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Krzywinska E, Ribeca P, Ferretti L, Hammond A, Krzywinski J. A novel factor modulating X chromosome dosage compensation in Anopheles. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4697-4703.e4. [PMID: 37774706 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.001] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Dosage compensation (DC), a process countering chromosomal imbalance in individuals with heteromorphic sex chromosomes, has been molecularly characterized only in mammals, Caenorhabditis elegans, and fruit flies.1 In Drosophila melanogaster males, it is achieved by an approximately 2-fold hypertranscription of the monosomic X chromosome mediated by the MSL complex.2,3 The complex is not assembled on female X chromosomes because production of its key protein MSL-2 is prevented due to intron retention and inhibition of translation by Sex-lethal, a female-specific protein operating at the top of the sex determination pathway.4 It remains unclear how DC is mechanistically regulated in other insects. In the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, an approximately 2-fold hypertranscription of the male X also occurs5 by a yet-unknown molecular mechanism distinct from that in D. melanogaster.6 Here we show that a male-specifically spliced gene we call 007, which arose by a tandem duplication in the Anopheles ancestral lineage, is involved in the control of DC in males. Homozygous 007 knockouts lead to a global downregulation of the male X, phenotypically manifested by a slower development compared to wild-type mosquitoes or mutant females-however, without loss of viability or fertility. In females, a 007 intron retention promoted by the sex determination protein Femaleless, known to prevent hypertranscription from both X chromosomes,7 introduces a premature termination codon apparently rendering the female transcripts non-productive. In addition to providing a unique perspective on DC evolution, the 007, with its conserved properties, may represent an important addition to a genetic toolbox for malaria vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paolo Ribeca
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK; National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Luca Ferretti
- Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Andrew Hammond
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Biocentis, S.r.l., Via Mazzieri, 05100 Terni, Italy
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2
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Kalita AI, Marois E, Kozielska M, Weissing FJ, Jaouen E, Möckel MM, Rühle F, Butter F, Basilicata MF, Keller Valsecchi CI. The sex-specific factor SOA controls dosage compensation in Anopheles mosquitoes. Nature 2023; 623:175-182. [PMID: 37769784 PMCID: PMC10620080 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06641-0] [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: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The Anopheles mosquito is one of thousands of species in which sex differences play a central part in their biology, as only females need a blood meal to produce eggs. Sex differentiation is regulated by sex chromosomes, but their presence creates a dosage imbalance between males (XY) and females (XX). Dosage compensation (DC) can re-equilibrate the expression of sex chromosomal genes. However, because DC mechanisms have only been fully characterized in a few model organisms, key questions about its evolutionary diversity and functional necessity remain unresolved1. Here we report the discovery of a previously uncharacterized gene (sex chromosome activation (SOA)) as a master regulator of DC in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Sex-specific alternative splicing prevents functional SOA protein expression in females. The male isoform encodes a DNA-binding protein that binds the promoters of active X chromosomal genes. Expressing male SOA is sufficient to induce DC in female cells. Male mosquitoes lacking SOA or female mosquitoes ectopically expressing the male isoform exhibit X chromosome misregulation, which is compatible with viability but causes developmental delay. Thus, our molecular analyses of a DC master regulator in a non-model organism elucidates the evolutionary steps that lead to the establishment of a chromosome-specific fine-tuning mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Marois
- INSERM U1257, CNRS UPR9022, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Magdalena Kozielska
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Franz J Weissing
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Etienne Jaouen
- INSERM U1257, CNRS UPR9022, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Frank Rühle
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | - M Felicia Basilicata
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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3
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Smidler AL, Pai JJ, Apte RA, Sánchez C. HM, Corder RM, Jeffrey Gutiérrez E, Thakre N, Antoshechkin I, Marshall JM, Akbari OS. A confinable female-lethal population suppression system in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade8903. [PMID: 37406109 PMCID: PMC10321730 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade8903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is among the world's deadliest diseases, predominantly affecting Sub-Saharan Africa and killing over half a million people annually. Controlling the principal vector, the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, as well as other anophelines, is among the most effective methods to control disease spread. Here, we develop a genetic population suppression system termed Ifegenia (inherited female elimination by genetically encoded nucleases to interrupt alleles) in this deadly vector. In this bicomponent CRISPR-based approach, we disrupt a female-essential gene, femaleless (fle), demonstrating complete genetic sexing via heritable daughter gynecide. Moreover, we demonstrate that Ifegenia males remain reproductively viable and can load both fle mutations and CRISPR machinery to induce fle mutations in subsequent generations, resulting in sustained population suppression. Through modeling, we demonstrate that iterative releases of nonbiting Ifegenia males can act as an effective, confinable, controllable, and safe population suppression and elimination system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L. Smidler
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - James J. Pai
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Reema A. Apte
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Héctor M. Sánchez C.
- Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rodrigo M. Corder
- Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eileen Jeffrey Gutiérrez
- Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Oxitec Ltd., Abingdon, OX14 4RQ, UK
| | - Neha Thakre
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - John M. Marshall
- Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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4
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Bottino-Rojas V, James AA. Use of Insect Promoters in Genetic Engineering to Control Mosquito-Borne Diseases. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010016. [PMID: 36671401 PMCID: PMC9855440 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010016] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito transgenesis and gene-drive technologies provide the basis for developing promising new tools for vector-borne disease prevention by either suppressing wild mosquito populations or reducing their capacity from transmitting pathogens. Many studies of the regulatory DNA and promoters of genes with robust sex-, tissue- and stage-specific expression profiles have supported the development of new tools and strategies that could bring mosquito-borne diseases under control. Although the list of regulatory elements available is significant, only a limited set of those can reliably drive spatial-temporal expression. Here, we review the advances in our ability to express beneficial and other genes in mosquitoes, and highlight the information needed for the development of new mosquito-control and anti-disease strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Correspondence:
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5
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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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6
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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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7
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Kojin BB, Jakes E, Biedler JK, Tu Z, Adelman ZN. Partial masculinization of Aedes aegypti females by conditional expression of Nix. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010598. [PMID: 35776760 PMCID: PMC9307153 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue, yellow fever, and other arboviruses thrives in tropical and subtropical areas around the globe putting half of the world’s population at risk. Despite aggressive efforts to control the transmission of those viruses, an unacceptable number of cases occur every year, emphasizing the need to develop new control strategies. Proposals for vector control focused on population suppression could offer a feasible alternative method to reduce disease transmission. The induction of extreme male-biased sex ratios has been hypothesized to be able to suppress or collapse a population, with previous experiments showing that stable expression of the male determining factor Nix in A. aegypti is sufficient to convert females into fertile males.
Methodology/Principal findings
Here, we report on the conditional expression of Nix in transgenic A. aegypti under the control of the tetracycline-dependent (Tet-off) system, with the goal of establishing repressible sex distortion. A masculinization phenotype was observed in three of the seven transgenic lines with females exhibiting male-like long maxillary palps and most importantly, the masculinized females were unable to blood feed. Doxycycline treatment of the transgenic lines only partially restored the normal phenotype from the masculinized transgenic lines, while RT-qPCR analysis of early embryos or adults showed no correlation between the level of masculinization and ectopic Nix expression.
Conclusions/Significance
While the conditional expression of Nix produced intersex phenotypes, the level of expression was insufficient to program full conversion. Modifications that increase both the level of activation (no tet) and the level of repression (with tet) will be necessary, as such this study represents one step forward in the development of genetic strategies to control vector-borne diseases via sex ratio distortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca B. Kojin
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Emma Jakes
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - James K. Biedler
- Department of Biochemistry and Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Zach N. Adelman
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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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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9
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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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10
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Siddall A, Harvey-Samuel T, Chapman T, Leftwich PT. Manipulating Insect Sex Determination Pathways for Genetic Pest Management: Opportunities and Challenges. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:867851. [PMID: 35837548 PMCID: PMC9274970 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.867851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination pathways in insects are generally characterised by an upstream primary signal, which is highly variable across species, and that regulates the splicing of a suite of downstream but highly-conserved genes (transformer, doublesex and fruitless). In turn, these downstream genes then regulate the expression of sex-specific characteristics in males and females. Identification of sex determination pathways has and continues to be, a critical component of insect population suppression technologies. For example, "first-generation" transgenic technologies such as fsRIDL (Female-Specific Release of Insects carrying Dominant Lethals) enabled efficient selective removal of females from a target population as a significant improvement on the sterile insect technique (SIT). Second-generation technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 homing gene drives and precision-guided SIT (pgSIT) have used gene editing technologies to manipulate sex determination genes in vivo. The development of future, third-generation control technologies, such as Y-linked drives, (female to male) sex-reversal, or X-shredding, will require additional knowledge of aspects of sexual development, including a deeper understanding of the nature of primary signals and dosage compensation. This review shows how knowledge of sex determination in target pest species is fundamental to all phases of the development of control technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Siddall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Philip T Leftwich
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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11
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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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12
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femaleless Controls Sex Determination and Dosage Compensation Pathways in Females of Anopheles Mosquitoes. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1084-1091.e4. [PMID: 33417880 PMCID: PMC7955153 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The insect sex determination and the intimately linked dosage compensation pathways represent a challenging evolutionary puzzle that has been solved only in Drosophila melanogaster. Analyses of orthologs of the Drosophila genes identified in non-drosophilid taxa1,2 revealed that evolution of sex determination pathways is consistent with a bottom-up mode,3 where only the terminal genes within the pathway are well conserved. doublesex (dsx), occupying a bottom-most position and encoding sex-specific proteins orchestrating downstream sexual differentiation processes, is an ancient sex-determining gene present in all studied species.2,4,5 With the exception of lepidopterans, its female-specific splicing is known to be regulated by transformer (tra) and its co-factor transformer-2 (tra2).6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Here we show that in the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, a gene, which likely arose in the Anopheles lineage and which we call femaleless (fle), controls sex determination in females by regulating splicing of dsx and fruitless (fru; another terminal gene within a branch of the sex determination pathway). Moreover, fle represents a novel molecular link between the sex determination and dosage compensation pathways. It is necessary to suppress activation of dosage compensation in females, as demonstrated by the significant upregulation of the female X chromosome genes and a correlated female-specific lethality, but no negative effect on males, in response to fle knockdown. This unexpected property, combined with a high level of conservation in sequence and function in anopheline mosquitoes, makes fle an excellent target for genetic control of all major vectors of human malaria. fle is a new sex determination pathway element conserved in Anopheles mosquitoes fle may have originated in the Anopheles lineage and is highly conserved in Anopheles fle suppresses activation of dosage compensation in females Depletion of fle transcripts is lethal or otherwise deleterious to females
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13
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Xu X, Yang J, Harvey-Samuel T, Huang Y, Asad M, Chen W, He W, Yang G, Alphey L, You M. Identification and characterization of the vasa gene in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 122:103371. [PMID: 32283279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vasa is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, participating in multiple biological processes. It has been widely used as a germ cell marker and its promoter has become a key component of several genetic pest control systems. Here we present the vasa gene structure and its promoter activity in Plutella xylostella, one of the most destructive pests of cruciferous crops. Full length Pxvasa cDNA sequences were obtained, revealing 14 exons and at least 30 alternatively spliced transcripts. Inferred amino acid sequences showed nine conserved DEAD-box family protein motifs with partial exclusion from some isoforms. Real-time quantitative PCR indicated the up-regulation of Pxvasa in both female and male adults compared with other developmental stages, and the expression levels of Pxvasa were found to be much higher in adult gonads, especially ovaries, than in other tissues. The putative promoter region of Pxvasa was sequenced and several ecdysone-induced transcription factor (TF) binding sites were predicted in silico. To further analyze the promoter region, two upstream regulatory fragments of different lengths were tested as putative promoters in transient cell and embryo expression assays, one of which was subsequently utilized to drive Cas9 expression in vivo. A transgenic line was recovered and the expression patterns of Cas9 and native Pxvasa were profiled in adult tissues and eggs with RT-PCR. This work provides the foundation for further studies on the gene functions of Pxvasa as well as the potential application of its promoter in genetic manipulation of P. xylostella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Yuping Huang
- Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Muhammad Asad
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Weiyi He
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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14
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Lutrat C, Giesbrecht D, Marois E, Whyard S, Baldet T, Bouyer J. Sex Sorting for Pest Control: It's Raining Men! Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:649-662. [PMID: 31255488 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In the pursuit of better pest- and vector-control strategies, attention returns to an old proven technology, the sterile insect technique (SIT) and related insect population-suppression methods. A major obstacle for any of these approaches that involves the release of sterile males is the separation of males from females during the mass rearing stage, in order to improve the cost-efficiency of these methods and to prevent the release of biting and disease-vectoring females. This review describes recent sex-sorting developments in dipteran flies with an emphasis on assessing the suitability of these methods for large-scale rearing of male vectors for mass release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Lutrat
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398, Montpellier, France; ASTRE, CIRAD, INRA, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - David Giesbrecht
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Eric Marois
- CNRS UPR9022, INSERM U963, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Steve Whyard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Thierry Baldet
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398, Montpellier, France; ASTRE, CIRAD, INRA, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérémy Bouyer
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398, Montpellier, France; Insect Pest Control, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria. @cirad.fr
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15
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Bourtzis K, Tu ZJ. Joint FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project on "Exploring genetic, molecular, mechanical and behavioural methods of sex separation in mosquitoes" - an introduction. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:653. [PMID: 30583742 PMCID: PMC6304754 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3206-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kostas Bourtzis
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zhijian Jake Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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