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Giunti G, Becker N, Benelli G. Invasive mosquito vectors in Europe: From bioecology to surveillance and management. Acta Trop 2023; 239:106832. [PMID: 36642256 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Invasive mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) play a key role in the spread of a number of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. Anthropogenic changes play a significant role in affecting their distribution. Invasive mosquitoes usually take advantage from biotic homogenization and biodiversity reduction, therefore expanding in their distribution range and abundance. In Europe, climate warming and increasing urbanization are boosting the spread of several mosquito species of high public health importance. The present article contains a literature review focused on the biology and ecology of Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. japonicus japonicus, Ae. koreicus, Ae. atropalpus and Ae. triseriatus, outlining their distribution and public health relevance in Europe. Bioecology insights were tightly connected with vector surveillance and control programs targeting these species. In the final section, a research agenda aiming for the effective and sustainable monitoring and control of invasive mosquitoes in the framework of Integrated Vector Management and One Health is presented. The WHO Vector Control Advisory Group recommends priority should be given to vector control tools with proven epidemiological impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Giunti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, SA 84084, Italy
| | - Norbert Becker
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Institute of Dipterology (IfD), Georg-Peter-Süß-Str. 3, Speyer 67346, Germany; IcyBac-Biologische Stechmückenbekämpfung GmbH (ICYBAC), Georg-Peter-Süß-Str. 1, Speyer 67346, Germany
| | - Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, Pisa 56124, Italy.
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Yan Y, Hosseini B, Scheld A, Pasham S, Rehling T, Schetelig MF. Effects of antibiotics on the in vitro expression of tetracycline-off constructs and the performance of Drosophila suzukii female-killing strains. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:876492. [PMID: 36865029 PMCID: PMC9971817 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.876492] [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: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic control strategies such as the Release of Insects Carrying a Dominant Lethal (RIDL) gene and Transgenic Embryonic Sexing System (TESS) have been demonstrated in the laboratory and/or deployed in the field. These strategies are based on tetracycline-off (Tet-off) systems which are regulated by antibiotics such as Tet and doxycycline (Dox). Here, we generated several Tet-off constructs carrying a reporter gene cassette mediated by a 2A peptide. Different concentrations (0.1, 10, 100, 500, and 1,000 μg/mL) and types (Tet or Dox) of antibiotics were used to evaluate their effects on the expression of the Tet-off constructs in the Drosophila S2 cells. One or both of the two concentrations, 100 and 250 μg/mL, of Tet or Dox were used to check the influence on the performances of a Drosophila suzukii wild-type strain and female-killing (FK) strains employing TESS. Specifically, the Tet-off construct for these FK strains contains a Drosophila suzukii nullo promoter to regulate the tetracycline transactivator gene and a sex-specifically spliced pro-apoptotic gene hid Ala4 to eliminate females. The results suggested that the in vitro expression of the Tet-off constructs was controlled by antibiotics in a dose-dependent manner. ELISA experiments were carried out identifying Tet at 34.8 ng/g in adult females that fed on food supplemented with Tet at 100 μg/mL. However, such method did not detect Tet in the eggs produced by antibiotic-treated flies. Additionally, feeding Tet to the parents showed negative impact on the fly development but not the survival in the next generation. Importantly, we demonstrated that under certain antibiotic treatments females could survive in the FK strains with different transgene activities. For the strain V229_M4f1 which showed moderate transgene activity, feeding Dox to fathers or mothers suppressed the female lethality in the next generation and feeding Tet or Dox to mothers generated long-lived female survivors. For the strain V229_M8f2 which showed weak transgene activity, feeding Tet to mothers delayed the female lethality for one generation. Therefore, for genetic control strategies employing the Tet-off system, the parental and transgenerational effects of antibiotics on the engineered lethality and insect fitness must be carefully evaluated for a safe and efficient control program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yan
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany,*Correspondence: Ying Yan,
| | - Bashir Hosseini
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Annemarie Scheld
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Srilakshmi Pasham
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tanja Rehling
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marc F. Schetelig
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany,Liebig Centre for Agroecology and Climate Impact Research, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Garrood WT, Cuber P, Willis K, Bernardini F, Page NM, Haghighat-Khah RE. Driving down malaria transmission with engineered gene drives. Front Genet 2022; 13:891218. [PMID: 36338968 PMCID: PMC9627344 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.891218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The last century has witnessed the introduction, establishment and expansion of mosquito-borne diseases into diverse new geographic ranges. Malaria is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite making great strides over the past few decades in reducing the burden of malaria, transmission is now on the rise again, in part owing to the emergence of mosquito resistance to insecticides, antimalarial drug resistance and, more recently, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the reduced implementation efficiency of various control programs. The utility of genetically engineered gene drive mosquitoes as tools to decrease the burden of malaria by controlling the disease-transmitting mosquitoes is being evaluated. To date, there has been remarkable progress in the development of CRISPR/Cas9-based homing endonuclease designs in malaria mosquitoes due to successful proof-of-principle and multigenerational experiments. In this review, we examine the lessons learnt from the development of current CRISPR/Cas9-based homing endonuclease gene drives, providing a framework for the development of gene drive systems for the targeted control of wild malaria-transmitting mosquito populations that overcome challenges such as with evolving drive-resistance. We also discuss the additional substantial works required to progress the development of gene drive systems from scientific discovery to further study and subsequent field application in endemic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T. Garrood
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Piotr Cuber
- Department of Molecular Biology, Core Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Willis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Bernardini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole M. Page
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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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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Fei X, Zhang Y, Ding L, Xiao S, Xie X, Li Y, Deng X. Development of an RNAi-based microalgal larvicide for the control of Aedes aegypti. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:387. [PMID: 34362429 PMCID: PMC8344188 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04885-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito-borne diseases affect over half of the human population globally. Multiple studies have shown that chemical insecticides are ineffective because of resistance. Therefore, environmentally safe mosquito population control tools need to be developed. Ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) is a reverse genetic mechanism recently introduced as a new pest control tool. This technique represents a new class of biorational technology that could combat the increased global incidence of insecticide resistance. The technique has the potential of becoming a critical component of integrated vector control programs. METHODS A 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase (3-HKT) RNAi expression plasmid was constructed, generated and transformed into Chlamydomonas and Chlorella algae. The transgenic algae were then used to feed Ae. aegypti mosquito larvae. The feeding experiments were conducted on a small and large scale with 10 and about 300 larvae, respectively. The mortality rate of the larvae was calculated over 30 days. In addition, histological examination of the insect tissues was performed to examine the extent of tissue damage. RESULTS The integumentary system and midguts of larvae fed with transgenic Chlamydomonas were severely damaged. The mortality rate of the larvae fed with transgenic Chlamydomonas ranged from 60 to 100% in small-scale tests. The survival rate of adult mosquitoes was 0.0% in a large-scale feeding experiment when the larvae were fed with transgenic Chlamydomonas. Moreover, when the larvae were fed with transgenic Chlorella, the mortality rate ranged from 6.7% to 43% compared to that fed wild-type Chlorella. CONCLUSIONS 3HKT RNAi transgenic algae are in some scales lethal to Ae. aegypti. The findings of this study indicate that technology based on microalgae RNAi may provide a new way to control mosquito populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Fei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Lili Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Sha Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xie
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, 571101, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-Resources, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Yajun Li
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, 571101, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-Resources, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Xiaodong Deng
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, 571101, China.
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-Resources, Haikou, 571101, China.
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Schairer CE, Triplett C, Buchman A, Akbari OS, Bloss CS. Interdisciplinary development of a standardized introduction to gene drives for lay audiences. BMC Med Res Methodol 2020; 20:273. [PMID: 33153449 PMCID: PMC7643426 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-020-01146-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While there is wide consensus that the public should be consulted about emerging technology early in development, it is difficult to elicit public opinion about innovations unfamiliar to lay audiences. We sought public input on a program of research on genetic engineering to control mosquito vectors of disease that is led by scientists at the University of California and funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In preparation for this effort, we developed a series of narrated slideshows to prompt responses to the development of gene drive mosquito control strategies among lay people. We describe the development and content of these slideshows and evaluate their ability to elicit discussions among focus group participants. METHODS In developing these materials, we used an iterative process involving input from experts in molecular genetics and vector control. Topics were chosen for their relevance to the goals of the scientists leading the program of research. Significant time was devoted to crafting explanations that would be accessible to uninitiated members of the public but still represent the science accurately. Through qualitative analysis of focus group discussions prompted by the slideshows, we evaluated the success of these slideshows in imparting clear technical information sufficient to inform lay discussion. RESULTS The collaboration resulted in a series of four narrated slideshows that were used to anchor discussions in online focus groups. Many participants described the slideshows as interesting and informative, while also raising concerns and possible risks that were not directly addressed in the material presented. Open-ended comments from participants suggest that the slideshows inspired critical questions, reflection, and conversation about genetically engineered and gene drive mosquitoes. After the final and most technically complex slideshow, however, some respondents made comments suggestive of overwhelm or confusion. CONCLUSION Our narrated slideshows prompted engaged conversations about genetically engineered mosquitoes among members of the public who were generally naïve to this technology. Narrated slideshows may serve as viable and useful tools for future public engagement on other controversial emerging medical and public health technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia E Schairer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0811, La Jolla, California, 92093-0811, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia Triplett
- Center for Wireless and Population Health Systems, The Qualcomm Institute of Calit2, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Buchman
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Omar S Akbari
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Cinnamon S Bloss
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0811, La Jolla, California, 92093-0811, USA.
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Center for Wireless and Population Health Systems, The Qualcomm Institute of Calit2, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Fei X, Zhang Y, Ding L, Li Y, Deng X. Controlling the development of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti using HR3 RNAi transgenic Chlamydomonas. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240223. [PMID: 33052930 PMCID: PMC7556462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Aedes aegypti mosquito plays an important role in the spread of diseases, including epidemic ones, such as dengue fever, Zika virus disease, yellow fever, and chikungunya disease. To control the population of Ae.aegypti, we transferred an HR3 RNAi fragment into the microalgae Chlamydomonas, which serves as food for Ae.aegypti larvae. Results showed that the HR3 RNAi transgenic algal strains were lethal to Ae.aegypti. The integumentary system of larvae fed with HR3 RNAi transgenic algal strains was severely damaged. Muscles of the larvae were unevenly distributed and disordered, and their midgut showed disintegration of the intestinal cavity. RNA-Seq results demonstrated that on the 4th day of inoculation with the transgenic algae, the abundance of early expressed genes in the 20E signal transduction pathway of larvae fed with the HR3 RNAi transgenic algal strain significantly reduced. These genes include E74, E75, E93, and 20E receptor complex EcR/USP and FTZ-F1 gene regulated by HR3. In later experiments, a scale test of 300 Ae.aegypti eggs per group was carried out for 30 days, and the survival rate of Ae.aegypti fed with the HR3 RNAi transgenic strain was only 1.3%. These results indicate that the HR3 RNAi transgenic strain exerts obvious insecticidal effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Fei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, China
| | - Lili Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, China
| | - Yajun Li
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-resources, Haikou, China
| | - Xiaodong Deng
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Functional Components Research and Utilization of Marine Bio-resources, Haikou, China
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Endersby-Harshman NM, Axford JK, Hoffmann AA. Environmental Concentrations of Antibiotics May Diminish Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:1078-1086. [PMID: 30889242 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes for control of dengue transmission are being released experimentally in tropical regions of Australia, south-east Asia, and South America. To become established, the Wolbachia Hertig (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) strains used must induce expression of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in matings between infected males and uninfected females so that infected females have a reproductive advantage, which will drive the infection through field populations. Wolbachia is a Rickettsia-like alphaproteobacterium which can be affected by tetracycline antibiotics. We investigated whether exposure of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to chlortetracycline at environmentally relevant levels during their aquatic development resulted in loss or reduction of infection in three strains, wAlbB, wMel, and wMelPop. Wolbachia density was reduced for all three strains at the tested chlortetracycline concentrations of 5 and 50 µg/liter. Two of the strains, wMel and wMelPop, showed a breakdown in CI. The wAlbB strain maintained CI and may be useful at breeding sites where tetracycline contamination has occurred. This may include drier regions where Ae. aegypti can utilize subterranean water sources and septic tanks as breeding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason K Axford
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Ross PA, Endersby‐Harshman NM, Hoffmann AA. A comprehensive assessment of inbreeding and laboratory adaptation in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Evol Appl 2019; 12:572-586. [PMID: 30828375 PMCID: PMC6383739 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes reared in laboratories are being released around the world to control wild mosquito populations and the diseases they transmit. Several efforts have failed due to poor competitiveness of the released mosquitoes. We hypothesized that colonized mosquito populations could suffer from inbreeding depression and adapt to laboratory conditions, reducing their performance in the field. We established replicate populations of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected from Queensland, Australia, and maintained them in the laboratory for twelve generations at different census sizes. Mosquito colonies maintained at small census sizes (≤100 individuals) suffered from inbreeding depression due to low effective population sizes which were only 25% of the census size as estimated by SNP markers. Populations that underwent full-sib mating for nine consecutive generations had greatly reduced performance across all traits measured. We compared the established laboratory populations with their ancestral population resurrected from quiescent eggs for evidence of laboratory adaptation. The overall performance of laboratory populations maintained at a large census size (400 individuals) increased, potentially reflecting adaptation to artificial rearing conditions. However, most individual traits were unaffected, and patterns of adaptation were not consistent across populations. Differences between replicate populations may indicate that founder effects and drift affect experimental outcomes. Though we find limited evidence of laboratory adaptation, mosquitoes maintained at low population sizes can clearly suffer fitness costs, compromising the success of "rear-and-release" strategies for arbovirus control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A. Ross
- Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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Apiwongngam J, Limwikrant W, Jintapattanakit A, Jaturanpinyo M. Enhanced supersaturation of chlortetracycline hydrochloride by amorphous solid dispersion. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Bouyer J, Chandre F, Gilles J, Baldet T. Alternative vector control methods to manage the Zika virus outbreak: more haste, less speed. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2018; 4:e364. [PMID: 27198837 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(16)00082-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Bouyer
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Contrôle des Maladies Animales Exotiques et Emergentes, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), 34398 Montpellier, France.
| | - Fabrice Chandre
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Maladies infectieuses et vecteurs: écologie, génétique, évolution et contrôle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérémie Gilles
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thierry Baldet
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Contrôle des Maladies Animales Exotiques et Emergentes, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), 34398 Montpellier, France
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Bryk J, Reeves RG, Reed FA, Denton JA. Transcriptional effects of a positive feedback circuit in Drosophila melanogaster. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:990. [PMID: 29281970 PMCID: PMC5746007 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4385-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Synthetic systems that use positive feedback have been developed to control human disease vectors and crop pests. The tTAV system, which has been deployed in several insect species, relies on a positive feedback circuit that can be inhibited via dietary tetracycline. Although insects carrying tTAV fail to survive until adulthood in the absence of tetracycline, the exact reason for its lethality, as well as the transcriptomic effects of an active positive feedback circuit, remain unknown. Results We engineered the tTAV system in Drosophila melanogaster and investigated the effects of tTAV genome integration locus on the whole fly transcriptome during larval and adult life stages in four transgenic fly strains using gene expression microarrays. We found that while there were widespread effects on the transcriptome, the gene expression differences after removal of tetracycline were not consistent between integration sites. No specific region of the genome was affected, no common set of genes or pathways, nor did the integration site affect the transcripts in cis. Conclusion Although the positive feedback tTAV system is effective at killing insect larvae regardless of where it is inserted in the genome, it does not exhibit a specific, consistent transcriptional signature. Instead, each insertion site is associated with broad, but different, transcriptional effects. Our results suggest that lethality may not be caused by a direct effect on transcription of a set of key genes or pathways. Instead, we propose that rather than a specific action of a tTAV protein, it is the stochastic transcriptional effects specific to each insertion site that contribute to the tTAV-induced mortality. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4385-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarosław Bryk
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
| | - R Guy Reeves
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Floyd A Reed
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Hawai'i, Honolulu, 96822, USA
| | - Jai A Denton
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany. .,Genomics & Regulatory Systems Unit, Okinawa Institute for Science & Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan.
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Harvey-Samuel T, Ant T, Alphey L. Towards the genetic control of invasive species. Biol Invasions 2017; 19:1683-1703. [PMID: 28620268 PMCID: PMC5446844 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1384-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive species remain one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Their control would be enhanced through the development of more effective and sustainable pest management strategies. Recently, a novel form of genetic pest management (GPM) has been developed in which the mating behaviour of insect pests is exploited to introduce genetically engineered DNA sequences into wild conspecific populations. These 'transgenes' work in one or more ways to reduce the damage caused by a particular pest, for example reducing its density, or its ability to vector disease. Although currently being developed for use against economically important insect pests, these technologies would be highly appropriate for application against invasive species that threaten biodiversity. Importantly, these technologies have begun to advance in scope beyond insects to vertebrates, which include some of the world's worst invasives. Here we review the current state of this rapidly progressing field and, using an established set of eradication criteria, discuss the characteristics which make GPM technologies suitable for application against invasive pests.
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Rajah MM, Pardy RD, Condotta SA, Richer MJ, Sagan SM. Zika Virus: Emergence, Phylogenetics, Challenges, and Opportunities. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:763-772. [PMID: 27704772 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen that has recently gained notoriety due to its rapid and ongoing geographic expansion and its novel association with neurological complications. Reports of ZIKV-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome as well as fetal microcephaly place emphasis on the need to develop preventative measures and therapeutics to combat ZIKV infection. Thus, it is imperative that models to study ZIKV replication and pathogenesis and the immune response are developed in conjunction with integrated vector control strategies to mount an efficient response to the pandemic. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge on ZIKV, including the clinical features, phylogenetic analyses, pathogenesis, and the immune response to infection. Potential challenges in developing diagnostic tools, treatment, and prevention strategies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaran M. Rajah
- Department of Microbiology and
Immunology and ‡Microbiome and Disease Tolerance Centre (MDTC), McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Ryan D. Pardy
- Department of Microbiology and
Immunology and ‡Microbiome and Disease Tolerance Centre (MDTC), McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Stephanie A. Condotta
- Department of Microbiology and
Immunology and ‡Microbiome and Disease Tolerance Centre (MDTC), McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Martin J. Richer
- Department of Microbiology and
Immunology and ‡Microbiome and Disease Tolerance Centre (MDTC), McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Selena M. Sagan
- Department of Microbiology and
Immunology and ‡Microbiome and Disease Tolerance Centre (MDTC), McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4
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Sikka V, Chattu VK, Popli RK, Galwankar SC, Kelkar D, Sawicki SG, Stawicki SP, Papadimos TJ. The Emergence of Zika Virus as a Global Health Security Threat: A Review and a Consensus Statement of the INDUSEM Joint working Group (JWG). J Glob Infect Dis 2016; 8:3-15. [PMID: 27013839 PMCID: PMC4785754 DOI: 10.4103/0974-777x.176140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV), first discovered in 1947, has emerged as a global public health threat over the last decade, with the accelerated geographic spread of the virus noted during the last 5 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that millions of cases of ZIKV are likely to occur in the Americas during the next 12 months. These projections, in conjunction with suspected Zika-associated increase in newborn microcephaly cases, prompted WHO to declare public health emergency of international concern. ZIKV-associated illness is characterized by an incubation period of 3-12 days. Most patients remain asymptomatic (i.e., ~80%) after contracting the virus. When symptomatic, clinical presentation is usually mild and consists of a self-limiting febrile illness that lasts approximately 2-7 days. Among common clinical manifestations are fever, arthralgia, conjunctivitis, myalgia, headache, and maculopapular rash. Hospitalization and complication rates are low, with fatalities being extremely rare. Newborn microcephaly, the most devastating and insidious complication associated with the ZIKV, has been described in the offspring of women who became infected while pregnant. Much remains to be elucidated about the timing of ZIKV infection in the context of the temporal progression of pregnancy, the corresponding in utero fetal development stage(s), and the risk of microcephaly. Without further knowledge of the pathophysiology involved, the true risk of ZIKV to the unborn remains difficult to quantify and remediate. Accurate, portable, and inexpensive point-of-care testing is required to better identify cases and manage the current and future outbreaks of ZIKV, including optimization of preventive approaches and the identification of more effective risk reduction strategies. In addition, much more work needs to be done to produce an effective vaccine. Given the rapid geographic spread of ZIKV in recent years, a coordinated local, regional, and global effort is needed to generate sufficient resources and political traction to effectively halt and contain further expansion of the current outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Sikka
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Orlando, USA
| | - Vijay Kumar Chattu
- Institute for International Relations, The University of West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, USA
| | - Raaj K Popli
- Digestive Disease Consultants of Central Florida, Altamonte Springs, Florida, USA
| | - Sagar C Galwankar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Dhanashree Kelkar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Stanley G Sawicki
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and the Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, USA
| | - Stanislaw P Stawicki
- Department of Research and Innovation, St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas J Papadimos
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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