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Meccariello A, Hou S, Davydova S, Fawcett JD, Siddall A, Leftwich PT, Krsticevic F, Papathanos PA, Windbichler N. Gene drive and genetic sex conversion in the global agricultural pest Ceratitis capitata. Nat Commun 2024; 15:372. [PMID: 38191463 PMCID: PMC10774415 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44399-1] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Homing-based gene drives are recently proposed interventions promising the area-wide, species-specific genetic control of harmful insect populations. Here we characterise a first set of gene drives in a tephritid agricultural pest species, the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (medfly). Our results show that the medfly is highly amenable to homing-based gene drive strategies. By targeting the medfly transformer gene, we also demonstrate how CRISPR-Cas9 gene drive can be coupled to sex conversion, whereby genetic females are transformed into fertile and harmless XX males. Given this unique malleability of sex determination, we modelled gene drive interventions that couple sex conversion and female sterility and found that such approaches could be effective and tolerant of resistant allele selection in the target population. Our results open the door for developing gene drive strains for the population suppression of the medfly and related tephritid pests by co-targeting female reproduction and shifting the reproductive sex ratio towards males. They demonstrate the untapped potential for gene drives to tackle agricultural pests in an environmentally friendly and economical way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Meccariello
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Shibo Hou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Serafima Davydova
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Alexandra Siddall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Philip T Leftwich
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Flavia Krsticevic
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Meccariello A, Krsticevic F, Colonna R, Del Corsano G, Fasulo B, Papathanos PA, Windbichler N. Engineered sex ratio distortion by X-shredding in the global agricultural pest Ceratitis capitata. BMC Biol 2021; 19:78. [PMID: 33863334 PMCID: PMC8051031 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01010-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic sex ratio distorters are systems aimed at effecting a bias in the reproductive sex ratio of a population and could be applied for the area-wide control of sexually reproducing insects that vector disease or disrupt agricultural production. One example of such a system leading to male bias is X-shredding, an approach that interferes with the transmission of the X-chromosome by inducing multiple DNA double-strand breaks during male meiosis. Endonucleases targeting the X-chromosome and whose activity is restricted to male gametogenesis have recently been pioneered as a means to engineer such traits. RESULTS Here, we enabled endogenous CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a activity during spermatogenesis of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata, a worldwide agricultural pest of extensive economic significance. In the absence of a chromosome-level assembly, we analysed long- and short-read genome sequencing data from males and females to identify two clusters of abundant and X-chromosome-specific sequence repeats. When targeted by gRNAs in conjunction with Cas9, cleavage of these repeats yielded a significant and consistent distortion of the sex ratio towards males in independent transgenic strains, while the combination of distinct distorters induced a strong bias (~ 80%). CONCLUSION We provide a first demonstration of CRISPR-based sex distortion towards male bias in a non-model organism, the global pest insect Ceratitis capitata. Although the sex ratio bias reached in our study would require improvement, possibly through the generation and combination of additional transgenic lines, to result in a system with realistic applicability in the field, our results suggest that strains with characteristics suitable for field application can now be developed for a range of medically or agriculturally relevant insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Meccariello
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Flavia Krsticevic
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rita Colonna
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Giuseppe Del Corsano
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Barbara Fasulo
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London, UK.
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Bai X, Zeng T, Ni XY, Su HA, Huang J, Ye GY, Lu YY, Qi YX. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the eye pigmentation gene white leads to alterations in colour of head spots in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:837-849. [PMID: 31106480 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The intensely studied white gene is widely used as a genetic marker in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we cloned and characterized the white gene in an important pest of the fruit industry, Bactrocera dorsalis, to understand its functional role in pigmentation. We obtained BdWhite knockout strains, based on the wild-type strain, using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system, and found that mutants lost pigmentation in the compound eye and their black head spots. We then examined differences in the expression levels of genes associated with melanin pigmentation between mutants and the wild-type strain using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. We found that transcription levels of the Bd-yellow1 were lower in the head of mutants than in the wild-type strain, and there were no significant differences in expression of the other six genes between mutants and the wild type. Since yellow is critical for melanin biosynthesis (Heinze et al., Scientific Reports. 2017;7:4582), the lower levels of expression of Bd-yellow1 in mutants led to reduced dark pigmentation in head spots. Our results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that white may play a functional role in cuticle pigmentation by affecting the expression of yellow.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Bai
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - T Zeng
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - X-Y Ni
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - H-A Su
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - J Huang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - G-Y Ye
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Y-Y Lu
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Y-X Qi
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Molecular identification and detection of Wohlfahrtia magnifica in ovine vulvar myiasis in Gansu, China. Trop Anim Health Prod 2019; 51:2629-2634. [PMID: 31134557 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-019-01925-y] [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: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic myiasis causes substantial economic losses to farmers worldwide. In the present study, six flocks of sheep (2261 sheep) were investigated in Gansu, China, and 207 of 552 larvae were genetically characterized based on three genes, including cyt b, EF-1α, and white gene, by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. A survey of sheep in China revealed that the prevalence of vulvar myiasis of six sheep flocks was 5.00% (11/220, Flock1), 4.85% (10/206, Flock2), 4.50% (9/200, Flock3), 5.00% (15/300, Flock4), 4.68% (15/320, Flock5), 0% (0/1015, Flock6), respectively. The sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that only Wohlfahrtia magnifica was detected in the field samples. This is the first report of ovine vulvar myiasis caused by W. magnifica in Gansu, China. Some prophylactic measures are strongly recommended to reduce the risk of sheep acquiring traumatic myiasis in Gansu, China.
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Meccariello A, Monti SM, Romanelli A, Colonna R, Primo P, Inghilterra MG, Del Corsano G, Ramaglia A, Iazzetti G, Chiarore A, Patti F, Heinze SD, Salvemini M, Lindsay H, Chiavacci E, Burger A, Robinson MD, Mosimann C, Bopp D, Saccone G. Highly efficient DNA-free gene disruption in the agricultural pest Ceratitis capitata by CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10061. [PMID: 28855635 PMCID: PMC5577161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10347-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean fruitfly Ceratitis capitata (medfly) is an invasive agricultural pest of high economic impact and has become an emerging model for developing new genetic control strategies as an alternative to insecticides. Here, we report the successful adaptation of CRISPR-Cas9-based gene disruption in the medfly by injecting in vitro pre-assembled, solubilized Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) loaded with gene-specific single guide RNAs (sgRNA) into early embryos. When targeting the eye pigmentation gene white eye (we), a high rate of somatic mosaicism in surviving G0 adults was observed. Germline transmission rate of mutated we alleles by G0 animals was on average above 52%, with individual cases achieving nearly 100%. We further recovered large deletions in the we gene when two sites were simultaneously targeted by two sgRNAs. CRISPR-Cas9 targeting of the Ceratitis ortholog of the Drosophila segmentation paired gene (Ccprd) caused segmental malformations in late embryos and in hatched larvae. Mutant phenotypes correlate with repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) lesions in the two targeted genes. This simple and highly effective Cas9 RNP-based gene editing to introduce mutations in C. capitata will significantly advance the design and development of new effective strategies for pest control management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Meccariello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Simona Maria Monti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), CNR, 80134, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Romanelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80134, Napoli, Italy
| | - Rita Colonna
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pasquale Primo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Ramaglia
- Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giovanni Iazzetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonia Chiarore
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Center Villa Dohrn for Benthic Ecology, Punta San Pietro, 80077, Ischia, Italy
| | - Francesco Patti
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Center Villa Dohrn for Benthic Ecology, Punta San Pietro, 80077, Ischia, Italy
| | - Svenia D Heinze
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Marco Salvemini
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Helen Lindsay
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Elena Chiavacci
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Alexa Burger
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Mark D Robinson
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Bopp
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Saccone
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126, Napoli, Italy.
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Qi W, Ma X, He W, Chen W, Zou M, Gurr GM, Vasseur L, You M. Characterization and expression profiling of ATP-binding cassette transporter genes in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). BMC Genomics 2016; 17:760. [PMID: 27678067 PMCID: PMC5039799 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3096-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are one of the major transmembrane protein families found in all organisms and play important roles in transporting a variety of compounds across intra and extra cellular membranes. In some species, ABC transporters may be involved in the detoxification of substances such as insecticides. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a destructive pest of cruciferous crops worldwide, is an important species to study as it is resistant to many types of insecticides as well as biological control Bacillus thuringiensis toxins. RESULTS A total of 82 ABC genes were identified from our published P. xylostella genome, and grouped into eight subfamilies (ABCA-H) based on phylogenetic analysis. Genes of subfamilies ABCA, ABCC and ABCH were found to be expanded in P. xylostella compared with those in Bombyx mori, Manduca sexta, Heliconius melpomene, Danaus plexippus, Drosophila melanogaster, Tetranychus urticae and Homo sapiens. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that many of the ABC transporters in P. xylostella are orthologous to the well-studied ABC transporter genes in the seven other species. Transcriptome- and qRT-PCR-based analysis elucidated physiological effects of ABC gene expressions of P. xylostella which were developmental stage- and tissue-specific as well as being affected by whether or not the insects were from an insecticide-resistant strain. Two ABCC and one ABCA genes were preferentially expressed in midgut of the 4th-instar larvae of a susceptible strain (Fuzhou-S) suggesting their potential roles in metabolizing plant defensive chemicals. Most of the highly expressed genes in insecticide-resistant strains were also predominantly expressed in the tissues of Malpighian tubules and midgut. CONCLUSIONS This is the most comprehensive study on identification, characterization and expression profiling of ABC transporter genes in P. xylostella to date. The diversified features and expression patterns of this gene family may be associated with the evolutionary capacity of this species to develop resistance to a wide range of insecticides and biological toxins. Our findings provide a solid foundation for future functional studies on specific ABC transporter genes in P. xylostella, and for further understanding of their physiological roles and regulatory pathways in insecticide resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Qi
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xiaoli Ma
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Weiyi He
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Mingmin Zou
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Geoff M Gurr
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Graham Centre, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
| | - Liette Vasseur
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Minsheng You
- Institute of Applied Ecology and Research Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-Safety, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China. .,Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China. .,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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Anstead CA, Batterham P, Korhonen PK, Young ND, Hall RS, Bowles VM, Richards S, Scott MJ, Gasser RB. A blow to the fly — Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2016; 34:605-620. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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8
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Krosch MN, Schutze MK, Armstrong KF, Graham GC, Yeates DK, Clarke AR. A molecular phylogeny for the Tribe Dacini (Diptera: Tephritidae): Systematic and biogeographic implications. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2012; 64:513-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Revised: 05/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Tatematsu KI, Yamamoto K, Uchino K, Narukawa J, Iizuka T, Banno Y, Katsuma S, Shimada T, Tamura T, Sezutsu H, Daimon T. Positional cloning of silkworm white egg 2 (w-2) locus shows functional conservation and diversification of ABC transporters for pigmentation in insects. Genes Cells 2011; 16:331-42. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2011.01490.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Ready PD, Testa JM, Wardhana AH, Al-Izzi M, Khalaj M, Hall MJR. Phylogeography and recent emergence of the Old World screwworm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2009; 23 Suppl 1:43-50. [PMID: 19335829 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00771.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A previous study had identified an African and an Asian race of the Old World screwworm fly, Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve (Diptera: Calliphoridae), based on the 3' terminal 279 basepairs (bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The current study improved the phylogeographic resolution of cytochrome b for this species by characterizing more of the gene (the 3' terminal 715 bp) and by sampling more geographical populations, including Oman, Iran, Hong Kong and the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi and East Sumba. Strong support was found for recognizing an African race, but not for a monophyletic Asian race. The cladistic and genealogical relationships among the Asian populations were complex. There was sufficient genetic homogeneity throughout separate regions (mainland Asia and each Indonesian island) to suggest that there are no reproductive barriers within each region that might necessitate the production of more than one strain for control by the sterile insect technique (SIT). Primers were designed for the amplification by polymerase chain reaction of two nuclear loci, the highly conserved elongation factor-1alphagene and the less conserved white gene, and the preliminary results indicated that these genes showed the same pattern of small-scale regional variation as cytochrome b. The cytochrome b haplotypes are useful markers for identifying the geographical origins of any emerging infestations of the species: the absence of Indonesian and African haplotypes in the Middle East demonstrates that the large-scale transport of livestock is not spreading Old World screwworm.
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Ready
- Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, London, U.K.
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11
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Sexual development in Lucilia cuprina (Diptera, Calliphoridae) is controlled by the transformer gene. Genetics 2009; 182:785-98. [PMID: 19433631 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.109.100982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects use an amazing variety of genetic systems to control sexual development. A Y-linked male determining gene (M) controls sex in the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina, an important pest insect. In this study, we isolated the L. cuprina transformer (Lctra) and transformer2 (Lctra2) genes, which are potential targets of M. The LCTRA and LCTRA2 proteins are significantly more similar to homologs from tephritid insects than Drosophila. The Lctra transcript is alternatively spliced such that only females make a full-length protein and the presence of six TRA/TRA2 binding sites in the female first intron suggest that Lctra splicing is autoregulated as in tephritids. LCTRA is essential for female development as RNAi knockdown of Lctra mRNA leads to the development of male genitalia in XX adults. Analysis of Lctra expression during development shows that early and midstage male and female embryos express the female form of Lctra and males express only the male form by the first instar larval stage. Our results suggest that an autoregulatory loop sustains female development and that expression of M inhibits Lctra autoregulation, switching its splicing to the male form. The conservation of tra function and regulation in a Calliphorid insect shows that this sex determination system is not confined to Tephritidae. Isolation of these genes is an important step toward the development of a strain of L. cuprina suitable for a genetic control program.
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Wittkopp PJ, Beldade P. Development and evolution of insect pigmentation: genetic mechanisms and the potential consequences of pleiotropy. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2008; 20:65-71. [PMID: 18977308 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2008] [Accepted: 10/03/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Insect pigmentation is a premier model system in evolutionary and developmental biology. It has been at the heart of classical studies as well as recent breakthroughs. In insects, pigments are produced by epidermal cells through a developmental process that includes pigment patterning and synthesis. Many aspects of this process also impact other phenotypes, including behavior and immunity. This review discusses recent work on the development and evolution of insect pigmentation, with a focus on pleiotropy and its effects on color pattern diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia J Wittkopp
- 830 North University Avenue, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA.
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Gomulski LM, Dimopoulos G, Xi Z, Soares MB, Bonaldo MF, Malacrida AR, Gasperi G. Gene discovery in an invasive tephritid model pest species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. BMC Genomics 2008; 9:243. [PMID: 18500975 PMCID: PMC2427042 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2008] [Accepted: 05/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The medfly, Ceratitis capitata, is a highly invasive agricultural pest that has become a model insect for the development of biological control programs. Despite research into the behavior and classical and population genetics of this organism, the quantity of sequence data available is limited. We have utilized an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to obtain detailed information on transcriptome signatures that relate to a variety of physiological systems in the medfly; this information emphasizes on reproduction, sex determination, and chemosensory perception, since the study was based on normalized cDNA libraries from embryos and adult heads. Results A total of 21,253 high-quality ESTs were obtained from the embryo and head libraries. Clustering analyses performed separately for each library resulted in 5201 embryo and 6684 head transcripts. Considering an estimated 19% overlap in the transcriptomes of the two libraries, they represent about 9614 unique transcripts involved in a wide range of biological processes and molecular functions. Of particular interest are the sequences that share homology with Drosophila genes involved in sex determination, olfaction, and reproductive behavior. The medfly transformer2 (tra2) homolog was identified among the embryonic sequences, and its genomic organization and expression were characterized. Conclusion The sequences obtained in this study represent the first major dataset of expressed genes in a tephritid species of agricultural importance. This resource provides essential information to support the investigation of numerous questions regarding the biology of the medfly and other related species and also constitutes an invaluable tool for the annotation of complete genome sequences. Our study has revealed intriguing findings regarding the transcript regulation of tra2 and other sex determination genes, as well as insights into the comparative genomics of genes implicated in chemosensory reception and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 9, Pavia 27100, Italy.
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14
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Brogna S, Bourtzis K, Gomulski LM, Denaxa M, Babaratsas A, Gasperi G, Savakis C. Genomic organization and functional characterization of the alcohol dehydrogenase locus of Ceratitis capitata (Medfly). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2006; 15:259-68. [PMID: 16756545 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2006.00642.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 30 kb of genomic DNA enclosing the Adh locus from the medfly, Ceratitis capitata have been cloned and about 15 kb has been structurally and functionally characterized. The locus consists of two genes, Adh-1 and Adh-2, separated by an intergenic region, which is polymorphic in size ranging from approximately 6.4 kb to 8.1 kb. Both genes consist of three exons and two introns. The introns are below 200 bp in size, except the 1st intron of Adh-1, which is unexpectedly long, variable in size and contains a deleted mariner-like element (postdoc). The two genes are transcribed in different orientations. The Adh-2 gene shows the typical pattern of transcription seen in the homologous genes of Drosophilidae presenting high levels of expression in the fat body, gut and ovaries. The Adh-1 gene is only expressed in the body muscle tissues of embryos, larvae and adult flies, raising the question of what its biological function may be. A DNA fragment containing bases -102 to -1666 relative to the first base of the initiating ATG of Adh-1 is sufficient to drive the expression of a reporter gene in body muscles of Drosophila melanogaster embryos, larvae and adult flies. The study provides further insights into the evolution of the Adh genes of higher diptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Brogna
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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Salvemini M, Mauro U, Velaeti S, Polito C, Saccone G. A new Minos vector for eye-specific expression of white+ marker in Ceratitis capitata and in distantly related dipteran species. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2006; 15:341-9. [PMID: 16756553 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2006.00651.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The genetic transformation of insects by transposable elements is based on the use of selectable genetic markers required to identify transgenic individuals. Conserved regulatory sequences can be used to develop single constructs capable of adequate expression of a marker, across a range of different species. We present evidence that the Drosophila GBS regulatory element (Glass-binding site), derived from the Rh1 rhodopsin gene, is able to drive in vivo eye-specific expression of a Ccwhite+ transgene in the Mediterranean fruitfly Ceratitis capitata. The Ceratitis lineage diverged from that of Drosophila approximately 120 Myr ago. As the GBS regulatory sequence seems to be partially conserved in the more distantly related dipteran species Anopheles gambiae (250 Myr), we propose that the GBS may be widely useful for driving eye-specific expression in a wide range of dipteran species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Salvemini
- Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Genetics and Molecular Biology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Torti C, Gomulski LM, Bonizzoni M, Murelli V, Moralli D, Guglielmino CR, Raimondi E, Crisafulli D, Capy P, Gasperi G, Malacrida AR. Cchobo, a hobo-related sequence in Ceratitis capitata. Genetica 2005; 123:313-25. [PMID: 15954502 DOI: 10.1007/s10038-004-7126-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A hobo-related sequence, Cchobo, with high similarity to the Drosophila melanogaster HFL1 and hobo108 elements was isolated from the medfly. Thirteen PCR-derived clones, which share 97.9-100% DNA identity, were sequenced, seven of which do not show frame-shift or stop codon mutations in their conceptual translations. The consensus sequence has 99.7% DNA identity with the D. melanogaster hobo element HFLI. In a phylogenetic analysis with other hobo-related elements, Cchobo clusters with the HFL1 and hobo108 elements from D. melanogaster and hobo-related elements from D. simulans, D. mauritiana and Mamestra brassicae. These elements may have undergone horizontal transfer in the recent past. The genomic distribution of Cchobo was studied by FISH to mitotic and polytene chromosomes, which revealed that Cchobo is distributed within both the heterochromatin and euchromatin. Intra- and interstrain polymorphisms were detected both at euchromatic and heterochromatic sites. These findings suggest that active copies of the element may be present in the medfly genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Torti
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
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Gomulski LM, Torti C, Murelli V, Bonizzoni M, Gasperi G, Malacrida AR. Medfly transposable elements: diversity, evolution, genomic impact and possible applications. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2004; 34:139-148. [PMID: 14871610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2003.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2002] [Revised: 02/18/2003] [Accepted: 06/20/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The medfly genome has been shown to contain a rich assortment of transposable elements from the mariner, Tc1, hAT and gypsy/Ty3 families. These elements display different levels of diversity, abundance and distribution in the genome. The presence of actively transposing elements in the medfly genome is revealed by hybrid dysgenesis phenomena, insertion site polymorphisms and other genetic instabilities. The medfly has been a target of transformation studies involving the exogenous elements Minos, Hermes and piggyBac from three families. The presence of active endogenous homologous elements can have important implications for the stability of such transgenic lines. The potential applications of endogenous elements for medfly population analysis and control are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
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18
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Krzywinski J, Besansky NJ. Frequent intron loss in the white gene: a cautionary tale for phylogeneticists. Mol Biol Evol 2002; 19:362-6. [PMID: 11861897 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a004091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Conforti E, Barni S, Pisu MB, Vaccarone R, Malacrida AR, Bernocchi G. Cell death may regulate visual functionality in the retina of adults of the dipteran Ceratitis capitata. Neurosci Lett 2002; 317:156-60. [PMID: 11755263 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)02456-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The white eye mutation in the medfly Ceratitis capitata, like the homologous mutation in Drosophila melanogaster, was shown to impair visual function. Light and electron microscopy, combined with the DNA-end labelling histochemistry (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) technique), were used to investigate whether programmed cell death may contribute to the morpho-functional differences between the retina of adults from the white eye and wild type strains. Several photoreceptor nuclei in mature white eye flies appeared smaller and showed intensely Toluidine Blue-stained chromatin masses. At the ultrastructural level, they showed different stages of degeneration, resembling apoptotic figures. Positive TUNEL labelling in the white eye retina indicates that apoptosis may be a candidate mechanism for retinal cell degeneration in adult flies, where visual functionality is altered, to achieve the proper cell number. Apoptosis also appears to occur in the wild type retina in early adult life during normal tissue development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Conforti
- Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Centro di Studio per l'Istochimica del C.N.R., Università degli Studi di Pavia, Piazza Botta 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Pitts RJ, Zwiebel LJ. Isolation and characterization of the Xanthine dehydrogenase gene of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Genetics 2001; 158:1645-55. [PMID: 11514452 PMCID: PMC1461762 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/158.4.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) is a member of the molybdenum hydroxylase family of enzymes catalyzing the oxidation of hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid. The enzyme is also required for the production of one of the major Drosophila eye pigments, drosopterin. The XDH gene has been isolated in many species representing a broad cross section of the major groups of living organisms, including the cDNA encoding XDH from the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (CcXDH) described here. CcXDH is closely related to other insect XDHs and is able to rescue the phenotype of the Drosophila melanogaster XDH mutant, rosy, in germline transformation experiments. A previously identified medfly mutant, termed rosy, whose phenotype is suggestive of a disruption in XDH function, has been examined for possible mutations in the XDH gene. However, we find no direct evidence that a mutation in the CcXDH gene or that a reduction in the CcXDH enzyme activity is present in rosy medflies. Conclusive studies of the nature of the medfly rosy mutant will require rescue by germline transformation of mutant medflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Pitts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA
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