233 - Developing biocontrol technologies for mosquitoes

Abstract: Female mosquitoes are the sole blood-feeding culprits responsible for transmitting dangerous human pathogens. Hence, the imperative task of eliminating female mosquitoes precedes any genetic biocontrol interventions. In this study, we introduce a highly reliable method called SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-Splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter) designed to harness sex-specific alternative splicing of a benign reporter gene. This innovative approach ensures the exclusive and dominant expression of the reporter gene in males.

Our research demonstrates the effectiveness of SEPARATOR for sex selection at both the larval and pupal stages of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. We leverage a Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS^®) to showcase the scalability of high-throughput sex selection, particularly in first instar larvae. Furthermore, we employ SEPARATOR to unravel the transcriptomes of early larval males and females, unveiling several genes that exhibit sex-specific expression in males.

Building on these findings, we integrate SEPARATOR into a molecular genetic control system known as the precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT). This integration enhances the precision and efficiency of sex sorting, paving the way for the development of the next-generation sterile insect technique tailored for mosquito control in Aedes aegypti populations.

SEPARATOR holds the promise of streamlining the large-scale production of male mosquitoes for release programs and boasts adaptability across various species, rendering it an invaluable tool for genetic biocontrol interventions.