Editing Genes in Mosquitos

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mosquitos promises future control of vectorborne diseases

Image credit: Bigstock

Problem

Can vectorborne diseases such as malaria, Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus be efficiently and effectively controlled?

A gene-editing technique called CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) provides a revolutionary way to modify an organism's genome by precisely editing a targeted region of DNA.
Current techniques for CRISPR in arthropod vectors require difficult and inefficient embryonic microinjections to deliver the DNA-editing enzyme (Cas9) that promotes or disables certain traits.

Findings

Entomologists designed ReMOT Control (Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo) to improve CRISPR by delivering the Cas9 cargo through an easy injection into the blood of female arthropods.
The cargo is introduced into developing eggs via receptors in the ovary.
The researchers demonstrated the process by editing the eye color of mosquito offspring.

Impact

ReMOT Control is a substantial improvement over existing embryo-injection techniques, putting gene-editing capability into the reach of nonspecialist laboratories and potentially revolutionizing the broad application of functional arthropod genetics. The technique drastically reduces the cost of editing genes in arthropods.

Related Research Area: Integrated Health Solutions

Research Credit

Team

Jason Rasgon, Duverney Chaverra- Rodriguez, Vanessa Macias, Donghun Kim, Grant Hughes, Sujit Pujhari, Yasutsugu Suzuki, David Peterson, and Sage McKeand

Participating Departments

Entomology

Competitive Funding

NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Science Foundation; Pennsylvania Department of Health using Tobacco Settlement Funds

Federal and State Appropriations

USDA NIFA Hatch Project PEN04608, Accession #1010032

Emerging Discoveries

Merit-based NSF grant extension supports expansion of gene-editing technology

August 17, 2020

Researchers who developed an improved method of gene editing for the study of arthropods will expand the technology for use in vertebrate species such as mice, fish and birds after receiving new funding from the National Science Foundation.

New technology improves CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mosquitoes, other species

August 09, 2018

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A technology designed to improve CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mosquitoes and other arthropods succeeds with a high degree of efficiency, while eliminating the need for difficult microinjection of genetic material, according to researchers.

World’s first gene editing tools for ticks may help decrease tick-borne diseases

February 15, 2022

Reducing tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, may now be possible thanks to two new gene editing methods developed by researchers at Penn State; the University of Nevada, Reno; and the University of Maryland. The methods could allow scientists to alter parts of the tick genome that are involved in harboring and transmitting pathogens.