1
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Haber DA, Arien Y, Lamdan LB, Alcalay Y, Zecharia C, Krsticevic F, Yonah ES, Avraham RD, Krzywinska E, Krzywinski J, Marois E, Windbichler N, Papathanos PA. Targeting mosquito X-chromosomes reveals complex transmission dynamics of sex ratio distorting gene drives. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4983. [PMID: 38862555 PMCID: PMC11166636 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49387-7] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Engineered sex ratio distorters (SRDs) have been proposed as a powerful component of genetic control strategies designed to suppress harmful insect pests. Two types of CRISPR-based SRD mechanisms have been proposed: X-shredding, which eliminates X-bearing sperm, and X-poisoning, which eliminates females inheriting disrupted X-chromosomes. These differences can have a profound impact on the population dynamics of SRDs when linked to the Y-chromosome: an X-shredder is invasive, constituting a classical meiotic Y-drive, whereas X-poisoning is self-limiting, unable to invade but also insulated from selection. Here, we establish X-poisoning strains in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae targeting three X-linked genes during spermatogenesis, resulting in male bias. We find that sex distortion is primarily driven by a loss of X-bearing sperm, with limited evidence for postzygotic lethality of female progeny. By leveraging a Drosophila melanogaster model, we show unambiguously that engineered SRD traits can operate differently in these two insects. Unlike X-shredding, X-poisoning could theoretically operate at early stages of spermatogenesis. We therefore explore premeiotic Cas9 expression to target the mosquito X-chromosome. We find that, by pre-empting the onset of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, this approach may enable the development of Y-linked SRDs if mutagenesis of spermatogenesis-essential genes is functionally balanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella An Haber
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yael Arien
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Lee Benjamin Lamdan
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yehonathan Alcalay
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Chen Zecharia
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Flavia Krsticevic
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Elad Shmuel Yonah
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Rotem Daniel Avraham
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Elzbieta Krzywinska
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
- Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK
| | - Jaroslaw Krzywinski
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo d'Innovazione di Genomica Genetica e Biologia, Via Mazzieri, 05100, Terni, Italy
| | - Eric Marois
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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2
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Kefi M, Cardoso-Jaime V, Saab SA, Dimopoulos G. Curing mosquitoes with genetic approaches for malaria control. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:487-499. [PMID: 38760256 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains a persistent global public health challenge because of the limitations of current prevention tools. The use of transgenic mosquitoes incapable of transmitting malaria, in conjunction with existing methods, holds promise for achieving elimination of malaria and preventing its reintroduction. In this context, population modification involves the spread of engineered genetic elements through mosquito populations that render them incapable of malaria transmission. Significant progress has been made in this field over the past decade in revealing promising targets, optimizing genetic tools, and facilitating the transition from the laboratory to successful field deployments, which are subject to regulatory scrutiny. This review summarizes recent advances and ongoing challenges in 'curing' Anopheles vectors of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kefi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Victor Cardoso-Jaime
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sally A Saab
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - George Dimopoulos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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3
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Chae K, Contreras B, Romanowski JS, Dawson C, Myles KM, Adelman ZN. Transgene removal using an in cis programmed homing endonuclease via single-strand annealing in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Commun Biol 2024; 7:660. [PMID: 38811748 PMCID: PMC11137009 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06348-6] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
While gene drive strategies have been proposed to aid in the control of mosquito-borne diseases, additional genome engineering technologies may be required to establish a defined end-of-product-life timeline. We previously demonstrated that single-strand annealing (SSA) was sufficient to program the scarless elimination of a transgene while restoring a disrupted gene in the disease vector mosquito Aedes aegypti. Here, we extend these findings by establishing that complete transgene removal (four gene cassettes comprising ~8-kb) can be programmed in cis. Reducing the length of the direct repeat from 700-bp to 200-bp reduces, but does not eliminate, SSA activity. In contrast, increasing direct repeat length to 1.5-kb does not increase SSA rates, suggesting diminishing returns above a certain threshold size. Finally, we show that while the homing endonuclease Y2-I-AniI triggered both SSA and NHEJ at significantly higher rates than I-SceI at one genomic locus (P5-EGFP), repair events are heavily skewed towards NHEJ at another locus (kmo), suggesting the nuclease used and the genomic region targeted have a substantial influence on repair outcomes. Taken together, this work establishes the feasibility of engineering temporary transgenes in disease vector mosquitoes, while providing critical details concerning important operational parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keun Chae
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Bryan Contreras
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Joseph S Romanowski
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Chanell Dawson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kevin M Myles
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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4
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Smidler AL, Marrogi E, Kauffman J, Paton DG, Westervelt KA, Church GM, Esvelt KM, Shaw WR, Catteruccia F. CRISPR-mediated germline mutagenesis for genetic sterilization of Anopheles gambiae males. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4057. [PMID: 38374393 PMCID: PMC10876656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54498-8] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid spread of insecticide resistance among anopheline mosquitoes threatens malaria elimination efforts, necessitating development of alternative vector control technologies. Sterile insect technique (SIT) has been successfully implemented in multiple insect pests to suppress field populations by the release of large numbers of sterile males, yet it has proven difficult to adapt to Anopheles vectors. Here we outline adaptation of a CRISPR-based genetic sterilization system to selectively ablate male sperm cells in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. We achieve robust mosaic biallelic mutagenesis of zero population growth (zpg, a gene essential for differentiation of germ cells) in F1 individuals after intercrossing a germline-expressing Cas9 transgenic line to a line expressing zpg-targeting gRNAs. Approximately 95% of mutagenized males display complete genetic sterilization, and cause similarly high levels of infertility in their female mates. Using a fluorescence reporter that allows detection of the germline leads to a 100% accurate selection of spermless males, improving the system. These males cause a striking reduction in mosquito population size when released at field-like frequencies in competition cages against wild type males. These findings demonstrate that such a genetic system could be adopted for SIT against important malaria vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Smidler
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Biology, University of California - San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Eryney Marrogi
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jamie Kauffman
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Douglas G Paton
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kathleen A Westervelt
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kevin M Esvelt
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - W Robert Shaw
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
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5
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Arora G, Tang X, Cui Y, Yang J, Chuang YM, Joshi J, Sajid A, Dong Y, Cresswell P, Dimopoulos G, Fikrig E. mosGILT controls innate immunity and germ cell development in Anopheles gambiae. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:42. [PMID: 38191283 PMCID: PMC10775533 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09887-0] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene-edited mosquitoes lacking a gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase-like protein, namely (mosGILTnull) have lower Plasmodium infection, which is linked to impaired ovarian development and immune activation. The transcriptome of mosGILTnull Anopheles gambiae was therefore compared to wild type (WT) mosquitoes by RNA-sequencing to delineate mosGILT-dependent pathways. Compared to WT mosquitoes, mosGILTnull A. gambiae demonstrated altered expression of genes related to oogenesis, 20-hydroxyecdysone synthesis, as well as immune-related genes. Serendipitously, the zero population growth gene, zpg, an essential regulator of germ cell development was found to be one of the most downregulated genes in mosGILTnull mosquitoes. These results provide a crucial missing link between two previous studies on the role of zpg and mosGILT in ovarian development. This study further demonstrates that mosGILT has the potential to serve as a target for the biological control of mosquito vectors and to influence the Plasmodium life cycle within the vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunjan Arora
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| | - Xiaotian Tang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Yingjun Cui
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
- Current Affiliation: Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, China
| | - Yu-Min Chuang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Jayadev Joshi
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
| | - Andaleeb Sajid
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Yuemei Dong
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA
| | - Peter Cresswell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, USA
| | - George Dimopoulos
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
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6
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Weng SC, Antoshechkin I, Marois E, Akbari OS. Efficient sex separation by exploiting differential alternative splicing of a dominant marker in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011065. [PMID: 38011259 PMCID: PMC10703412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Only female mosquitoes consume blood giving them the opportunity to transmit deadly human pathogens. Therefore, it is critical to remove females before conducting releases for genetic biocontrol interventions. Here we describe a robust sex-sorting approach termed SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter) that exploits sex-specific alternative splicing of an innocuous reporter to ensure exclusive dominant male-specific expression. Using SEPARATOR, we demonstrate reliable sex selection from early larval and pupal stages in Aedes aegypti, and use a Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS) to demonstrate scalable high-throughput sex-selection of first instar larvae. Additionally, we use this approach to sequence the transcriptomes of early larval males and females and find several genes that are sex-specifically expressed. SEPARATOR can simplify mass production of males for release programs and is designed to be cross-species portable and should be instrumental for genetic biocontrol interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Che Weng
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Eric Marois
- CNRS UPR9022, INSERM U1257, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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7
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Arora G, Tang X, Cui Y, Yang J, Chuang YM, Joshi J, Sajid A, Dong Y, Cresswell P, Dimopoulos G, Fikrig E. Anopheles gambiae mosGILT regulates innate immune genes and zpg expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.01.551536. [PMID: 37577703 PMCID: PMC10418185 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.01.551536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Gene-edited mosquitoes lacking a g amma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase-like protein, namely ( mosGILT null ) have lower Plasmodium infection, which is linked to impaired ovarian development and immune activation. The transcriptome of mosGILT null A. gambiae was therefore compared to wild type (WT) by RNA-sequencing to delineate mosGILT-dependent pathways. Compared to WT mosquitoes, mosGILT null A. gambiae demonstrated altered expression of genes related to oogenesis, 20-hydroxyecdysone synthesis, as well as immune-related genes. Serendipitously, the zero population growth gene, zpg , an essential regulator of germ cell development was found to be one of the most downregulated genes in mosGILT null mosquitoes. These results provide the crucial missing link between two previous studies on the role of zpg and mosGILT in ovarian development. This study further demonstrates that mosGILT has the potential to serve as a target for the biological control of mosquito vectors and to influence the Plasmodium life cycle within the vector.
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8
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Smidler AL, Apte RA, Pai JJ, Chow ML, Chen S, Mondal A, Sánchez C. HM, Antoshechkin I, Marshall JM, Akbari OS. Eliminating Malaria Vectors with Precision Guided Sterile Males. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.20.549947. [PMID: 37503146 PMCID: PMC10370176 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.20.549947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Controlling the principal African malaria vector, the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, is considered essential to curtail malaria transmission. However existing vector control technologies rely on insecticides, which are becoming increasingly ineffective. Sterile insect technique (SIT) is a powerful suppression approach that has successfully eradicated a number of insect pests, yet the A. gambiae toolkit lacks the requisite technologies for its implementation. SIT relies on iterative mass-releases of non-biting, non-driving, sterile males which seek out and mate with monandrous wild females. Once mated, females are permanently sterilized due to mating-induced refractoriness, which results in population suppression of the subsequent generation. However, sterilization by traditional methods renders males unfit, making the creation of precise genetic sterilization methods imperative. Here we develop precision guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT) in the mosquito A. gambiae for inducible, programmed male-sterilization and female-elimination for wide scale use in SIT campaigns. Using a binary CRISPR strategy, we cross separate engineered Cas9 and gRNA strains to disrupt male-fertility and female-essential genes, yielding >99.5% male-sterility and >99.9% female-lethality in hybrid progeny. We demonstrate that these genetically sterilized males have good longevity, are able to induce population suppression in cage trials, and are predicted to eliminate wild A. gambiae populations using mathematical models, making them ideal candidates for release. This work provides a valuable addition to the malaria genetic biocontrol toolkit, for the first time enabling scalable SIT-like confinable suppression in the species.
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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
| | - Reema A. Apte
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - James J. Pai
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Martha L. Chow
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Sanle Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Agastya Mondal
- Divisions of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Héctor M. Sánchez C.
- Divisions of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125, USA
| | - John M. Marshall
- Divisions of Epidemiology & 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
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9
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Weng SC, Antoshechkin I, Marois E, Akbari OS. Efficient Sex Separation by Exploiting Differential Alternative Splicing of a Dominant Marker in Aedes aegypti. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.16.545348. [PMID: 37398094 PMCID: PMC10312783 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.16.545348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Only female mosquitoes consume blood and transmit deadly human pathogens. Therefore, it is critical to remove females before conducting releases for genetic biocontrol interventions. Here we describe a robust sex-sorting approach termed SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter) that exploits sex-specific alternative splicing of an innocuous reporter to ensure exclusive dominant male-specific expression. Using SEPARATOR, we demonstrate reliable sex selection from larval and pupal stages in Aedes aegypti, and use a Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS®) to demonstrate scalable high-throughput sex-selection of first instar larvae. Additionally, we use this approach to sequence the transcriptomes of early larval males and females and find several genes that are sex-specifically expressed in males. SEPARATOR can simplify mass production of males for release programs and is designed to be cross-species portable and should be instrumental for genetic biocontrol interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Che Weng
- 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, CA91125, USA
| | - Eric Marois
- CNRS UPR9022, INSERM U1257, Université de Strasbourg, France
| | - 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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10
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Kuang J, Michel K, Scoglio C. GeCoNet-Tool: a software package for gene co-expression network construction and analysis. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:281. [PMID: 37434115 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05382-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Network analysis is a powerful tool for studying gene regulation and identifying biological processes associated with gene function. However, constructing gene co-expression networks can be a challenging task, particularly when dealing with a large number of missing values. RESULTS We introduce GeCoNet-Tool, an integrated gene co-expression network construction and analysis tool. The tool comprises two main parts: network construction and network analysis. In the network construction part, GeCoNet-Tool offers users various options for processing gene co-expression data derived from diverse technologies. The output of the tool is an edge list with the option of weights associated with each link. In network analysis part, the user can produce a table that includes several network properties such as communities, cores, and centrality measures. With GeCoNet-Tool, users can explore and gain insights into the complex interactions between genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyao Kuang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Caterina Scoglio
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
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11
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Tosto NM, Beasley ER, Wong BBM, Mank JE, Flanagan SP. The roles of sexual selection and sexual conflict in shaping patterns of genome and transcriptome variation. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:981-993. [PMID: 36959239 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02019-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is one of the most prevalent, and often the most extreme, examples of phenotypic variation within species, and arises primarily from genomic variation that is shared between females and males. Many sexual dimorphisms arise through sex differences in gene expression, and sex-biased expression is one way that a single, shared genome can generate multiple, distinct phenotypes. Although many sexual dimorphisms are expected to result from sexual selection, and many studies have invoked the possible role of sexual selection to explain sex-specific traits, the role of sexual selection in the evolution of sexually dimorphic gene expression remains difficult to differentiate from other forms of sex-specific selection. In this Review, we propose a holistic framework for the study of sex-specific selection and transcriptome evolution. We advocate for a comparative approach, across tissues, developmental stages and species, which incorporates an understanding of the molecular mechanisms, including genomic variation and structure, governing gene expression. Such an approach is expected to yield substantial insights into the evolution of genetic variation and have important applications in a variety of fields, including ecology, evolution and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Tosto
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Emily R Beasley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah P Flanagan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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12
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Smidler AL, Paton DG, Church GM, Esvelt KM, Shaw WR, Catteruccia F. CRISPR-mediated germline mutagenesis for genetic sterilization of Anopheles gambiae males. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544841. [PMID: 37398131 PMCID: PMC10312776 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Rapid spread of insecticide resistance among anopheline mosquitoes threatens malaria elimination efforts, necessitating development of alternative vector control technologies. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been successfully implemented in multiple insect pests to suppress field populations by the release of large numbers of sterile males, yet it has proven difficult to adapt to Anopheles vectors. Here we outline adaptation of a CRISPR-based genetic sterilization system to selectively ablate male sperm cells in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. We achieve robust mosaic biallelic mutagenesis of zero population growth (zpg, a gene essential for differentiation of germ cells) in F1 individuals after intercrossing a germline-expressing Cas9 transgenic line to a line expressing zpg-targeting gRNAs. Approximately 95% of mutagenized males display complete genetic sterilization, and cause similarly high levels of infertility in their female mates. Using a fluorescence reporter that allows detection of the germline leads to a 100% accurate selection of spermless males, improving the system. These males cause a striking reduction in mosquito population size when released at field-like frequencies in competition cages against wild type males. These findings demonstrate that such a genetic system could be adopted for SIT against important malaria vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Smidler
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Douglas G Paton
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kevin M Esvelt
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - W Robert Shaw
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase MD 20815, USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase MD 20815, USA
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13
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Darolti I, Mank JE. Sex-biased gene expression at single-cell resolution: cause and consequence of sexual dimorphism. Evol Lett 2023; 7:148-156. [PMID: 37251587 PMCID: PMC10210449 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression differences between males and females are thought to be key for the evolution of sexual dimorphism, and sex-biased genes are often used to study the molecular footprint of sex-specific selection. However, gene expression is often measured from complex aggregations of diverse cell types, making it difficult to distinguish between sex differences in expression that are due to regulatory rewiring within similar cell types and those that are simply a consequence of developmental differences in cell-type abundance. To determine the role of regulatory versus developmental differences underlying sex-biased gene expression, we use single-cell transcriptomic data from multiple somatic and reproductive tissues of male and female guppies, a species that exhibits extensive phenotypic sexual dimorphism. Our analysis of gene expression at single-cell resolution demonstrates that nonisometric scaling between the cell populations within each tissue and heterogeneity in cell-type abundance between the sexes can influence inferred patterns of sex-biased gene expression by increasing both the false-positive and false-negative rates. Moreover, we show that, at the bulk level, the subset of sex-biased genes that are the product of sex differences in cell-type abundance can significantly confound patterns of coding-sequence evolution. Taken together, our results offer a unique insight into the effects of allometry and cellular heterogeneity on perceived patterns of sex-biased gene expression and highlight the power of single-cell RNA-sequencing in distinguishing between sex-biased genes that are the result of regulatory change and those that stem from sex differences in cell-type abundance, and hence are a consequence rather than a cause of sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Darolti
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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14
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Hatchett WJ, Jueterbock AO, Kopp M, Coyer JA, Coelho SM, Hoarau G, Lipinska AP. Evolutionary dynamics of sex-biased gene expression in a young XY system: insights from the brown alga genus Fucus. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:422-437. [PMID: 36597732 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sex-biased gene expression is considered to be an underlying cause of sexually dimorphic traits. Although the nature and degree of sex-biased expression have been well documented in several animal and plant systems, far less is known about the evolution of sex-biased genes in more distant eukaryotic groups. Here, we investigate sex-biased gene expression in two brown algal dioecious species, Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus, where male heterogamety (XX/XY) has recently emerged. We find that in contrast to evolutionary distant plant and animal lineages, male-biased genes do not experience high turnover rates, but instead reveal remarkable conservation of bias and expression levels between the two species, suggesting their importance in sexual differentiation. Genes with consistent male bias were enriched in functions related to gamete production, along with sperm competition and include three flagellar proteins under positive selection. We present one of the first reports, outside of the animal kingdom, showing that male-biased genes display accelerated rates of coding sequence evolution compared with female-biased or unbiased genes. Our results imply that evolutionary forces affect male and female sex-biased genes differently on structural and regulatory levels, resulting in unique properties of differentially expressed transcripts during reproductive development in Fucus algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Hatchett
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | | | - Martina Kopp
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | - James A Coyer
- Shoals Marine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Susana M Coelho
- CNRS, Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Sorbonne Université, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Galice Hoarau
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | - Agnieszka P Lipinska
- CNRS, Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Sorbonne Université, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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15
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Anderson MAE, Gonzalez E, Ang JXD, Shackleford L, Nevard K, Verkuijl SAN, Edgington MP, Harvey-Samuel T, Alphey L. Closing the gap to effective gene drive in Aedes aegypti by exploiting germline regulatory elements. Nat Commun 2023; 14:338. [PMID: 36670107 PMCID: PMC9860013 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36029-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-based homing gene drives have emerged as a potential new approach to mosquito control. While attempts have been made to develop such systems in Aedes aegypti, none have been able to match the high drive efficiency observed in Anopheles species. Here we generate Ae. aegypti transgenic lines expressing Cas9 using germline-specific regulatory elements and assess their ability to bias inheritance of an sgRNA-expressing element (kmosgRNAs). Four shu-Cas9 and one sds3-Cas9 isolines can significantly bias the inheritance of kmosgRNAs, with sds3G1-Cas9 causing the highest average inheritance of ~86% and ~94% from males and females carrying both elements outcrossed to wild-type, respectively. Our mathematical model demonstrates that sds3G1-Cas9 could enable the spread of the kmosgRNAs element to either reach a higher (by ~15 percentage point) maximum carrier frequency or to achieve similar maximum carrier frequency faster (by 12 generations) when compared to two other established split drive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A E Anderson
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Estela Gonzalez
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Joshua X D Ang
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Lewis Shackleford
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Katherine Nevard
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Sebald A N Verkuijl
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- Mathematical Ecology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX13SZ, UK
| | - Matthew P Edgington
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK.
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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16
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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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17
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Verkuijl SAN, Gonzalez E, Li M, Ang JXD, Kandul NP, Anderson MAE, Akbari OS, Bonsall MB, Alphey L. A CRISPR endonuclease gene drive reveals distinct mechanisms of inheritance bias. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7145. [PMID: 36414618 PMCID: PMC9681865 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34739-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas gene drives can bias transgene inheritance through different mechanisms. Homing drives are designed to replace a wild-type allele with a copy of a drive element on the homologous chromosome. In Aedes aegypti, the sex-determining locus is closely linked to the white gene, which was previously used as a target for a homing drive element (wGDe). Here, through an analysis using this linkage we show that in males inheritance bias of wGDe did not occur by homing, rather through increased propagation of the donor drive element. We test the same wGDe drive element with transgenes expressing Cas9 with germline regulatory elements sds3, bgcn, and nup50. We only find inheritance bias through homing, even with the identical nup50-Cas9 transgene. We propose that DNA repair outcomes may be more context dependent than anticipated and that other previously reported homing drives may, in fact, bias their inheritance through other mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebald A N Verkuijl
- Mathematical Ecology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Estela Gonzalez
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Ming Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Joshua X D Ang
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Nikolay P Kandul
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michelle A E Anderson
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Omar S Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michael B Bonsall
- Mathematical Ecology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK.
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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18
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Spinner SAM, Barnes ZH, Puinean AM, Gray P, Dafa’alla T, Phillips CE, Nascimento de Souza C, Frazon TF, Ercit K, Collado A, Naish N, Sulston E, Ll. Phillips GC, Greene KK, Poletto M, Sperry BD, Warner SA, Rose NR, Frandsen GK, Verza NC, Gorman KJ, Matzen KJ. New self-sexing Aedes aegypti strain eliminates barriers to scalable and sustainable vector control for governments and communities in dengue-prone environments. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:975786. [PMID: 36394032 PMCID: PMC9650594 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.975786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
For more than 60 years, efforts to develop mating-based mosquito control technologies have largely failed to produce solutions that are both effective and scalable, keeping them out of reach of most governments and communities in disease-impacted regions globally. High pest suppression levels in trials have yet to fully translate into broad and effective Aedes aegypti control solutions. Two primary challenges to date-the need for complex sex-sorting to prevent female releases, and cumbersome processes for rearing and releasing male adult mosquitoes-present significant barriers for existing methods. As the host range of Aedes aegypti continues to advance into new geographies due to increasing globalisation and climate change, traditional chemical-based approaches are under mounting pressure from both more stringent regulatory processes and the ongoing development of insecticide resistance. It is no exaggeration to state that new tools, which are equal parts effective and scalable, are needed now more than ever. This paper describes the development and field evaluation of a new self-sexing strain of Aedes aegypti that has been designed to combine targeted vector suppression, operational simplicity, and cost-effectiveness for use in disease-prone regions. This conditional, self-limiting trait uses the sex-determination gene doublesex linked to the tetracycline-off genetic switch to cause complete female lethality in early larval development. With no female progeny survival, sex sorting is no longer required, eliminating the need for large-scale mosquito production facilities or physical sex-separation. In deployment operations, this translates to the ability to generate multiple generations of suppression for each mosquito released, while being entirely self-limiting. To evaluate these potential benefits, a field trial was carried out in densely-populated urban, dengue-prone neighbourhoods in Brazil, wherein the strain was able to suppress wild mosquito populations by up to 96%, demonstrating the utility of this self-sexing approach for biological vector control. In doing so, it has shown that such strains offer the critical components necessary to make these tools highly accessible, and thus they harbour the potential to transition mating-based approaches to effective and sustainable vector control tools that are within reach of governments and at-risk communities who may have only limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pam Gray
- Oxitec Ltd., Abingdon, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Natalia C. Verza
- Oxitec Ltd., Abingdon, United Kingdom
- Oxitec do Brasil, Campinas, Brazil
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19
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Ntoyi NL, Mashatola T, Bouyer J, Kraupa C, Maiga H, Mamai W, Bimbile-Somda NS, Wallner T, Carvalho DO, Munhenga G, Yamada H. Life-history traits of a fluorescent Anopheles arabiensis genetic sexing strain introgressed into South African genomic background. Malar J 2022; 21:254. [PMID: 36064699 PMCID: PMC9446760 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04276-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND South Africa has set a mandate to eliminate local malaria transmission by 2023. In pursuit of this objective a Sterile Insect Technique programme targeting the main vector Anopheles arabiensis is currently under development. Significant progress has been made towards operationalizing the technology. However, one of the main limitations being faced is the absence of an efficient genetic sexing system. This study is an assessment of an An. arabiensis (AY-2) strain carrying the full Y chromosome from Anopheles gambiae, including a transgenic red fluorescent marker, being introgressed into a South African genetic background as a potential tool for a reliable sexing system. METHODS Adult, virgin males from the An. arabiensis AY-2 strain were outcrossed to virgin females from the South African, Kwazulu-Natal An. arabiensis (KWAG strain) over three generations. Anopheles arabiensis AY-2 fluorescent males were sorted as first instar larvae (L1) using the Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS) and later screened as pupae to verify the sex. Life history traits of the novel hybrid KWAG-AY2 strain were compared to the original fluorescent AY-2 strain, the South African wild-type KWAG strain and a standard laboratory An. arabiensis (Dongola reference strain). RESULTS The genetic stability of the sex-linked fluorescent marker and the integrity and high level of sexing efficiency of the system were confirmed. No recombination events in respect to the fluorescent marker were detected over three rounds of introgression crosses. KWAG-AY2 had higher hatch rates and survival of L1 to pupae and L1 to adult than the founding strains. AY-2 showed faster development time of immature stages and larger adult body size, but lower larval survival rates. Adult KWAG males had significantly higher survival rates. There was no significant difference between the strains in fecundity and proportion of males. KWAG-AY2 males performed better than reference strains in flight ability tests. CONCLUSION The life history traits of KWAG-AY2, its rearing efficiency under laboratory conditions, the preservation of the sex-linked fluorescence and perfect sexing efficiency after three rounds of introgression crosses, indicate that it has potential for mass rearing. The potential risks and benefits associated to the use of this strain within the Sterile Insect Technique programme in South Africa are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonhlanhla L Ntoyi
- Vector Reference Laboratory, Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa. .,Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, MRC Collaborating Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research on Malaria, Johannesburg, South Africa. .,Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Thabo Mashatola
- Vector Reference Laboratory, Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, MRC Collaborating Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research on Malaria, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jérémy Bouyer
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carina Kraupa
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hamidou Maiga
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wadaka Mamai
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nanwintoum S Bimbile-Somda
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wallner
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Danilo O Carvalho
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
| | - Givemore Munhenga
- Vector Reference Laboratory, Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, MRC Collaborating Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research on Malaria, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Hanano Yamada
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Peng D, Kakani EG, Mameli E, Vidoudez C, Mitchell SN, Merrihew GE, MacCoss MJ, Adams K, Rinvee TA, Shaw WR, Catteruccia F. A male steroid controls female sexual behaviour in the malaria mosquito. Nature 2022; 608:93-97. [PMID: 35794471 PMCID: PMC9352575 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04908-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Insects, unlike vertebrates, are widely believed to lack male-biased sex steroid hormones1. In the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, the ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) appears to have evolved to both control egg development when synthesized by females2 and to induce mating refractoriness when sexually transferred by males3. Because egg development and mating are essential reproductive traits, understanding how Anopheles females integrate these hormonal signals can spur the design of new malaria control programs. Here we reveal that these reproductive functions are regulated by distinct sex steroids through a sophisticated network of ecdysteroid-activating/inactivating enzymes. We identify a male-specific oxidized ecdysteroid, 3-dehydro-20E (3D20E), which safeguards paternity by turning off female sexual receptivity following its sexual transfer and activation by dephosphorylation. Notably, 3D20E transfer also induces expression of a reproductive gene that preserves egg development during Plasmodium infection, ensuring fitness of infected females. Female-derived 20E does not trigger sexual refractoriness but instead licenses oviposition in mated individuals once a 20E-inhibiting kinase is repressed. Identifying this male-specific insect steroid hormone and its roles in regulating female sexual receptivity, fertility and interactions with Plasmodium parasites suggests the possibility for reducing the reproductive success of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Peng
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evdoxia G Kakani
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Enzo Mameli
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sara N Mitchell
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael J MacCoss
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kelsey Adams
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tasneem A Rinvee
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W Robert Shaw
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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21
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Hale MD, Robinson CD, Cox CL, Cox RM. Ontogenetic Change in Male Expression of Testosterone-Responsive Genes Contributes to the Emergence of Sex-Biased Gene Expression in Anolis sagrei. Front Physiol 2022; 13:886973. [PMID: 35721538 PMCID: PMC9203151 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.886973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in gene expression tend to increase with age across a variety of species, often coincident with the development of sexual dimorphism and maturational changes in hormone levels. However, because most transcriptome-wide characterizations of sexual divergence are framed as comparisons of sex-biased gene expression across ages, it can be difficult to determine the extent to which age-biased gene expression within each sex contributes to the emergence of sex-biased gene expression. Using RNAseq in the liver of the sexually dimorphic brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei), we found that a pronounced increase in sex-biased gene expression with age was associated with a much greater degree of age-biased gene expression in males than in females. This pattern suggests that developmental changes in males, such as maturational increases in circulating testosterone, contribute disproportionately to the ontogenetic emergence of sex-biased gene expression. To test this hypothesis, we used four different experimental contrasts to independently characterize sets of genes whose expression differed as a function of castration and/or treatment with exogenous testosterone. We found that genes that were significantly male-biased in expression or upregulated as males matured tended to be upregulated by testosterone, whereas genes that were female-biased or downregulated as males matured tended to be downregulated by testosterone. Moreover, the first two principal components describing multivariate gene expression indicated that exogenous testosterone reversed many of the feminizing effects of castration on the liver transcriptome of maturing males. Collectively, our results suggest that developmental changes that occur in males contribute disproportionately to the emergence of sex-biased gene expression in the Anolis liver, and that many of these changes are orchestrated by androgens such as testosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Hale
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew D. Hale, ; Robert M. Cox,
| | | | - Christian L. Cox
- College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert M. Cox
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew D. Hale, ; Robert M. Cox,
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22
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Dynamics of sex-biased gene expression during development in the stick insect Timema californicum. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 129:113-122. [PMID: 35581477 PMCID: PMC9338061 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00536-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic phenotypes are thought to arise primarily from sex-biased gene expression during development. Major changes in developmental strategies, such as the shift from hemimetabolous to holometabolous development, are therefore expected to have profound consequences for the dynamics of sex-biased gene expression. However, no studies have previously examined sex-biased gene expression during development in hemimetabolous insects, precluding comparisons between developmental strategies. Here we characterized sex-biased gene expression at three developmental stages in a hemimetabolous stick insect (Timema californicum): hatchlings, juveniles, and adults. As expected, the proportion of sex-biased genes gradually increased during development, mirroring the gradual increase of phenotypic sexual dimorphism. Sex-biased genes identified at early developmental stages were generally consistently male- or female-biased at later stages, suggesting their importance in sexual differentiation. Additionally, we compared the dynamics of sex-biased gene expression during development in T. californicum to those of the holometabolous fly Drosophila melanogaster by reanalyzing publicly available RNA-seq data from third instar larval, pupal and adult stages. In D. melanogaster, 84% of genes were sex-biased at the adult stage (compared to only 20% in T. californicum), and sex-biased gene expression increased abruptly at the adult stage when morphological sexual dimorphism is manifested. Our findings are consistent with the prediction that the dynamics of sex-biased gene expression during development differ extensively between holometabolous and hemimetabolous insect species.
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23
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Kuang J, Buchon N, Michel K, Scoglio C. A global [Formula: see text] gene co-expression network constructed from hundreds of experimental conditions with missing values. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:170. [PMID: 35534830 PMCID: PMC9082846 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04697-9] [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: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene co-expression networks (GCNs) can be used to determine gene regulation and attribute gene function to biological processes. Different high throughput technologies, including one and two-channel microarrays and RNA-sequencing, allow evaluating thousands of gene expression data simultaneously, but these methodologies provide results that cannot be directly compared. Thus, it is complex to analyze co-expression relations between genes, especially when there are missing values arising for experimental reasons. Networks are a helpful tool for studying gene co-expression, where nodes represent genes and edges represent co-expression of pairs of genes. RESULTS In this paper, we establish a method for constructing a gene co-expression network for the Anopheles gambiae transcriptome from 257 unique studies obtained with different methodologies and experimental designs. We introduce the sliding threshold approach to select node pairs with high Pearson correlation coefficients. The resulting network, which we name AgGCN1.0, is robust to random removal of conditions and has similar characteristics to small-world and scale-free networks. Analysis of network sub-graphs revealed that the core is largely comprised of genes that encode components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the ribosome, while different communities are enriched for genes involved in distinct biological processes. CONCLUSION Analysis of the network reveals that both the architecture of the core sub-network and the network communities are based on gene function, supporting the power of the proposed method for GCN construction. Application of network science methodology reveals that the overall network structure is driven to maximize the integration of essential cellular functions, possibly allowing the flexibility to add novel functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyao Kuang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Nicolas Buchon
- Department of Entomology, Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Caterina Scoglio
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
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24
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Alcalay Y, Fuchs S, Galizi R, Bernardini F, Haghighat-Khah RE, Rusch DB, Adrion JR, Hahn MW, Tortosa P, Rotenberry R, Papathanos PA. The Potential for a Released Autosomal X-Shredder Becoming a Driving-Y Chromosome and Invasively Suppressing Wild Populations of Malaria Mosquitoes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:752253. [PMID: 34957064 PMCID: PMC8698249 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.752253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-ratio distorters based on X-chromosome shredding are more efficient than sterile male releases for population suppression. X-shredding is a form of sex distortion that skews spermatogenesis of XY males towards the preferential transmission of Y-bearing gametes, resulting in a higher fraction of sons than daughters. Strains harboring X-shredders on autosomes were first developed in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, resulting in strong sex-ratio distortion. Since autosomal X-shredders are transmitted in a Mendelian fashion and can be selected against, their frequency in the population declines once releases are halted. However, unintended transfer of X-shredders to the Y-chromosome could produce an invasive meiotic drive element, that benefits from its biased transmission to the predominant male-biased offspring and its effective shielding from female negative selection. Indeed, linkage to the Y-chromosome of an active X-shredder instigated the development of the nuclease-based X-shredding system. Here, we analyze mechanisms whereby an autosomal X-shredder could become unintentionally Y-linked after release by evaluating the stability of an established X-shredder strain that is being considered for release, exploring its potential for remobilization in laboratory and wild-type genomes of An. gambiae and provide data regarding expression on the mosquito Y-chromosome. Our data suggest that an invasive X-shredder resulting from a post-release movement of such autosomal transgenes onto the Y-chromosome is unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehonatan Alcalay
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Silke Fuchs
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Galizi
- Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Bernardini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Adrion
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Matthew W Hahn
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.,Department of Computer Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Pablo Tortosa
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, INSERM 1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, Plateforme de Recherche CYROI, Saint Denis, France
| | - Rachel Rotenberry
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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25
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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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26
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Hammond A, Karlsson X, Morianou I, Kyrou K, Beaghton A, Gribble M, Kranjc N, Galizi R, Burt A, Crisanti A, Nolan T. Regulating the expression of gene drives is key to increasing their invasive potential and the mitigation of resistance. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009321. [PMID: 33513149 PMCID: PMC7886172 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Homing-based gene drives use a germline source of nuclease to copy themselves at specific target sites in a genome and bias their inheritance. Such gene drives can be designed to spread and deliberately suppress populations of malaria mosquitoes by impairing female fertility. However, strong unintended fitness costs of the drive and a propensity to generate resistant mutations can limit a gene drive’s potential to spread. Alternative germline regulatory sequences in the drive element confer improved fecundity of carrier individuals and reduced propensity for target site resistance. This is explained by reduced rates of end-joining repair of DNA breaks from parentally deposited nuclease in the embryo, which can produce heritable mutations that reduce gene drive penetrance. We tracked the generation and selection of resistant mutations over the course of a gene drive invasion of a population. Improved gene drives show faster invasion dynamics, increased suppressive effect and later onset of target site resistance. Our results show that regulation of nuclease expression is as important as the choice of target site when developing a robust homing-based gene drive for population suppression. Gene drives are selfish genetic elements that are able to drastically bias their own inheritance. They can rapidly invade populations, even starting from a very low frequency. Recent advances have allowed the engineering of gene drives deliberately designed to spread genetic traits of choice into populations of malaria-transmitting mosquito species–for example traits that impair a mosquito’s ability to reproduce or its ability to transmit parasites. The class of gene drive in question uses a very precise cutting and copying mechanism, termed ‘homing’, that allows it to increase its numbers in the cells that go on to form sperm or eggs, thereby increasing the chances that a copy of the gene drive is transmitted to offspring. However, while this type of gene drive can rapidly invade a mosquito population, mosquitoes can also eventually become resistant to the gene drive in some cases. Here we show that restricting the cutting activity of the gene drive to the germline tissue is crucial to maintaining its potency and we illustrate how failure to restrict this activity can lead to the generation of mutations that can make mosquitoes resistant to the gene drive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hammond
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xenia Karlsson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ioanna Morianou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kyros Kyrou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Beaghton
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Gribble
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nace Kranjc
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Galizi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Austin Burt
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail: (AC); (TN)
| | - Tony Nolan
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (AC); (TN)
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27
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Bascuñán P, Gabrieli P, Mameli E, Catteruccia F. Mating-regulated atrial proteases control reinsemination rates in Anopheles gambiae females. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21974. [PMID: 33319823 PMCID: PMC7738481 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78967-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes are the most important vectors of human malaria. The reproductive success of these mosquitoes relies on a single copulation event after which the majority of females become permanently refractory to further mating. This refractory behavior is at least partially mediated by the male-synthetized steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which is packaged together with other seminal secretions into a gelatinous mating plug and transferred to the female atrium during mating. In this study, we show that two 20E-regulated chymotrypsin-like serine proteases specifically expressed in the reproductive tract of An. gambiae females play an important role in modulating the female susceptibility to mating. Silencing these proteases by RNA interference impairs correct plug processing and slows down the release of the steroid hormone 20E from the mating plug. In turn, depleting one of these proteases, the Mating Regulated Atrial Protease 1 (MatRAP1), reduces female refractoriness to further copulation, so that a significant proportion of females mate again. Microscopy analysis reveals that MatRAP1 is localized on a previously undetected peritrophic matrix-like structure surrounding the mating plug. These data provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms shaping the post-mating biology of these important malaria vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Bascuñán
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Entomology Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paolo Gabrieli
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Enzo Mameli
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
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28
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Volohonsky G, Paul-Gilloteaux P, Štáfková J, Soichot J, Salamero J, Levashina EA. Kinetics of Plasmodium midgut invasion in Anopheles mosquitoes. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008739. [PMID: 32946522 PMCID: PMC7526910 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites traverse the mosquito midgut cells to establish infection at the basal side of the midgut. This dynamic process is a determinant of mosquito vector competence, yet the kinetics of the parasite migration is not well understood. Here we used transgenic mosquitoes of two Anopheles species and a Plasmodium berghei fluorescence reporter line to track parasite passage through the mosquito tissues at high spatial resolution. We provide new quantitative insight into malaria parasite invasion in African and Indian Anopheles species and propose that the mosquito complement-like system contributes to the species-specific dynamics of Plasmodium invasion. The traversal of the mosquito midgut cells is one of the critical stages in the life cycle of malaria parasites. Motile parasite forms, called ookinetes, traverse the midgut epithelium in a dynamic process which is not fully understood. Here, we harnessed transgenic reporters to track invasion of Plasmodium parasites in African and Indian mosquito species. We found important differences in parasite dynamics between the two Anopheles species and demonstrated a role of the mosquito complement-like system in regulation of parasite invasion of the midgut cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Volohonsky
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Perrine Paul-Gilloteaux
- SERPICO Inria Team/CNRS UMR 144, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,National Biology and Health Infrastructure "France Bioimaging", Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Cell and Tissue Imaging Facility, IBiSA, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Jitka Štáfková
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Julien Soichot
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean Salamero
- SERPICO Inria Team/CNRS UMR 144, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,National Biology and Health Infrastructure "France Bioimaging", Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Cell and Tissue Imaging Facility, IBiSA, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Elena A Levashina
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
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29
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Kakani P, Gupta L, Kumar S. Heme-Peroxidase 2, a Peroxinectin-Like Gene, Regulates Bacterial Homeostasis in Anopheles stephensi Midgut. Front Physiol 2020; 11:572340. [PMID: 33013485 PMCID: PMC7506126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.572340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic nature of mosquito gut microbiome is associated with different stages of development and feeding behaviors. Therefore, mosquito gut harbors a wide range of endogenous microbes that promote numerous life processes such as, nutrition, reproduction and immunity. In addition, gut microbiota also play an important role in the regulation of Plasmodium (malaria parasite) development. Thus, understanding the mechanism of microbial homeostasis in mosquito gut might be one of the strategies to manipulate malaria parasite development. In the present study, we characterized a 692 amino acids long secreted midgut heme-peroxidase 2 (AsHPX2) in Anopheles stephensi, the major Indian malaria vector. The presence of putative integrin binding motifs, LDV (Leu-Asp-Val), indicated its peroxinectin-like nature. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that AsHPX2 is a Culicinae lineage-specific gene. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of AsHPX2 gene significantly enhanced the growth of midgut bacteria in sugar-fed mosquitoes against sham-treated controls. Interestingly, blood-feeding drastically reduced AsHPX2 gene expression and enhanced the growth of midgut bacteria. These results revealed a negative correlation between the expression of AsHPX2 gene and gut bacterial growth. We proposed that AsHPX2, being a mosquito-specific gene, might serve as a "potent target" to manipulate midgut microbiota and vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parik Kakani
- Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.,Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, India
| | - Lalita Gupta
- Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.,Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, India
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30
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Kitano J, Kakioka R, Ishikawa A, Toyoda A, Kusakabe M. Differences in the contributions of sex linkage and androgen regulation to sex-biased gene expression in juvenile and adult sticklebacks. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1129-1138. [PMID: 32533720 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Different evolutionary interests between males and females can lead to the evolution of sexual dimorphism. However, intersex genetic correlations due to the shared genome can constrain the evolution of sexual dimorphism, resulting in intra-locus sexual conflict. One of the mechanisms resolving this conflict is sex linkage, which allows males and females to carry different alleles on sex chromosomes. Another is a regulatory mutation causing sex-biased gene expression, which is often mediated by gonadal steroids in vertebrates. How do these two mechanisms differ in the contributions to the resolution of intra-locus sexual conflict? The magnitude of sexual conflict often varies between the juvenile and adult stages. Because gonadal steroids change in titre during development, we hypothesized that gonadal steroids play a role in sexual dimorphism expression only at certain developmental stages, whereas sex linkage is more important for sexual dimorphism expressed throughout life. Our brain transcriptome analysis of juvenile and adult threespine sticklebacks showed that the majority of genes that were sex-biased in both stages were sex-linked. The relative contribution of androgen-dependent regulation to the sex-biased transcriptome increased and that of sex linkage declined in adults compared to juveniles. The magnitude of the sex differences was greater in sex-linked genes than androgen-responsive genes, suggesting that sex linkage is more effective than androgen regulation in the production of large sex differences in gene expression. Overall, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that sex linkage is effective in resolving sexual conflict throughout life, whereas androgen-dependent regulation can contribute to temporary resolution of sexual conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Kitano
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Ryo Kakioka
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Asano Ishikawa
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Makoto Kusakabe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Surugaku, Shizuoka, Japan
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31
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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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32
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Yamamoto DS, Sumitani M, Kasashima K, Sezutsu H, Matsuoka H, Kato H. A synthetic male-specific sterilization system using the mammalian pro-apoptotic factor in a malaria vector mosquito. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8160. [PMID: 31160726 PMCID: PMC6547752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44480-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditional cell death systems are useful for various aspects of basic science with a wide range of applications, including genetic pest control. We recently demonstrated that expression of the mammalian pro-apoptotic factor, B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax), can induce apoptosis in specific tissues by using tissue specific promoters in silkworm and mosquito. Here, we newly identified a functional promoter in the Asian malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, which enables gene expression specifically in the testis. We produced a transgenic mosquito line that expresses mouse Bax under the control of this testis-specific promoter. Transgenic mosquito males exhibited aberrant testes without functional sperm and complete sterility, whereas transgenic females maintained normal fecundity. Despite their abnormal testes, the transgenic males maintained normal function of male accessory glands and typical mating behaviour. As a result of mating with these males, females showed refractoriness to further mating. These results suggest that transgenic males induce female sterility via mating. The mosquito is one of the most important disease vectors, and the control of their population benefits global public health. Thus, this Bax-mediated synthetic male-specific sterilization system could be applied to population control of mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke S Yamamoto
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
| | - Megumi Sumitani
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, Division of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Katsumi Kasashima
- Division of Functional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hideki Sezutsu
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, Division of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Matsuoka
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hirotomo Kato
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
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33
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Taracena ML, Hunt CM, Benedict MQ, Pennington PM, Dotson EM. Downregulation of female doublesex expression by oral-mediated RNA interference reduces number and fitness of Anopheles gambiae adult females. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:170. [PMID: 30992032 PMCID: PMC6466716 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3437-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions worldwide, with malaria alone killing over 400 thousand people per year and affecting hundreds of millions. To date, the best strategy to prevent the disease remains insecticide-based mosquito control. However, insecticide resistance as well as economic and social factors reduce the effectiveness of the current methodologies. Alternative control technologies are in development, including genetic control such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). The SIT is a pivotal tool in integrated agricultural pest management and could be used to improve malaria vector control. To apply the SIT and most other newer technologies against disease transmitting mosquitoes, it is essential that releases are composed of males with minimal female contamination. The removal of females is an essential requirement because released females can themselves contribute towards nuisance biting and disease transmission. Thus, females need to be eliminated from the cohorts prior to release. Manual separation of Anopheles gambiae pupae or adult mosquitoes based on morphology is time consuming, is not feasible on a large scale and has limited the implementation of the SIT technique. The doublesex (dsx) gene is one of the effector switches of sex determination in the process of sex differentiation in insects. Both males and females have specific splicing variants that are expressed across the different life stages. Using RNA interference (RNAi) to reduce expression of the female specific (dsxF) variant of this gene has proven to have detrimental effects to the females in other mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti. We tested oral RNAi on dsx (AgdsxF) in An. gambiae. Methods We studied the expression pattern of the dsx gene in the An. gambiae G3 strain. We knocked down AgdsxF expression in larvae through oral delivery of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced by bacteria and observed its effects in adults. Results Our results show that feeding of AgdsxF dsRNA can effectively reduce (> 66%) the mRNA of female dsx transcript and that there is a concomitant reduction in the number of female larvae that achieve adulthood. Control groups produced 52% (± 3.9% SE) of adult males and 48% (± 4.0% SE) females, while AgdsxF dsRNA treated groups had 72.1% (± 4.0% SE) males vs 27.8% females (± 3.3% SE). In addition, the female adults produce fewer progeny, 37.1% (± 8.2% SE) less than the controls. The knockdown was sex-specific and had no impact on total numbers of viable male adults, in the male dsx transcripts or male fitness parameters such as longevity or body size. Conclusions These findings indicate that RNAi could be used to improve novel mosquito control strategies that require efficient sex separation and male-only release of An. gambiae by targeting sex determination genes such as AgdsxF. The advantages of using RNAi in a controlled setting for mosquito rearing are numerous, as the dose and time of exposure are controlled, and the possibility of off-target effects and the waste of female production would be significantly reduced. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3437-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel L Taracena
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, MS G49, USA.
| | - Catherine M Hunt
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, MS G49, USA
| | - Mark Q Benedict
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, MS G49, USA
| | - Pamela M Pennington
- Centro de Estudios en Biotecnologia, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11-95, 01015, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Ellen M Dotson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, MS G49, USA
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34
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Patnaik BB, Kim BB, Jo YH, Bang IS. Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of Three Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling Genes ( SOCS5, SOCS6, SOCS7) in the Mealworm Beetle Tenebrio molitor. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10030076. [PMID: 30884777 PMCID: PMC6468919 DOI: 10.3390/insects10030076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) influence cytokine and growth factor signaling by negatively regulating the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway to maintain homeostasis during immune responses. However, functional characterization of SOCS family members in invertebrates is limited. Here, we identified and evaluated three SOCS genes (type I sub-family) in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor. The full-length open reading frames (ORFs) of TmSOCS5, TmSOCS6, and TmSOCS7 comprised of 1389, 897, and 1458 nucleotides, encoding polypeptides of 462, 297, and 485 amino acids, respectively. The SH2 and SOCS box domains of the TmSOCS C-terminal region were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these SOCS genes were clustered within the type I subfamily that exhibits the highest amino acid identity with Tribolium castaneum SOCS genes. Contrary to TmSOCS7 expression, the expression levels of TmSOCS5 and TmSOCS6 were lower in the larval, pupal, and adult stages. In larvae and adults, the expression levels of TmSOCS5 and TmSOCS6 were highest in the hemocytes and ovaries, respectively. SOCS transcripts were also highly upregulated in the hemocytes of T. molitor larvae within 3–6 h post-infection with the fungus Candida albicans. Collectively, these results provide valuable information regarding the involvement of TmSOCS type-I subfamily in the host immune response of insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Bhusan Patnaik
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
- School of Biotech Sciences, Trident Academy of Creative Technology (TACT), Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India.
| | - Bo Bae Kim
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
| | - Yong Hun Jo
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
| | - In Seok Bang
- Department of Biological Science and the Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea.
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35
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Izquierdo A, Fahrenberger M, Persampieri T, Benedict MQ, Giles T, Catteruccia F, Emes RD, Dottorini T. Evolution of gene expression levels in the male reproductive organs of Anopheles mosquitoes. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:e201800191. [PMID: 30623175 PMCID: PMC6315087 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Modifications in gene expression determine many of the phenotypic differentiations between closely related species. This is particularly evident in reproductive tissues, where evolution of genes is more rapid, facilitating the appearance of distinct reproductive characteristics which may lead to species isolation and phenotypic variation. Large-scale, comparative analyses of transcript expression levels have been limited until recently by lack of inter-species data mining solutions. Here, by combining expression normalisation across lineages, multivariate statistical analysis, evolutionary rate, and protein-protein interaction analysis, we investigate ortholog transcripts in the male accessory glands and testes across five closely related species in the Anopheles gambiae complex. We first demonstrate that the differentiation by transcript expression is consistent with the known Anopheles phylogeny. Then, through clustering, we discover groups of transcripts with tissue-dependent expression patterns conserved across lineages, or lineage-dependent patterns conserved across tissues. The strongest associations with reproductive function, transcriptional regulatory networks, protein-protein subnetworks, and evolutionary rate are found for the groups of transcripts featuring large expression differences in lineage or tissue-conserved patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abril Izquierdo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Martin Fahrenberger
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Tania Persampieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Mark Q Benedict
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Entomology Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tom Giles
- Advanced Data Analysis Centre, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK.,Advanced Data Analysis Centre, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Tania Dottorini
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK
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36
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Deitz KC, Takken W, Slotman MA. The Effect of Hybridization on Dosage Compensation in Member Species of the Anopheles gambiae Species Complex. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:1663-1672. [PMID: 29860336 PMCID: PMC6037052 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dosage compensation has evolved in concert with Y-chromosome degeneration in many taxa that exhibit heterogametic sex chromosomes. Dosage compensation overcomes the biological challenge of a “half dose” of X chromosome gene transcripts in the heterogametic sex. The need to equalize gene expression of a hemizygous X with that of autosomes arises from the fact that the X chromosomes retain hundreds of functional genes that are actively transcribed in both sexes and interact with genes expressed on the autosomes. Sex determination and heterogametic sex chromosomes have evolved multiple times in Diptera, and in each case the genetic control of dosage compensation is tightly linked to sex determination. In the Anopheles gambiae species complex (Culicidae), maleness is conferred by the Y-chromosome gene Yob, which despite its conserved role between species is polymorphic in its copy number between them. Previous work demonstrated that male An. gambiae s.s. males exhibit complete dosage compensation in pupal and adult stages. In the present study, we have extended this analysis to three sister species in the An. gambiae complex: An. coluzzii, An. arabiensis, and An. quadriannulatus. In addition, we analyzed dosage compensation in bi-directional F1 hybrids between these species to determine if hybridization results in the mis-regulation and disruption of dosage compensation. Our results confirm that dosage compensation operates in the An. gambiae species complex through the hypertranscription of the male X chromosome. Additionally, dosage compensation in hybrid males does not differ from parental males, indicating that hybridization does not result in the mis-regulation of dosage compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Deitz
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and The Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| | - Willem Takken
- Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
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37
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Güiza J, Barría I, Sáez JC, Vega JL. Innexins: Expression, Regulation, and Functions. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1414. [PMID: 30364195 PMCID: PMC6193117 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The innexin (Inx) proteins form gap junction channels and non-junctional channels (named hemichannels) in invertebrates. These channels participate in cellular communication playing a relevant role in several physiological processes. Pioneer studies conducted mainly in worms and flies have shown that innexins participate in embryo development and behavior. However, recent studies have elucidated new functions of innexins in Arthropoda, Nematoda, Annelida, and Cnidaria, such as immune response, and apoptosis. This review describes emerging data of possible new roles of innexins and summarizes the data available to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Güiza
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Experimental, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Iván Barría
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Experimental, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan C Sáez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - José L Vega
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Experimental, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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38
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Ma WJ, Veltsos P, Toups MA, Rodrigues N, Sermier R, Jeffries DL, Perrin N. Tissue Specificity and Dynamics of Sex-Biased Gene Expression in a Common Frog Population with Differentiated, Yet Homomorphic, Sex Chromosomes. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E294. [PMID: 29895802 PMCID: PMC6027210 DOI: 10.3390/genes9060294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex-biased genes are central to the study of sexual selection, sexual antagonism, and sex chromosome evolution. We describe a comprehensive de novo assembled transcriptome in the common frog Rana temporaria based on five developmental stages and three adult tissues from both sexes, obtained from a population with karyotypically homomorphic but genetically differentiated sex chromosomes. This allows the study of sex-biased gene expression throughout development, and its effect on the rate of gene evolution while accounting for pleiotropic expression, which is known to negatively correlate with the evolutionary rate. Overall, sex-biased genes had little overlap among developmental stages and adult tissues. Late developmental stages and gonad tissues had the highest numbers of stage- or tissue-specific genes. We find that pleiotropic gene expression is a better predictor than sex bias for the evolutionary rate of genes, though it often interacts with sex bias. Although genetically differentiated, the sex chromosomes were not enriched in sex-biased genes, possibly due to a very recent arrest of XY recombination. These results extend our understanding of the developmental dynamics, tissue specificity, and genomic localization of sex-biased genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Ma
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Paris Veltsos
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Melissa A Toups
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - Nicolas Rodrigues
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Roberto Sermier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel L Jeffries
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Nicolas Perrin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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39
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Darolti I, Wright AE, Pucholt P, Berlin S, Mank JE. Slow evolution of sex-biased genes in the reproductive tissue of the dioecious plant Salix viminalis. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:694-708. [PMID: 29274186 PMCID: PMC5901004 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The relative rate of evolution for sex‐biased genes has often been used as a measure of the strength of sex‐specific selection. In contrast to studies in a wide variety of animals, far less is known about the molecular evolution of sex‐biased genes in plants, particularly in dioecious angiosperms. Here, we investigate the gene expression patterns and evolution of sex‐biased genes in the dioecious plant Salix viminalis. We observe lower rates of sequence evolution for male‐biased genes expressed in the reproductive tissue compared to unbiased and female‐biased genes. These results could be partially explained by the lower codon usage bias for male‐biased genes leading to elevated rates of synonymous substitutions compared to unbiased genes. However, the stronger haploid selection in the reproductive tissue of plants, together with pollen competition, would also lead to higher levels of purifying selection acting to remove deleterious variation. Future work should focus on the differential evolution of haploid‐ and diploid‐specific genes to understand the selective dynamics acting on these loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Darolti
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alison E Wright
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pascal Pucholt
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.,Array and Analysis Facility, Department of Medical Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sofia Berlin
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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40
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Calkins TL, Piermarini PM. A Blood Meal Enhances Innexin mRNA Expression in the Midgut, Malpighian Tubules, and Ovaries of the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti. INSECTS 2017; 8:insects8040122. [PMID: 29113099 PMCID: PMC5746805 DOI: 10.3390/insects8040122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors of pathogens that cause diseases of medical and veterinary importance. Female mosquitoes transmit these pathogens while taking a blood meal, which most species require to produce eggs. The period after a blood meal is a time of extreme physiological change that requires rapid coordination of specific tissues. Gap junctions (GJ) are intercellular channels that aid in the coordination of cells within tissues via the direct transfer of certain small molecules and ions between cells. Evolutionarily distinct groups of proteins form the gap junctions of vertebrate and invertebrate animals (connexins and innexins, respectively). Aedes aegypti mosquitoes possess six genes encoding innexins: inx1, inx2, inx3, inx4, inx7, and inx8. The goal of this study was to identify potential roles of innexins in the physiology of mosquitoes after a blood meal by using qPCR to quantify their mRNA expression in adult females at 3 h and 24 h post-blood meal (PBM) relative to non-blood-fed controls. We found that at 24 h PBM, expression levels of inx2, inx3, and inx4 mRNAs increased; inx2 was the most highly upregulated innexin in key tissues associated with blood-meal digestion and egg production (i.e., the midgut and ovaries, respectively). However, knocking down inx2 mRNA levels by over 75% via RNA interference had no significant effect on fecundity. Altogether, our results suggest that a blood meal influences the molecular expression of innexins in mosquitoes, but their specific physiological roles remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis L Calkins
- Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.
| | - Peter M Piermarini
- Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.
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41
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Papa F, Windbichler N, Waterhouse RM, Cagnetti A, D'Amato R, Persampieri T, Lawniczak MKN, Nolan T, Papathanos PA. Rapid evolution of female-biased genes among four species of Anopheles malaria mosquitoes. Genome Res 2017; 27:1536-1548. [PMID: 28747381 PMCID: PMC5580713 DOI: 10.1101/gr.217216.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how phenotypic differences between males and females arise from the sex-biased expression of nearly identical genomes can reveal important insights into the biology and evolution of a species. Among Anopheles mosquito species, these phenotypic differences include vectorial capacity, as it is only females that blood feed and thus transmit human malaria. Here, we use RNA-seq data from multiple tissues of four vector species spanning the Anopheles phylogeny to explore the genomic and evolutionary properties of sex-biased genes. We find that, in these mosquitoes, in contrast to what has been found in many other organisms, female-biased genes are more rapidly evolving in sequence, expression, and genic turnover than male-biased genes. Our results suggest that this atypical pattern may be due to the combination of sex-specific life history challenges encountered by females, such as blood feeding. Furthermore, female propensity to mate only once in nature in male swarms likely diminishes sexual selection of post-reproductive traits related to sperm competition among males. We also develop a comparative framework to systematically explore tissue- and sex-specific splicing to document its conservation throughout the genus and identify a set of candidate genes for future functional analyses of sex-specific isoform usage. Finally, our data reveal that the deficit of male-biased genes on the X Chromosomes in Anopheles is a conserved feature in this genus and can be directly attributed to chromosome-wide transcriptional regulation that de-masculinizes the X in male reproductive tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Papa
- Section of Genomics and Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Cagnetti
- Section of Genomics and Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
- Polo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Rocco D'Amato
- Section of Genomics and Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Tania Persampieri
- Section of Genomics and Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
- Polo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Tony Nolan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Section of Genomics and Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
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42
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Cox RM, Cox CL, McGlothlin JW, Card DC, Andrew AL, Castoe TA. Hormonally Mediated Increases in Sex-Biased Gene Expression Accompany the Breakdown of Between-Sex Genetic Correlations in a Sexually Dimorphic Lizard. Am Nat 2017; 189:315-332. [PMID: 28221827 DOI: 10.1086/690105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of sexual dimorphism is predicted to occur through reductions in between-sex genetic correlations (rmf) for shared traits, but the physiological and genetic mechanisms that facilitate these reductions remain largely speculative. Here, we use a paternal half-sibling breeding design in captive brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) to show that the development of sexual size dimorphism is mirrored by the ontogenetic breakdown of rmf for body size and growth rate. Using transcriptome data from the liver (which integrates growth and metabolism), we show that sex-biased gene expression also increases dramatically between ontogenetic stages bracketing this breakdown of rmf. Ontogenetic increases in sex-biased expression are particularly evident for genes involved in growth, metabolism, and cell proliferation, suggesting that they contribute to both the development of sexual dimorphism and the breakdown of rmf. Mechanistically, we show that treatment of females with testosterone stimulates the expression of male-biased genes while inhibiting the expression of female-biased genes, thereby inducing male-like phenotypes at both organismal and transcriptomic levels. Collectively, our results suggest that sex-specific modifiers such as testosterone can orchestrate sex-biased gene expression to facilitate the phenotypic development of sexual dimorphism while simultaneously reducing genetic correlations that would otherwise constrain the independent evolution of the sexes.
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43
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Gabrieli P, Scolari F, Di Cosimo A, Savini G, Fumagalli M, Gomulski LM, Malacrida AR, Gasperi G. Sperm-less males modulate female behaviour in Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 79:13-26. [PMID: 27720923 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)(Diptera: Tephritidae), mating has a strong impact on female biology, leading to a decrease in sexual receptivity and increased oviposition and fecundity. Previous studies suggest that sperm transfer may play a role in inducing these behavioural changes. Here we report the identification of a medfly innexin gene, Cc-inx5, whose expression is limited to the germ-line of both sexes. Through RNA interference of this gene, we generated males without testes and, consequently, sperm, but apparently retaining all the other reproductive organs intact. These sperm-less males were able to mate and, like their wild-type counterparts, to induce in their partners increased oviposition rates and refractoriness to remating. Interestingly, matings to sperm-less males results in oviposition rates higher than those induced by copulation with control males. In addition, the observed female post-mating behavioural changes were congruent with changes in transcript abundance of genes known to be regulated by mating in this species. Our results suggest that sperm transfer is not necessary to reduce female sexual receptivity and to increase oviposition and fecundity. These data pave the way to a better understanding of the role/s of seminal components in modulating female post-mating responses. In the long term, this knowledge will be the basis for the development of novel approaches for the manipulation of female fertility, and, consequently, innovative tools to be applied to medfly control strategies in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Gabrieli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Cosimo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Fumagalli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Gasperi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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Vizán-Rico HI, Gómez-Zurita J. Testis-specific RNA-Seq of Calligrapha (Chrysomelidae) as a transcriptomic resource for male-biased gene inquiry in Coleoptera. Mol Ecol Resour 2016; 17:533-545. [PMID: 27288908 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We report the architecture of testis transcriptomes of four closely related species of Calligrapha (Chrysomelidae) beetles, which diverged during the last 3 million years. Five cDNA libraries were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq technology, retrieving 102 884-176 514 assembled contigs, of which ~33-45% of these longer than 499 nt were functionally annotated. Annotation and sequence similarity comparisons of these libraries revealed high homogeneity in gene composition and the presence of several functional candidates related to reproduction or reproductive processes (0.72-1.08% of annotated sequences). Stringent sequence similarity analyses of these transcriptomes against empirically demonstrated male-biased genes in Drosophila melanogaster and Tribolium castaneum allowed the identification of 77 homologues in Calligrapha, possible candidates of male-biased expression. Some of these genes - including CG9313, Tektin-A or tomboy40 - were confirmed as orthologs of these male-biased genes using phylogenetic inference and available model insect data, increasing our confidence that they represent functional homologues too. Our transcriptomes are a valuable transcriptomic resource for the analysis of male-biased genes in Calligrapha, which has the added interest of including several female-only species. But it simultaneously represents a landmark for similar studies in Coleoptera, broadening the taxonomic diversity currently represented by the model species T. castaneum, and incipient genomic data in other herbivorous lineages, including weevils, longhorn beetles and leaf beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena I Vizán-Rico
- Animal Biodiversity and Evolution, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Univ. Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Jesús Gómez-Zurita
- Animal Biodiversity and Evolution, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Univ. Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
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Dhawan R, Gupta K, Kajla M, Kumar S, Gakhar SK, Kakani P, Choudhury TP, Gupta L. Molecular characterization of SOCS gene and its expression analysis on Plasmodium berghei infection in Anopheles culicifacies. Acta Trop 2015; 152:170-175. [PMID: 26407822 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 09/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Anopheles culicifacies mosquitoes are able to transmit both falciparum and vivax malaria in India. More than 65% of malaria cases reported annually spread through this vector. Despite the fact that it poses major vectorial burden in India, the molecular basis of its immune role against Plasmodium development has not been explored intensively. Here, we characterized An. culicifacies SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling) gene, a regulator of STAT pathway and its expression analysis upon Plasmodium infection. Our analysis has demonstrated that An. culicifacies SOCS gene shares strikingly high level of sequence similarity in SH2 domain and SOCS box region with other mosquito species. However, its N-terminal identity is limited to Anophelines mosquito only, suggesting its genus specific role. SOCS mRNA is expressed in all developmental stages of mosquito and its expression is higher in male than female adults. SOCS mRNA is significantly induced after Plasmodium infection in midgut tissue indicating its involvement in the immune defense responses. This is the first evidence of involvement of SOCS as an immune gene in Indian malaria vector An. culicifacies.
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Petrella V, Aceto S, Musacchia F, Colonna V, Robinson M, Benes V, Cicotti G, Bongiorno G, Gradoni L, Volf P, Salvemini M. De novo assembly and sex-specific transcriptome profiling in the sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera, Phlebotominae), a major Old World vector of Leishmania infantum. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:847. [PMID: 26493315 PMCID: PMC4619268 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2088-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The phlebotomine sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) is a major Old World vector of the protozoan Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases in humans and dogs, a worldwide re-emerging diseases of great public health concern, affecting 101 countries. Despite the growing interest in the study of this sand fly species in the last years, the development of genomic resources has been limited so far. To increase the available sequence data for P. perniciosus and to start studying the molecular basis of the sexual differentiation in sand flies, we performed whole transcriptome Illumina RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of adult males and females and de novo transcriptome assembly. Results We assembled 55,393 high quality transcripts, of which 29,292 were unique, starting from adult whole body male and female pools. 11,736 transcripts had at least one functional annotation, including full-length low abundance salivary transcripts, 981 transcripts were classified as putative long non-coding RNAs and 244 transcripts encoded for putative novel proteins specific of the Phlebotominae sub-family. Differential expression analysis identified 8590 transcripts significantly biased between sexes. Among them, some show relaxation of selective constraints when compared to their orthologs of the New World sand fly species Lutzomyia longipalpis. Conclusions In this paper, we present a comprehensive transcriptome resource for the sand fly species P. perniciosus built from short-read RNA-seq and we provide insights into sex-specific gene expression at adult stage. Our analysis represents a first step towards the identification of sex-specific genes and pathways and a foundation for forthcoming investigations into this important vector species, including the study of the evolution of sex-biased genes and of the sexual differentiation in phlebotomine sand flies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2088-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Petrella
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - S Aceto
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - F Musacchia
- Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn", Naples, Italy
| | - V Colonna
- National Research Council, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Naples, Italy
| | - M Robinson
- Institute of Molecular Life Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,SIB-Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - V Benes
- Genomics Core Facility, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - G Cicotti
- Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking, ICAR-CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - G Bongiorno
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - L Gradoni
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - P Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - M Salvemini
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Pompon J, Levashina EA. A New Role of the Mosquito Complement-like Cascade in Male Fertility in Anopheles gambiae. PLoS Biol 2015; 13:e1002255. [PMID: 26394016 PMCID: PMC4579081 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) is a key immune factor that determines mosquito resistance to a wide range of pathogens, including malaria parasites. Here we report a new allele-specific function of TEP1 in male fertility. We demonstrate that during spermatogenesis TEP1 binds to and removes damaged cells through the same complement-like cascade that kills malaria parasites in the mosquito midgut. Further, higher fertility rates are mediated by an allele that renders the mosquito susceptible to Plasmodium. By elucidating the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying TEP1 function in spermatogenesis, our study suggests that pleiotropic antagonism between reproduction and immunity may shape resistance of mosquito populations to malaria parasites. The complement-related protein TEP1, which helps kill malaria parasites, also labels damaged cells for removal during mosquito spermatogenesis and promotes male fertility in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. While Anopheline mosquitoes are the most efficient vectors of human malaria, they do have protective mechanisms directed against the causative parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Their immune system targets the invading parasites through activation of the mosquito complement-like system. A central component of this system, thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1), is a highly polymorphic gene with four allelic classes. Although one class, called R1, mediates efficient parasite elimination, the other classes render the mosquitoes susceptible to Plasmodium infections. Until now, it was not clear how or why any of these susceptible TEP1 alleles were maintained in the population. Here we discover a new role of TEP1 in male fertility. We demonstrate that mosquitoes use the same mechanism—nitration of target surfaces—to flag both damaged sperm and Plasmodium cells. Binding of TEP1 to, and removal of, the aberrant sperm is critical to preserve high fertility rates. In the absence of TEP1, accumulation of damaged sperm degrades male fertility. Surprisingly, in spite of the common mechanism of TEP1 activation, distinct alleles of TEP1 mediate efficient removal of defective sperm and killing of malaria parasites. Our results suggest that pleiotropic function in immunity and reproduction is one of the mechanisms that maintain TEP1 polymorphism in mosquito populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Pompon
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U963, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elena A. Levashina
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U963, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Sexual dimorphism, a poorly understood but crucial aspect of vector mosquito biology, encompasses sex-specific physical, physiological, and behavioral traits related to mosquito reproduction. The study of mosquito sexual dimorphism has largely focused on analysis of the differences between adult female and male mosquitoes, particularly with respect to sex-specific behaviors related to disease transmission. However, sexually dimorphic behaviors are the products of differential gene expression that initiates during development and therefore must also be studied during development. Recent technical advancements are facilitating functional genetic studies in the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, an emerging model for mosquito development. These methodologies, many of which could be extended to other non-model insect species, are facilitating analysis of the development of sexual dimorphism in neural tissues, particularly the olfactory system. These studies are providing insight into the neurodevelopmental genetic basis for sexual dimorphism in vector mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, USA; Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Zainulabeuddin Syed
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Böhne A, Sengstag T, Salzburger W. Comparative transcriptomics in East African cichlids reveals sex- and species-specific expression and new candidates for sex differentiation in fishes. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 6:2567-85. [PMID: 25364805 PMCID: PMC4202336 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Males and females of the same species differ largely in gene expression, which accounts for most of the morphological and physiological differences and sex-specific phenotypes. Here, we analyzed sex-specific gene expression in the brain and the gonads of cichlid fishes from Lake Tanganyika belonging to four different lineages, so-called tribes (Eretmodini, Ectodini, Haplochromini, and Lamprologini), using the outgroup Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as reference. The comparison between male and female brains revealed few differences between the sexes, consistent in all investigated species. The gonads, on the other hand, showed a large fraction of differentially expressed transcripts with the majority of them showing the same direction of expression in all four species. All here-studied cichlids, especially the three investigated mouth-breeding species, showed a trend toward more male- than female biased transcripts. Transcripts, which were female-biased in expression in all four species, were overrepresented on linkage group (LG)1 in the reference genome and common male-biased transcripts showed accumulation on LG23, the presumable sex chromosomes of the Nile tilapia. Sex-specific transcripts contained candidate genes for sex determination and differentiation in fishes,especially members of the transforming growth factor-b-superfamily and the Wnt-pathway and also prominent members of the sox-, dm-domain-, and high mobility group-box families. We further confirmed our previous finding on species/lineage-specific gene expression shifts in the sex steroid pathway, including synthesizing enzymes as the aromatase cyp19a1 and estrogen and androgen receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Böhne
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland
- *Corresponding author: E-mail:
| | - Thierry Sengstag
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and sciCORE Computing Center, University of Basel, Switzerland
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Krtinić B, Ludoški J, Milankov V. Multi-character approach reveals a discordant pattern of phenotypic variation during ontogeny in Culex pipiens biotypes (Diptera: Culicidae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2015; 105:129-138. [PMID: 25424880 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485314000832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Culex (Culex) pipiens s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises two distinct biotypes, pipiens ('rural') and molestus ('urban'), both of which are thought to have differing capacities due to different host preferences. To better understand West Nile encephalitis epidemiology and improve risk assessment, local distinction between these forms is essential. This study assesses phenotypic variation at larval and adult stages of 'urban' and 'rural' biotypes of the species by complementary use of meristic, univariate and multivariate traits analyzed by traditional and geometric morphometrics. Third- and fourth-instar larvae from a broad area of the city of Novi Sad (Serbia) were collected and reared in the laboratory. After adult eclosion, the sex of each larva was recorded based on the sex of the corresponding adult. Examination of the association between variations of larval traits revealed contrasting variations regarding pecten spines vs. siphonal size and siphonal shape in the 'rural' biotype. Siphons of larvae collected in marshes and forest ecosystems outside urban areas were found to be the largest, but possessed the smallest number of pecten spines. In addition, statistically significant female-biased sexual dimorphism was observed in siphonal size, wing size and wing shape. Finally, we propose that an integrative approach is essential in delimitation of Cx. pipiens s.l. biotypes, since their differentiation was not possible based solely on larval and adult traits. Our findings shed light on the phenotypic plasticity important for population persistence in the changing environment of these medically important taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Krtinić
- Ciklonizacija,Primorska 76,21000 Novi Sad,Serbia
| | - J Ludoški
- Department of Biology and Ecology,Faculty of Sciences,University of Novi Sad,Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2,21000 Novi Sad,Serbia
| | - V Milankov
- Department of Biology and Ecology,Faculty of Sciences,University of Novi Sad,Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2,21000 Novi Sad,Serbia
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