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D'Amato R, Taxiarchi C, Galardini M, Trusso A, Minuz RL, Grilli S, Somerville AGT, Shittu D, Khalil AS, Galizi R, Crisanti A, Simoni A, Müller R. Anti-CRISPR Anopheles mosquitoes inhibit gene drive spread under challenging behavioural conditions in large cages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:952. [PMID: 38296981 PMCID: PMC10830555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44907-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-based gene drives have the potential to spread within populations and are considered as promising vector control tools. A doublesex-targeting gene drive was able to suppress laboratory Anopheles mosquito populations in small and large cages, and it is considered for field application. Challenges related to the field-use of gene drives and the evolving regulatory framework suggest that systems able to modulate or revert the action of gene drives, could be part of post-release risk-mitigation plans. In this study, we challenge an AcrIIA4-based anti-drive to inhibit gene drive spread in age-structured Anopheles gambiae population under complex feeding and behavioural conditions. A stochastic model predicts the experimentally-observed genotype dynamics in age-structured populations in medium-sized cages and highlights the necessity of large-sized cage trials. These experiments and experimental-modelling framework demonstrate the effectiveness of the anti-drive in different scenarios, providing further corroboration for its use in controlling the spread of gene drive in Anopheles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocco D'Amato
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy
| | | | - Marco Galardini
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Molecular Bacteriology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Alessandro Trusso
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy
| | - Roxana L Minuz
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy
| | - Silvia Grilli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Dammy Shittu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberto Galizi
- Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alekos Simoni
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy.
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Ruth Müller
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy.
- Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Pollegioni P, Persampieri T, Minuz RL, Bucci A, Trusso A, Martino SD, Leo C, Bruttini M, Ciolfi M, Waldvogel A, Tripet F, Simoni A, Crisanti A, Müller R. Introgression of a synthetic sex ratio distortion transgene into different genetic backgrounds of Anopheles coluzzii. Insect Mol Biol 2023; 32:56-68. [PMID: 36251429 PMCID: PMC10092091 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The development of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMM) and their subsequent field release offers innovative approaches for vector control of malaria. A non-gene drive self-limiting male-bias Ag(PMB)1 strain has been developed in a 47-year-old laboratory G3 strain of Anopheles gambiae s.l. When Ag(PMB)1 males are crossed to wild-type females, expression of the endonuclease I-PpoI during spermatogenesis causes the meiotic cleavage of the X chromosome in sperm cells, leading to fertile offspring with a 95% male bias. However, World Health Organization states that the functionality of the transgene could differ when inserted in different genetic backgrounds of Anopheles coluzzii which is currently a predominant species in several West-African countries and thus a likely recipient for a potential release of self-limiting GMMs. In this study, we introgressed the transgene from the donor Ag(PMB)1 by six serial backcrosses into two recipient colonies of An. coluzzii that had been isolated in Mali and Burkina Faso. Scans of informative Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers and whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed a nearly complete introgression of chromosomes 3 and X, but a remarkable genomic divergence in a large region of chromosome 2 between the later backcrossed (BC6) transgenic offspring and the recipient paternal strains. These findings suggested to extend the backcrossing breeding strategy beyond BC6 generation and increasing the introgression efficiency of critical regions that have ecological and epidemiological implications through the targeted selection of specific markers. Disregarding differential introgression efficiency, we concluded that the phenotype of the sex ratio distorter is stable in the BC6 introgressed An. coluzzii strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Pollegioni
- Research Institute on Terrestrial EcosystemsNational Research CouncilTerniItaly
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Tania Persampieri
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Roxana L. Minuz
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Alessandro Bucci
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Alessandro Trusso
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Salvatore Di Martino
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Chiara Leo
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Marco Bruttini
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
- Tuscan Centre of Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, Surgery and NeurosciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Marco Ciolfi
- Research Institute on Terrestrial EcosystemsNational Research CouncilTerniItaly
| | | | - Frédéric Tripet
- Centre for Applied Entomology and ParasitologyKeele UniversityNewcastle‐under‐LymeUK
| | - Alekos Simoni
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Molecular MedicineUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Ruth Müller
- Genetics and Ecology Research CentrePolo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e BiologiaTerniItaly
- Unit Entomology, Department of Biomedical SciencesInstitute of Tropical MedicineAntwerpBelgium
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Pollegioni P, North AR, Persampieri T, Bucci A, Minuz RL, Groneberg DA, Nolan T, Papathanos P, Crisanti A, Müller R. Detecting the population dynamics of an autosomal sex ratio distorter transgene in malaria vector mosquitoes. J Appl Ecol 2020; 57:2086-2096. [PMID: 33149368 PMCID: PMC7594489 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The development of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes and their subsequent field release offers innovative and cost-effective approaches to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria. A sex-distorting autosomal transgene has been developed recently in G3 mosquitoes, a laboratory strain of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. The transgene expresses an endonuclease called I-PpoI during spermatogenesis, which selectively cleaves the X chromosome to result in ~95% male progeny. Following the World Health Organization guidance framework for the testing of GM mosquitoes, we assessed the dynamics of this transgene in large cages using a joint experimental modelling approach.We performed a 4-month experiment in large, indoor cages to study the population genetics of the transgene. The cages were set up to mimic a simple tropical environment with a diurnal light-cycle, constant temperature and constant humidity. We allowed the generations to overlap to engender a stable age structure in the populations. We constructed a model to mimic the experiments, and used the experimental data to infer the key model parameters.We identified two fitness costs associated with the transgene. First, transgenic adult males have reduced fertility and, second, their female progeny have reduced pupal survival rates. Our results demonstrate that the transgene is likely to disappear in <3 years under our confined conditions. Model predictions suggest this will be true over a wide range of background population sizes and transgene introduction rates. Synthesis and applications. Our study is in line with the World Health Organization guidance recommendations in regard to the development and testing of GM mosquitoes. Since the transgenic sex ratio distorter strain (Ag(PMB)1) has been considered for genetic vector control of malaria, we recorded the dynamics of this transgene in indoor-large cage populations and modelled its post-release persistence under different scenarios. We provide a demonstration of the self-limiting nature of the transgene, and identified new fitness costs that will further reduce the longevity of the transgene after its release. Finally, our study has showcased an alternative and effective statistical method for characterizing the phenotypic expression of a transgene in an insect pest population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Pollegioni
- Polo d'Innovazione di GenomicaGenetica e Biologia Società Consortile R.L.TerniItaly
- National Research CouncilResearch Institute on Terrestrial EcosystemsPoranoItaly
| | - Ace R. North
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Tania Persampieri
- Polo d'Innovazione di GenomicaGenetica e Biologia Società Consortile R.L.TerniItaly
| | - Alessandro Bucci
- Polo d'Innovazione di GenomicaGenetica e Biologia Società Consortile R.L.TerniItaly
| | - Roxana L. Minuz
- Polo d'Innovazione di GenomicaGenetica e Biologia Società Consortile R.L.TerniItaly
| | - David Alexander Groneberg
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineGoethe University Frankfurt am MainFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Tony Nolan
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
- Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Philippos‐Aris Papathanos
- Department of Experimental MedicineUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
- Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentHebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | | | - Ruth Müller
- Polo d'Innovazione di GenomicaGenetica e Biologia Società Consortile R.L.TerniItaly
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineGoethe University Frankfurt am MainFrankfurt am MainGermany
- Unit Medical EntomologyDepartment of Biomedical SciencesInstitute of Tropical MedicineAntwerpBelgium
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Riolo P, Isidoro N, Ruschioni S, Minuz RL, Bin F, Romani R. Anatomy of the antennal dorsal organ in female ofNeodryinus typhlocybae(Hymenoptera: Dryinidae): A peculiar sensory structure possibly involved in perception of host vibration. J Morphol 2015; 277:128-37. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Riolo
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie; Alimentari E Ambientali, Università Politecnica Delle Marche; via Brecce Bianche Ancona 60131 Italy
| | - Nunzio Isidoro
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie; Alimentari E Ambientali, Università Politecnica Delle Marche; via Brecce Bianche Ancona 60131 Italy
| | - Sara Ruschioni
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie; Alimentari E Ambientali, Università Politecnica Delle Marche; via Brecce Bianche Ancona 60131 Italy
| | - Roxana L. Minuz
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie; Alimentari E Ambientali, Università Politecnica Delle Marche; via Brecce Bianche Ancona 60131 Italy
| | - Ferdinando Bin
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Agrarie; Alimentari E Ambientali, Università Degli Studi Di Perugia; Borgo XX Giugno 74 Perugia 06121 Italy
| | - Roberto Romani
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Agrarie; Alimentari E Ambientali, Università Degli Studi Di Perugia; Borgo XX Giugno 74 Perugia 06121 Italy
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Riolo P, Verdolini E, Anfora G, Minuz RL, Ruschioni S, Carlin S, Isidoro N. Perching mate-locating strategy in Paysandisia archon (Lepidoptera: Castniidae): behavioral and morpho-physiological investigations. J Econ Entomol 2014; 107:1009-1021. [PMID: 25026660 DOI: 10.1603/ec13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We studied Paysandisia archon (Burmeister) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae: Castniinae) courtship behavior to provide a detailed qualitative and quantitative description of male and female behaviors. Moreover, to investigate the role of antennal olfaction and visual stimuli in mate-recognition, bioassays with antennectomized adults and dummies were performed. To assess the presence of a pheromone gland in the ovipositor, morphological (using light and scanning electron microscopic techniques), electrophysiological, and chemical investigations were carried out. We observed perching mate-locating behavior of P. archon males, with the female triggering the courtship sequence by approaching the perching male first. The stereotyped courtship sequence is made up of five main steps: female flight, pair flight, alighting close, copulation attempt, and clasping. Our findings suggest that visual cues are important in P. archon courtship behavior, and the role of chemical cues is also discussed. Moreover, we observed a higher antenna cleaning frequency in females than in males. Ovipositor extrusions during courtship appeared not to be related to calling behavior, and histological investigations showed no evidence of glandular tissues involved in sex pheromone production. The P. archon ovipositor consists of the eighth uromere, which forms the ovipositor base, and the 9th and 10th uromeres are fused together and connected to the base by an intersegmental membrane. Overall, 24 compounds were identified from extracts obtained from ovipositors: 9 compounds were detected only in extracts from the ovipositors of 24-h-old virgin females, and not from those of 1-h-old females. None of these compounds elicited any significant electrophysiological responses from male antennae.
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Minuz RL, Isidoro N, Casavecchia S, Burgio G, Riolo P. Sex-dispersal differences of four phloem-feeding vectors and their relationship to wild-plant abundance in vineyard agroecosystems. J Econ Entomol 2013; 106:2296-2309. [PMID: 24498727 DOI: 10.1603/ec13244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Sex-dispersal differences of four phloem-feeding vectors and their relationship to wild-plant abundance were analyzed over 2 yr in two vineyard agroecosystems. Adults of Euscelis lineolatus Brullè, Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Schäffer), Psammotettix alienus (Dahlbom), and Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret were sampled by using yellow sticky traps at two heights (20 and 150 cm) above the ground in a regular geo-referenced grid. Wild vegetation was surveyed around each sampling point. The most abundant species collected was N. fenestratus, followed by P. alienus, H. obsoletus, and E. lineolatus. Low traps were more effective in capturing the females of N. fenestratus and P. alienus and the males of all of the species, except N. fenestratus at one site. Sex ratio was male-biased for N. fenestratus in both agroecosystems at both trap heights, and only in low traps for H. obsoletus and P. alienus at one site. Insect abundance, temporal population dynamics, and dispersal patterns showed considerable fluctuations according to vineyard agroecosystems and years. In the current study, all of the four phloem-feeding vectors were not found homogeneously in the vineyards, and they were aggregated in correspondence with their herbaceous wild-plant hosts. Insects tended to disperse from the borders toward the vineyard, or vice versa Colonizing pattern was strongly affected by border vegetation, fallow fields, and vineyard ground-cover vegetation. Different plant communities were identified inside the agroecosystems, and significant correlations among insect and plant-species abundances were recorded. Data highlight the importance of understanding the dispersal patterns of vector species for the application of correct integrated pest-management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Minuz
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - N Isidoro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - S Casavecchia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - G Burgio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, via Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - P Riolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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Riolo P, Minuz RL, Anfora G, Stacconi MVR, Carlin S, Isidoro N, Romani R. Perception of host plant volatiles in Hyalesthes obsoletus: behavior, morphology, and electrophysiology. J Chem Ecol 2012; 38:1017-30. [PMID: 22730108 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-012-0154-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Revised: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Palearctic planthopper Hyalesthes obsoletus is the natural vector of the grapevine yellow disease Bois noir. Grapevine is an occasional host plant of this polyphagous planthopper. To deepen our knowledge of the role of plant volatile organic compounds for H. obsoletus host plant searching, we carried out behavioral, morphological, and electrophysiological studies. We tested the attraction of H. obsoletus to nettle, field bindweed, hedge bindweed, chaste tree, and grapevine by using a Y-shaped olfactometer. The results showed a significant attraction of male H. obsoletus to chaste tree, and of the females to nettle. Male H. obsoletus were repelled by odor from hedge bindweed. Ultrastructural studies of the antennae showed at least two types of olfactory sensilla at the antennal pedicel: plaque organs and trichoid sensilla. Volatile organic compounds from nettle and chaste tree were collected, and the extracts were analyzed by coupling gas-chromatography to both mass-spectrometry and electroantennography. The volatile organic compounds that elicited electrophysiological responses in male and female antennae were identified. These findings are discussed with respect to behavior of H. obsoletus males and females in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Riolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
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