This is a database of peer-reviewed literature that focuses on Genetic Biocontrol research. The latest are shown here.
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.
Experimental demonstration of tethered gene drive systems for confined population modification or suppression
Background
Homing gene drives hold great promise for the genetic control of natural populations. However, current homing systems are capable of spreading uncontrollably between populations connected by even marginal levels of migration. This could represent a substantial sociopolitical barrier to the testing or deployment of such drives and may generally be undesirable when the objective is only local population control, such as suppression of an invasive species outside of its native range.
Metzloff, M., Yang, E., Dhole, S., Clark, A. G., Messer, P. W., & Champer, J. (2022). Experimental demonstration of tethered gene drive systems for confined population modification or suppression. BMC biology, 20(1), 1-13.
Recommendations for environmental risk assessment of gene drive applications for malaria vector control
Background
Building on an exercise that identified potential harms from simulated investigational releases of a population suppression gene drive for malaria vector control, a series of online workshops identified nine recommendations to advance future environmental risk assessment of gene drive applications.
Connolly, J. B., Mumford, J. D., Glandorf, D. C., Hartley, S., Lewis, O. T., Evans, S. W., … & Aboagye-Antwi, F. (2022). Recommendations for environmental risk assessment of gene drive applications for malaria vector control. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 152.
Elimination of a closed population of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, through releases of self-limiting male mosquitoes
Background
Establishment of novel mosquito control technologies such as the use of genetically engineered insects typically involves phased testing to generate robust data-sets that support its safe and effective use as a vector control tool. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of the transgenic self-limiting OX513A Aedes aegypti strain to suppress a wild type Ae. aegypti population in an outdoor containment facility in India. OX513A is a genetically engineered Ae. aegypti strain with a repressible dominant self-limiting gene. When male adult OX513A mate with wild female adults, a single copy of the self-limiting gene is inherited by all the progeny, leading to death of >95% of progeny during larval/pupal development.
Patil, P. B., Dasgupta, S. K., Gorman, K., Pickl-Herk, A., Puinean, M., McKemey, A., … & Barwale, S. R. (2022). Elimination of a closed population of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, through releases of self-limiting male mosquitoes. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(5), e0010315.
Genome Editing for Sustainable Agriculture in Africa
Background
Sustainable intensification of agriculture in Africa is essential for accomplishing food and nutritional security and addressing the rising concerns of climate change. There is an urgent need to close the yield gap in staple crops and enhance food production to feed the growing population. In order to meet the increasing demand for food, more efficient approaches to produce food are needed. All the tools available in the toolbox, including modern biotechnology and traditional, need to be applied for crop improvement. The full potential of new breeding tools such as genome editing needs to be exploited in addition to conventional technologies. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas)-based genome editing has rapidly become the most prevalent genetic engineering approach for developing improved crop varieties because of its simplicity, efficiency, specificity, and easy to use.
Tripathi, L., Dhugga, K. S., Ntui, V. O., Runo, S., Syombua, E. D., Muiruri, S., … & Tripathi, J. N. (2022). Genome editing for sustainable agriculture in Africa. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 4.
Pilot trial using mass field-releases of sterile males produced with the incompatible and sterile insect techniques as part of integrated Aedes aegypti control in Mexico
Background
The combination of Wolbachia-based incompatible insect technique (IIT) and radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) can be used for population suppression of Aedes aegypti. Our main objective was to evaluate whether open-field mass-releases of wAlbB-infected Ae. aegypti males, as part of an Integrated Vector Management (IVM) plan led by the Mexican Ministry of Health, could suppress natural populations of Ae. aegypti in urbanized settings in south Mexico.
Martín-Park, A., Che-Mendoza, A., Contreras-Perera, Y., Pérez-Carrillo, S., Puerta-Guardo, H., Villegas-Chim, J., … & Manrique-Saide, P. (2022). Pilot trial using mass field-releases of sterile males produced with the incompatible and sterile insect techniques as part of integrated Aedes aegypti control in Mexico. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(4), e0010324.