Roberto Galizi r.galizi@keele.ac.uk
A synthetic sex ratio distortion system for the control of the human malaria mosquito.
Galizi, Roberto; Doyle, Lindsey A.; Menichelli, Miriam; Bernardini, Federica; Deredec, Anne; Burt, Austin; Stoddard, Barry L.; Windbichler, Nikolai; Crisanti, Andrea
Authors
Lindsey A. Doyle
Miriam Menichelli
Federica Bernardini
Anne Deredec
Austin Burt
Barry L. Stoddard
Nikolai Windbichler
Andrea Crisanti
Abstract
It has been theorized that inducing extreme reproductive sex ratios could be a method to suppress or eliminate pest populations. Limited knowledge about the genetic makeup and mode of action of naturally occurring sex distorters and the prevalence of co-evolving suppressors has hampered their use for control. Here we generate a synthetic sex distortion system by exploiting the specificity of the homing endonuclease I-PpoI, which is able to selectively cleave ribosomal gene sequences of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae that are located exclusively on the mosquito's X chromosome. We combine structure-based protein engineering and molecular genetics to restrict the activity of the potentially toxic endonuclease to spermatogenesis. Shredding of the paternal X chromosome prevents it from being transmitted to the next generation, resulting in fully fertile mosquito strains that produce >95% male offspring. We demonstrate that distorter male mosquitoes can efficiently suppress caged wild-type mosquito populations, providing the foundation for a new class of genetic vector control strategies.
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Apr 28, 2014 |
Publication Date | Jun 10, 2014 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Print ISSN | 2041-1723 |
Pages | 3977 - ? |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4977 |
Keywords | Malaria, mosquito. |
Publisher URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4977 |
PMID | 24915045 |
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