Suppressing mosquito populations with precision guided sterile males.
Ming Li, Ting Yang, Michelle Bui, Stephanie Gamez, Tyler Wise, Nikolay P Kandul, Junru Liu, Lenissa Alcantara, Haena Lee, Jyotheeswara R Edula, Robyn Raban, Yinpeng Zhan, Yijin Wang, Nick DeBeaubien, Jieyan Chen, Héctor M Sánchez C, Jared B Bennett, Igor Antoshechkin, Craig Montell, John M Marshall, Omar S Akbari
Nature communications · 2021-Sep-10 · PMID 34508072 · DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-25421-wAbstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the principal vector for arboviruses including dengue/yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus, infecting hundreds of millions of people annually. Unfortunately, traditional control methodologies are insufficient, so innovative control methods are needed. To complement existing measures, here we develop a molecular genetic control system termed precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) in Aedes aegypti. PgSIT uses a simple CRISPR-based approach to generate flightless females and sterile males that are deployable at any life stage. Supported by mathematical models, we empirically demonstrate that released pgSIT males can compete, suppress, and even eliminate mosquito populations. This platform technology could be used in the field, and adapted to many vectors, for controlling wild populations to curtail disease in a safe, confinable, and reversible manner.
Evidence profile
- Study type
- modeling
- Text reviewed by the copilot
- Full text is available
- Publication status
- published
- Corrections or retractions
- none
- Conflict statement
- O.S.A. is a founder of Agragene, Inc. and has an equity interest. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of California, San Diego in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. All remaining authors declare no competing interests.