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Rawle DJ, Hugo LE, Cox AL, Devine GJ, Suhrbier A. Generating prophylactic immunity against arboviruses in vertebrates and invertebrates. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01016-6. [PMID: 38570719 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01016-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization recently declared a global initiative to control arboviral diseases. These are mainly caused by pathogenic flaviviruses (such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses) and alphaviruses (such as chikungunya and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses). Vaccines represent key interventions for these viruses, with licensed human and/or veterinary vaccines being available for several members of both genera. However, a hurdle for the licensing of new vaccines is the epidemic nature of many arboviruses, which presents logistical challenges for phase III efficacy trials. Furthermore, our ability to predict or measure the post-vaccination immune responses that are sufficient for subclinical outcomes post-infection is limited. Given that arboviruses are also subject to control by the immune system of their insect vectors, several approaches are now emerging that aim to augment antiviral immunity in mosquitoes, including Wolbachia infection, transgenic mosquitoes, insect-specific viruses and paratransgenesis. In this Review, we discuss recent advances, current challenges and future prospects in exploiting both vertebrate and invertebrate immune systems for the control of flaviviral and alphaviral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Rawle
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leon E Hugo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Abigail L Cox
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- GVN Centre of Excellence, Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andreas Suhrbier
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- GVN Centre of Excellence, Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Mishra P, Balaraman V, Fraser MJ. Maxizyme-mediated suppression of chikungunya virus replication and transmission in transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1286519. [PMID: 38188571 PMCID: PMC10766806 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1286519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen of significant public health importance. There are currently no prophylactic vaccines or therapeutics available to control CHIKV. One approach to arbovirus control that has been proposed is the replacement of transmission-competent mosquitoes with those that are refractory to virus infection. Several transgene effectors are being examined as potentially useful for this population replacement approach. We previously demonstrated the successful use of hammerhead ribozymes (hRzs) as an antiviral effector transgene to control CHIKV infection of, and transmission by, Aedes mosquitoes. In this report we examine a maxizyme approach to enhance the catalytic activity and prevent virus mutants from escaping these ribozymes. We designed a maxizyme containing minimized (monomer) versions of two hRzs we previously demonstrated to be the most effective in CHIKV suppression. Three versions of CHIKV maxizyme were designed: Active (Mz), inactive (ΔMz), and a connected CHIKV maxizyme (cMz). The maxizymes with their expression units (Ae-tRNA val promoter and its termination signal) were incorporated into lentivirus vectors with selection and visualization markers. Following transformation, selection, and single-cell sorting of Vero cells, clonal cell populations were infected with CHIKV at 0.05 and 0.5 MOI, and virus suppression was assessed using TCID50-IFA, RT-qPCR, and caspase-3 assays. Five transgenic mosquito lines expressing cMz were generated and transgene insertion sites were confirmed by splinkerette PCR. Our results demonstrate that Vero cell clones expressing Mz exhibited complete inhibition of CHIKV replication compared to their respective inactive control version or the two parent hRzs. Upon oral challenge of transgenic mosquitoes with CHIKV, three out of the five lines were completely refractory to CHIKV infection, and all five lines tested negative for salivary transmission. Altogether, this study demonstrates that maxizymes can provide a higher catalytic activity and viral suppression than hRzs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Malcolm J. Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
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Simões ML. Transgenic approaches in medical entomology: 2022 highlights. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1262-1268. [PMID: 37658779 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad105] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Transgenesis has emerged as a powerful tool to control arthropod vectors and the diseases they transmit. Here, we highlight the latest developments on transgenic approaches in ticks, Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes, based on recent findings and significant papers from 2022. We survey topics ranging from population replacement, population suppression, gene drive, sex ratio distortion, public engagement and capacity building, and gene editing in ticks. While presenting these advancements, we discuss the current challenges surrounding the application of arthropod transgenesis for the development of novel vector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Simões
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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Webb EM, Compton A, Rai P, Chuong C, Paulson SL, Tu Z, Weger-Lucarelli J. Expression of anti-chikungunya single-domain antibodies in transgenic Aedes aegypti reduces vector competence for chikungunya virus and Mayaro virus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1189176. [PMID: 37378291 PMCID: PMC10291133 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1189176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) are closely related alphaviruses that cause acute febrile illness accompanied by an incapacitating polyarthralgia that can persist for years following initial infection. In conjunction with sporadic outbreaks throughout the sub-tropical regions of the Americas, increased global travel to CHIKV- and MAYV-endemic areas has resulted in imported cases of MAYV, as well as imported cases and autochthonous transmission of CHIKV, within the United States and Europe. With increasing prevalence of CHIKV worldwide and MAYV throughout the Americas within the last decade, a heavy focus has been placed on control and prevention programs. To date, the most effective means of controlling the spread of these viruses is through mosquito control programs. However, current programs have limitations in their effectiveness; therefore, novel approaches are necessary to control the spread of these crippling pathogens and lessen their disease burden. We have previously identified and characterized an anti-CHIKV single-domain antibody (sdAb) that potently neutralizes several alphaviruses including Ross River virus and Mayaro virus. Given the close antigenic relationship between MAYV and CHIKV, we formulated a single defense strategy to combat both emerging arboviruses: we generated transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that express two camelid-derived anti-CHIKV sdAbs. Following an infectious bloodmeal, we observed significant reduction in CHIKV and MAYV replication and transmission potential in sdAb-expressing transgenic compared to wild-type mosquitoes; thus, this strategy provides a novel approach to controlling and preventing outbreaks of these pathogens that reduce quality of life throughout the tropical regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. Webb
- Department of Entomology, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Austin Compton
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Pallavi Rai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Christina Chuong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Sally L. Paulson
- Department of Entomology, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - James Weger-Lucarelli
- Department of Entomology, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Raban R, Gendron WAC, Akbari OS. A perspective on the expansion of the genetic technologies to support the control of neglected vector-borne diseases and conservation. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.999273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic-based technologies are emerging as promising tools to support vector population control. Vectors of human malaria and dengue have been the main focus of these development efforts, but in recent years these technologies have become more flexible and adaptable and may therefore have more wide-ranging applications. Culex quinquefasciatus, for example, is the primary vector of avian malaria in Hawaii and other tropical islands. Avian malaria has led to the extinction of numerous native bird species and many native bird species continue to be threatened as climate change is expanding the range of this mosquito. Genetic-based technologies would be ideal to support avian malaria control as they would offer alternatives to interventions that are difficult to implement in natural areas, such as larval source reduction, and limit the need for chemical insecticides, which can harm beneficial species in these natural areas. This mosquito is also an important vector of human diseases, such as West Nile and Saint Louis encephalitis viruses, so genetic-based control efforts for this species could also have a direct impact on human health. This commentary will discuss the current state of development and future needs for genetic-based technologies in lesser studied, but important disease vectors, such as C. quinquefasciatus, and make comparisons to technologies available in more studied vectors. While most current genetic control focuses on human disease, we will address the impact that these technologies could have on both disease and conservation focused vector control efforts and what is needed to prepare these technologies for evaluation in the field. The versatility of genetic-based technologies may result in the development of many important tools to control a variety of vectors that impact human, animal, and ecosystem health.
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Finney M, Romanowski J, Adelman ZN. Strategies to improve homology-based repair outcomes following CRISPR-based gene editing in mosquitoes: lessons in how to keep any repair disruptions local. Virol J 2022; 19:128. [PMID: 35908059 PMCID: PMC9338592 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01859-2] [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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmable gene editing systems such as CRISPR-Cas have made mosquito genome engineering more practical and accessible, catalyzing the development of cutting-edge genetic methods of disease vector control. This progress, however, has been limited by the low efficiency of homology-directed repair (HDR)-based sequence integration at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and a lack of understanding about DSB repair in mosquitoes. Innovative efforts to optimize HDR sequence integration by inhibiting non-homologous end joining or promoting HDR have been performed in mammalian systems, however many of these approaches have not been applied to mosquitoes. Here, we review some of the most relevant steps of DNA DSB repair choice and highlight promising approaches that influence this choice to enhance HDR in the context of mosquito gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Finney
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 329A Minnie Belle Heep Center, 370 Olsen Blvd, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Joseph Romanowski
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 329A Minnie Belle Heep Center, 370 Olsen Blvd, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 329A Minnie Belle Heep Center, 370 Olsen Blvd, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Severson DW. Development of Mosquito-Borne Infectious Disease Prevention Strategies Based on Genetic or Bacterial Manipulation of the Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Host: Introduction. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1973. [PMID: 34282834 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David W Severson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
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Wang GH, Gamez S, Raban RR, Marshall JM, Alphey L, Li M, Rasgon JL, Akbari OS. Combating mosquito-borne diseases using genetic control technologies. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4388. [PMID: 34282149 PMCID: PMC8290041 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24654-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue and malaria, pose significant global health burdens. Unfortunately, current control methods based on insecticides and environmental maintenance have fallen short of eliminating the disease burden. Scalable, deployable, genetic-based solutions are sought to reduce the transmission risk of these diseases. Pathogen-blocking Wolbachia bacteria, or genome engineering-based mosquito control strategies including gene drives have been developed to address these problems, both requiring the release of modified mosquitoes into the environment. Here, we review the latest developments, notable similarities, and critical distinctions between these promising technologies and discuss their future applications for mosquito-borne disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Hong Wang
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Stephanie Gamez
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Robyn R Raban
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - John M Marshall
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, UK
| | - Ming Li
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Omar S Akbari
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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