Biology subjects

Adelman, Z.

Publications and source records attributed to Adelman, Z..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Repeat mediated excision of gene drive elements for restoring wild-type populations

We demonstrate here that single strand annealing (SSA) repair can be co-opted for the precise autocatalytic excision of a drive element. Although SSA is not the predominant form of DNA repair in eukaryotic organisms, we increased the likelihood of its use by engineering direct repeats at sites flanking the drive allele, and then introducing a double-strand DNA break (DSB) at a second endonuclease target site encoded within the drive allele. We have termed this technology Repeat Mediated Excision of a Drive Element (ReMEDE). Incorporation of ReMEDE into the previously described mutagenic chain reaction (MCR) gene drive, targeting the yellow gene of Drosophila melanogaster, replaced drive alleles with wild-type alleles demonstrating proof-of-principle. Although the ReMEDE system requires further research and development, the technology has a number of attractive features as a gene drive mitigation strategy, chief among these the potential to restore a wild-type population without releasing additional transgenic organisms or large-scale environmental engineering efforts.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2023

AePUb promoter length modulates gene expression in Aedes aegypti

Molecular tools for modulating transgene expression in Aedes aegypti are few. Here we demonstrate that adjustments to the AePUb promoter length can alter expression levels of two reporter proteins in Ae. aegypti cell culture and in mosquitoes. This provides a simple means for increasing or decreasing expression of a gene of interest and easy translation from cells to whole insects.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Disrupting female flight in the vector Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti is a vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Current vector control strategies such as community engagement, source reduction, and insecticides have not been sufficient to prevent viral outbreaks. Thus, interest in novel strategies involving genetic engineering is growing. Female mosquitoes rely on flight to mate with males and obtain a bloodmeal from a host. We hypothesized that knockout of genes specifically expressed in female mosquitoes associated with the indirect flight muscles would result in a flightless female mosquito. With the CRISPR-Cas9 system, we performed embryonic microinjections of Cas9 protein and guide RNAs specific to genes hypothesized to control flight in mosquitoes, and have obtained genetic knockouts in several genes specifically expressed in the flight-muscle, including those specific to female flight muscle. Analysis of the phenotype of these female-specific gene knockout mutants resulted in flightless females and flying males. While further assessment is required, this work lays the groundwork for a mechanism of population control that is female-specific for the Ae. aegypti vector.

genetics↗