This is a database of peer-reviewed literature that focuses on Genetic Biocontrol research. The latest are shown here.
Reflection on the Challenges, Accomplishments, and New Frontiers of Gene Drives
Background
Ongoing pest and disease outbreaks pose a serious threat to human, crop, and animal lives, emphasizing the need for constant genetic discoveries that could serve as mitigation strategies. Gene drives are genetic engineering approaches discovered decades ago that may allow quick, super-Mendelian dissemination of genetic modifications in wild populations, offering hopes for medicine, agriculture, and ecology in combating diseases. Following its first discovery, several naturally occurring selfish genetic elements were identified and several gene drive mechanisms that could attain relatively high threshold population replacement have been proposed.
Melesse Vergara, M., Labbé, J., & Tannous, J. (2022). Reflection on the Challenges, Accomplishments, and New Frontiers of Gene Drives. BioDesign Research, 2022.
Strategies to improve homology-based repair outcomes following CRISPR-based gene editing in mosquitoes: lessons in how to keep any repair disruptions local
Background
Programmable gene editing systems such as CRISPR-Cas have made mosquito genome engineering more practical and accessible, catalyzing the development of cutting-edge genetic methods of disease vector control. This progress, however, has been limited by the low efficiency of homology-directed repair (HDR)-based sequence integration at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and a lack of understanding about DSB repair in mosquitoes.
Finney, M., Romanowski, J., & Adelman, Z. N. (2022). Strategies to improve homology-based repair outcomes following CRISPR-based gene editing in mosquitoes: lessons in how to keep any repair disruptions local. Virology Journal, 19(1), 1-11.
Gene drive in species complexes: defining target organisms
Background
Engineered gene drives share many environmental risk assessment considerations with other transgenes in genetically modified organisms, but they can differ significantly in their potential to spread, increase in frequency, and persist in target populations. Recently, introduction of mosquitoes with an engineered gene drive completely suppressed caged wild type laboratory populations of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, belonging to a species complex containing both vector and nonvector species that can produce fertile interspecific hybrids.
Connolly, J. B., Romeis, J., Devos, Y., Glandorf, D. C., Turner, G., & Coulibaly, M. B. (2022). Gene drive in species complexes: defining target organisms. Trends in Biotechnology.
Population replacement gene drive characteristics for malaria elimination in a range of seasonal transmission settings: a modelling study
Background
Gene drives are a genetic engineering method where a suite of genes is inherited at higher than Mendelian rates and has been proposed as a promising new vector control strategy to reinvigorate the fight against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.
Leung, S., Windbichler, N., Wenger, E. A., Bever, C. A., & Selvaraj, P. (2022). Population replacement gene drive characteristics for malaria elimination in a range of seasonal transmission settings: a modelling study. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 1-20.
Operationalizing stakeholder engagement for gene drive research in malaria elimination in Africa—translating guidance into practice
Background
Gene drive mosquitoes are increasingly considered a potential transformational tool for vector control of malaria mosquitoes. As part of efforts to promote responsible research in this field, a number of guidance documents have been published by the World Health Organization, National Academies and expert groups. While virtually all recent guidance documents on gene drive research stress the importance of stakeholder engagement activities, no specific guidelines on implementing them have been established. Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium developing a vector-control gene drive approach to eliminate malaria, has reflected on how its stakeholder engagement strategy translates engagement guidance documents into practice.
Pare Toe, L., Dicko, B., Linga, R., Barry, N., Drabo, M., Sykes, N., & Thizy, D. (2022). Operationalizing stakeholder engagement for gene drive research in malaria elimination in Africa—translating guidance into practice. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 1-16.
Scalability of genetic biocontrols for eradicating invasive alien mammals
Background
CRISPR-based gene drives offer novel solutions for controlling invasive alien species, which could ultimately extend eradication efforts to continental scales. Gene drives for suppressing invasive alien vertebrates are now under development. Using a landscape-scale individual-based model, we present the first estimates of times to eradication for long-lived alien mammals. We show that demography and life-history traits interact to determine the scalability of gene drives for vertebrate pest eradication. Notably, optimism around eradicating smaller-bodied pests (rodents and rabbits) with gene-drive technologies does not easily translate into eradication of larger-bodied alien species (cats and foxes).
Birand, A., Cassey, P., Ross, J. V., Thomas, P. Q., & Prowse, T. A. (2022). Scalability of genetic biocontrols for eradicating invasive alien mammals.
Current Status of Mosquito Handling, Transporting and Releasing in Frame of the Sterile Insect Technique
Background
With the increasing burden of mosquito-borne diseases around the world and the traditional control methods showing drawbacks, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is now a potential new tool in the field of controlling mosquitoes. During the implementation of SIT, several steps, such as handling, transportation and release, are of great importance and stand a chance to be optimized. Here, we provide an overview of the key steps in the whole SIT process, listing the main handling, transporting and releasing methods described in the present studies in order to maximize the success of the SIT. With the relevant technical summary, the cognition of this technology can be more accurate; the explorations and results may evoke more follow-up research, making them more directional.
Guo, J., Zheng, X., Zhang, D., & Wu, Y. (2022). Current Status of Mosquito Handling, Transporting and Releasing in Frame of the Sterile Insect Technique. Insects, 13(6), 532.
Testing non-autonomous antimalarial gene drive effectors using self-eliminating drivers in the African mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae
Background
Gene drives for mosquito population modification are novel tools for malaria control. Strategies to safely test antimalarial effectors in the field are required. Here, we modified the Anopheles gambiae zpg locus to host a CRISPR/Cas9 integral gene drive allele (zpgD) and characterized its behaviour and resistance profile. We found that zpgD dominantly sterilizes females but can induce efficient drive at other loci when it itself encounters resistance.
Ellis, D. A., Avraam, G., Hoermann, A., Wyer, C. A., Ong, Y. X., Christophides, G. K., & Windbichler, N. (2022). Testing non-autonomous antimalarial gene drive effectors using self-eliminating drivers in the African mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae. PLoS Genetics, 18(6), e1010244.
Modifying mosquitoes to suppress disease transmission: Is the long wait over?
Background
For more than 50 years it has been a dream of medical entomologists and public health workers to control diseases like malaria and dengue fever by modifying, through genetics and other methods, the arthropods that transmit them to humans. A brief synopsis of the history of these efforts as applied to mosquitoes is presented; none proved to be effective in reducing disease prevalence. Only in the last few years have novel approaches been developed or proposed that indicate the long wait may be over. Three recent developments are particularly promising: CRISPR-Cas9 driven genetic modification, shifting naturally occurring allele frequencies, and microbe-based modifications.
Powell, J. R. (2022). Modifying mosquitoes to suppress disease transmission: Is the long wait over?. Genetics, 221(3), iyac072.
Anopheles stephensi in Africa requires a more integrated response
Background
There are increasing reports of the Asian malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi invading and spreading in Eastern Africa. We discuss the importance of these invasions in the context of broader challenges facing malaria control in Africa and argue against addressing it as an isolated problem. Anopheles stephensi is only one of multiple biological threats facing malaria control in the region—and is itself an indication of wide-ranging weaknesses in vector surveillance and control programs. Expanded investigations are needed in both urban and rural areas.
Mnzava, A., Monroe, A. C., & Okumu, F. (2022). Anopheles stephensi in Africa requires a more integrated response. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 1-6.