A self-limiting sterile insect technique alternative for Ceratitis capitata.
Serafima Davydova, Junru Liu, Yiran Liu, Kavya Prince, Jonathan Mann, Nikolay P Kandul, W Evan Braswell, Jackson Champer, Omar S Akbari, Angela Meccariello
BMC biology · 2025-Apr-12 · PMID 40221789 · DOI 10.1186/s12915-025-02201-2Abstract
Genetic biocontrol systems have broad applications in population control of insects implicated in both disease spread and food security. Ceratitis capitata (the Mediterranean fruit fly), a major agricultural pest with a global distribution, is one of the appealing targets for such genetic control. In this study, we establish and characterise a novel split-CRISPR/Cas9 system we term Sex Conversion Induced by CRISPR (SCIC) in C. capitata. Using the white eye gene for toolkit selection we achieved up to 100% CRISPR/Cas9 efficiency, displaying the feasibility of C. capitata split-CRISPR/Cas9 systems using constitutive promoters. We then induce sex conversion by targeting the transformer gene in a SCIC approach aimed for SIT-mediated releases upon radiation-based sterilisation. Knock-out of transformer induced partial to full female-to-male sex conversion, with the remaining individuals all being intersex and sterile. SCIC population modelling shows a strong potential to outcompete traditional SIT, allowing for faster population elimination with fewer released sterile males. Overall, we construct an appropriate CRISPR/Cas9 toolkit for the use in C capitata. Our results build the foundation for further genetic pest control methods in the species and related tephritid agricultural pests.
Evidence profile
- Study type
- modeling
- Text reviewed by the copilot
- Full text is available
- Publication status
- published
- Corrections or retractions
- none
- Conflict statement
- Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: All authors and funding bodies consented to publication. Competing interests: O.S.A is a founder of Agragene, Inc. and Synvect, Inc. with equity interest. N.P.K is a founder of Synvect, Inc. with 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 other authors declare no competing interests.