive experience working with arthropods under containment conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach N. Adelman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - David Pledger
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Kevin M. Myles
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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50
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Wintle BC, Boehm CR, Rhodes C, Molloy JC, Millett P, Adam L, Breitling R, Carlson R, Casagrande R, Dando M, Doubleday R, Drexler E, Edwards B, Ellis T, Evans NG, Hammond R, Haseloff J, Kahl L, Kuiken T, Lichman BR, Matthewman CA, Napier JA, ÓhÉigeartaigh SS, Patron NJ, Perello E, Shapira P, Tait J, Takano E, Sutherland WJ. A transatlantic perspective on 20 emerging issues in biological engineering. eLife 2017; 6:e30247. [PMID: 29132504 PMCID: PMC5685469 DOI: 10.7554/elife.30247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in biological engineering are likely to have substantial impacts on global society. To explore these potential impacts we ran a horizon scanning exercise to capture a range of perspectives on the opportunities and risks presented by biological engineering. We first identified 70 potential issues, and then used an iterative process to prioritise 20 issues that we considered to be emerging, to have potential global impact, and to be relatively unknown outside the field of biological engineering. The issues identified may be of interest to researchers, businesses and policy makers in sectors such as health, energy, agriculture and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie C Wintle
- Centre for the Study of Existential RiskUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Christian R Boehm
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdamGermany
- Centre for the Study of Existential RiskUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Catherine Rhodes
- Centre for the Study of Existential RiskUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Jennifer C Molloy
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Piers Millett
- Future of Humanity InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura Adam
- Department of Electrical EngineeringUniversity of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Malcolm Dando
- Division of Peace Studies and the Bradford Centre for International DevelopmentUniversity of BradfordBradfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert Doubleday
- Centre for Science and PolicyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Eric Drexler
- Future of Humanity InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Brett Edwards
- Department of Politics, Languages & International StudiesUniversity of BathBathUnited Kingdom
| | - Tom Ellis
- Centre for Synthetic Biology and InnovationImperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Nicholas G Evans
- Department of PhilosophyUniversity of MassachusettsLowellUnited States
| | | | - Jim Haseloff
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Linda Kahl
- BioBricks FoundationSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Todd Kuiken
- Genetic Engineering & Society CenterNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Seán S ÓhÉigeartaigh
- Centre for the Study of Existential RiskUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Philip Shapira
- Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Alliance Manchester Business SchoolUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
- School of Public PolicyGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
| | - Joyce Tait
- Innogen InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Eriko Takano
- Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
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