1
|
Liang J, Kang L, Michalak P, Sharakhov IV. Hybridization between Aedes aegypti and Aedes mascarensis mosquitoes leads to disruption of male sex determination. Commun Biol 2024; 7:886. [PMID: 39039226 PMCID: PMC11263339 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06560-4] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the sex determination pathway and its disruptions in mosquitoes is critical for the effective control of disease vectors through genetic manipulations based on sex separation. When male hybrids of Aedes aegypti females and Ae. mascarensis males are backcrossed to Ae. aegypti females, a portion of the backcross progeny manifests as males with abnormal sexual differentiation. We discovered a significant correlation between pupal abnormalities and the feminization of subsequent adults exemplified by the relative abundance of ovarian and testicular tissues. All intersex individuals were genetic males as they expressed a male determining factor, Nix. Further, our analysis of the sex-specific splicing of doublesex and fruitless transcripts demonstrated the presence of both male and female splice variants indicating that sex determination is disrupted. A comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed similar expression levels of most female-associated genes in reproductive organs and carcasses between intersexual males and normal females. Moreover, intersexes had largely normal gene expression in testes but significant gene downregulation in male accessory glands when compared with normal males. We conclude that evolving hybrid incompatibilities between Ae. aegypti and Ae. mascarensis involve disruption of sex determination and are accompanied by changes in gene expression associated with sexual differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Liang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Lin Kang
- Department of Biomedical Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, LA, USA
- College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA
- Center for One Health Research, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Pawel Michalak
- Department of Biomedical Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, LA, USA
- Center for One Health Research, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Igor V Sharakhov
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vitale M, Kranjc N, Leigh J, Kyrou K, Courty T, Marston L, Grilli S, Crisanti A, Bernardini F. Y chromosome shredding in Anopheles gambiae: Insight into the cellular dynamics of a novel synthetic sex ratio distorter. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011303. [PMID: 38848445 PMCID: PMC11189259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011303] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite efforts to explore the genome of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, the Y chromosome of this species remains enigmatic. The large number of repetitive and heterochromatic DNA sequences makes the Y chromosome exceptionally difficult to fully assemble, hampering the progress of gene editing techniques and functional studies for this chromosome. In this study, we made use of a bioinformatic platform to identify Y-specific repetitive DNA sequences that served as a target site for a CRISPR/Cas9 system. The activity of Cas9 in the reproductive organs of males caused damage to Y-bearing sperm without affecting their fertility, leading to a strong female bias in the progeny. Cytological investigation allowed us to identify meiotic defects and investigate sperm selection in this new synthetic sex ratio distorter system. In addition, alternative promoters enable us to target the Y chromosome in specific tissues and developmental stages of male mosquitoes, enabling studies that shed light on the role of this chromosome in male gametogenesis. This work paves the way for further insight into the poorly characterised Y chromosome of Anopheles gambiae. Moreover, the sex distorter strain we have generated promises to be a valuable tool for the advancement of studies in the field of developmental biology, with the potential to support the progress of genetic strategies aimed at controlling malaria mosquitoes and other pest species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Vitale
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nace Kranjc
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Leigh
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kyrous Kyrou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Courty
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Marston
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Grilli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Bernardini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zamyatin A, Avdeyev P, Liang J, Sharma A, Chen C, Lukyanchikova V, Alexeev N, Tu Z, Alekseyev MA, Sharakhov IV. Chromosome-level genome assemblies of the malaria vectors Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis. Gigascience 2021; 10:giab017. [PMID: 33718948 PMCID: PMC7957348 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis belong to the Anopheles gambiae complex and are among the major malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. However, chromosome-level reference genome assemblies are still lacking for these medically important mosquito species. FINDINGS In this study, we produced de novo chromosome-level genome assemblies for A. coluzzii and A. arabiensis using the long-read Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology and the Hi-C scaffolding approach. We obtained 273.4 and 256.8 Mb of the total assemblies for A. coluzzii and A. arabiensis, respectively. Each assembly consists of 3 chromosome-scale scaffolds (X, 2, 3), complete mitochondrion, and unordered contigs identified as autosomal pericentromeric DNA, X pericentromeric DNA, and Y sequences. Comparison of these assemblies with the existing assemblies for these species demonstrated that we obtained improved reference-quality genomes. The new assemblies allowed us to identify genomic coordinates for the breakpoint regions of fixed and polymorphic chromosomal inversions in A. coluzzii and A. arabiensis. CONCLUSION The new chromosome-level assemblies will facilitate functional and population genomic studies in A. coluzzii and A. arabiensis. The presented assembly pipeline will accelerate progress toward creating high-quality genome references for other disease vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anton Zamyatin
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, Kronverkskiy Prospekt 49-A, Saint Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Pavel Avdeyev
- Department of Mathematics, The George Washington University, 801 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jiangtao Liang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 170 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 360 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Atashi Sharma
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 360 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Chujia Chen
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 360 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Varvara Lukyanchikova
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 170 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 360 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics the Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Lavrentyeva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nikita Alexeev
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, Kronverkskiy Prospekt 49-A, Saint Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 360 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Max A Alekseyev
- Department of Mathematics, The George Washington University, 801 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Igor V Sharakhov
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 170 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 360 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sharma A, Kinney NA, Timoshevskiy VA, Sharakhova MV, Sharakhov IV. Structural Variation of the X Chromosome Heterochromatin in the Anopheles gambiae Complex. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E327. [PMID: 32204543 PMCID: PMC7140835 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin is identified as a potential factor driving diversification of species. To understand the magnitude of heterochromatin variation within the Anopheles gambiae complex of malaria mosquitoes, we analyzed metaphase chromosomes in An. arabiensis, An. coluzzii, An. gambiae, An. merus, and An. quadriannulatus. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with ribosomal DNA (rDNA), a highly repetitive fraction of DNA, and heterochromatic Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) clones, we established the correspondence of pericentric heterochromatin between the metaphase and polytene X chromosomes of An. gambiae. We then developed chromosome idiograms and demonstrated that the X chromosomes exhibit qualitative differences in their pattern of heterochromatic bands and position of satellite DNA (satDNA) repeats among the sibling species with postzygotic isolation, An. arabiensis, An. merus, An. quadriannulatus, and An. coluzzii or An. gambiae. The identified differences in the size and structure of the X chromosome heterochromatin point to a possible role of repetitive DNA in speciation of mosquitoes. We found that An. coluzzii and An. gambiae, incipient species with prezygotic isolation, share variations in the relative positions of the satDNA repeats and the proximal heterochromatin band on the X chromosomes. This previously unknown genetic polymorphism in malaria mosquitoes may be caused by a differential amplification of DNA repeats or an inversion in the sex chromosome heterochromatin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atashi Sharma
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (A.S.); (V.A.T.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Nicholas A. Kinney
- Genomics Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Vladimir A. Timoshevskiy
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (A.S.); (V.A.T.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Maria V. Sharakhova
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (A.S.); (V.A.T.); (M.V.S.)
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics of Insects, the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Laboratory of Ecology, Genetics and Environmental Protection, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Igor V. Sharakhov
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (A.S.); (V.A.T.); (M.V.S.)
- Genomics Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics of Insects, the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Cytology and Genetics, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liang J, Sharakhov IV. Premeiotic and meiotic failures lead to hybrid male sterility in the Anopheles gambiae complex. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191080. [PMID: 31288705 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybrid male sterility (HMS) contributes to speciation by restricting gene flow between related taxa. Detailed cytological characterization of reproductive organs in hybrid males is important for identifying phenotypes that can help guide searches of speciation genes. To investigate possible cellular causes of HMS, we performed crosses between closely related species of the Anopheles gambiae complex: An. merus with An. gambiae or An. coluzzii. We demonstrate that HMS in African malaria mosquitoes involves two defects in the reciprocal crosses: a premeiotic arrest of germline stem cells in degenerate testes and a failure of the reductional meiotic division of primary spermatocytes in normal-like testes. The premeiotic arrest in degenerate testes of hybrids is accompanied by a strong suppression of meiotic and postmeiotic genes. Unlike pure species, sex chromosomes in normal-like testes of F1 hybrids are largely unpaired during meiotic prophase I and all chromosomes show various degrees of insufficient condensation. Instead of entering reductional division in meiosis I, primary spermatocytes prematurely undergo an equational mitotic division producing non-motile diploid sperm. Thus, our study identified cytogenetic errors in interspecies hybrids that arise during the early stages of postzygotic isolation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Liang
- 1 Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA , USA
| | - Igor V Sharakhov
- 1 Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA , USA.,2 Department of Cytology and Genetics, Tomsk State University , Tomsk , Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bernardini F, Kriezis A, Galizi R, Nolan T, Crisanti A. Introgression of a synthetic sex ratio distortion system from Anopheles gambiae into Anopheles arabiensis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5158. [PMID: 30914785 PMCID: PMC6435806 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41646-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
I-PpoI is a homing endonuclease that has a high cleavage activity and specificity for a conserved sequence within the ribosomal rDNA repeats, located in a single cluster on the Anopheles gambiae X chromosome. This property has been exploited to develop a synthetic sex ratio distortion system in this mosquito species. When I-PpoI is expressed from a transgene during spermatogenesis in mosquitoes, the paternal X chromosome is shredded and only Y chromosome-bearing sperm are viable, resulting in a male-biased sex ratio of >95% in the progeny. These distorter male mosquitoes can efficiently suppress caged wild-type populations, providing a powerful tool for vector control strategies. Given that malaria mosquito vectors belong to a species complex comprising at least two major vectors, we investigated whether the sex distorter I-PpoI, originally integrated in the A. gambiae genome, could be transferred via introgression to the sibling vector species Anopheles arabiensis. In compliance with Haldane’s rule, F1 hybrid male sterility is known to occur in all intercrosses among members of the Anopheles gambiae complex. A scheme based on genetic crosses and transgene selection was used to bypass F1 hybrid male sterility and introgress the sex distorter I-PpoI into the A. arabiensis genetic background. Our data suggest that this sex distortion technique can be successfully applied to target A. arabiensis mosquitoes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bernardini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Antonios Kriezis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Roberto Galizi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Tony Nolan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Buchman A, Akbari OS. Site-specific transgenesis of the Drosophila melanogaster Y-chromosome using CRISPR/Cas9. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:65-73. [PMID: 30079589 PMCID: PMC8459378 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of Y-chromosomes in evolution and sex determination, their heterochromatic, repeat-rich nature makes them difficult to sequence (due, in part, to ambiguities in sequence alignment and assembly) and to genetically manipulate. Therefore, they generally remain poorly understood. For example, the Drosophila melanogaster Y-chromosome, one of the most extensively studied Y-chromosomes, is widely heterochromatic and composed mainly of highly repetitive sequences, with only a handful of expressed genes scattered throughout its length. Efforts to insert transgenes on this chromosome have thus far relied on either random insertion of transposons (sometimes harbouring 'landing sites' for subsequent integrations) with limited success or on chromosomal translocations, thereby limiting the types of Y-chromosome-related questions that could be explored. Here, we describe a versatile approach to site-specifically insert transgenes on the Y-chromosome in D. melanogaster via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair. We demonstrate the ability to insert, and detect expression from, fluorescently marked transgenes at two specific locations on the Y-chromosome, and we utilize these marked Y-chromosomes to detect and quantify rare chromosomal nondisjunction effects. Finally, we discuss how this Y-docking technique could be adapted to other insects to aid in the development of genetic control technologies for the management of insect disease vectors and pests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Buchman
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, United States of America
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, United States of America
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ruzzante L, Reijnders MJ, Waterhouse RM. Of Genes and Genomes: Mosquito Evolution and Diversity. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:32-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
12
|
Molecular tools and genetic markers for the generation of transgenic sexing strains in Anopheline mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:660. [PMID: 30583738 PMCID: PMC6304780 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3207-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a serious global health burden, affecting more than 200 million people each year in over 90 countries, predominantly in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Since the year 2000, a concerted effort to combat malaria has reduced its incidence by more than 40%, primarily due to the use of insecticide-treated bednets, indoor residual spraying and artemisinin-based combination drug therapies. Nevertheless, the cost of control is expected to nearly triple over the next decade and the current downward trend in disease transmission is threatened by the rise of resistance to drugs and insecticides. Novel strategies that are sustainable and cost-effective are needed to help usher in an era of malaria elimination. The most effective strategies thus far have focussed on control of the mosquito vector. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a potentially powerful strategy that aims to suppress mosquito populations through the unproductive mating of wild female mosquitoes with sterile males that are released en masse. The technique and its derivatives are currently not appropriate for malaria control because it is difficult to sterilise males without compromising their ability to mate, and because anopheline males cannot be easily separated from females, which if released, could contribute to disease transmission. Advances in genome sequencing technologies and the development of transgenic techniques provide the tools necessary to produce mosquito sexing strains, which promise to improve current malaria-control programs and pave the way for new ones. In this review, the progress made in the development of transgenic sexing strains for the control of Anopheles gambiae, a major vector of human malaria, is discussed.
Collapse
|
13
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Raban R, Akbari OS. Gene drives may be the next step towards sustainable control of malaria. Pathog Glob Health 2018; 111:399-400. [PMID: 29566584 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2017.1453587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Raban
- a Section of Cell and Developmental Biology , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Omar S Akbari
- a Section of Cell and Developmental Biology , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA
| |
Collapse
|