Homing CRISPR for population modification in Anopheles gambiae - UC Irvine

African malaria mosquito

Intended use

Reduction of transmission of malaria pathogen by this vector (to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa)

Readiness of Technology

5 - Limited proof of concept in laboratory

Project leader

James A

Institution

University of California Irvine

Publications

Carballar-Lejarazú et al., 2020

Carballar-Lejarazú et al., 2022

Terradas et al., 2022

Carballar-Lejarazú et al., 2023

Tushar et al., 2024

Authors name for system

'Cas9/guide RNA (gRNA)–based genedrive systems’ ‘autonomous genedrive system'

Field(s) of application

Vector control

Description of system

Homing CRISPR targeting the Agcd gene

For specialists

Description

Homing CRISPR gene drive targeting the ortholog gene, resulting in red eye colour - (recessive) (no anti-malarial cargo genes).

Notes on readiness of technology

Proof of principal in laboratory trials without cargo genes - ‘drive resistant alleles arise at a frequency of <0.1 percent’ (Carballar-Lejarazú et al., 2020)

Two further studies investigated generation of resistance alleles (Carballar-Lejarazú et al., 2022) and distribution of Cas9 transcripts in germ cells (Terradas et al., 2022)

Phenotype

Red eyes

Authors name for construct(s)

AgNosCd-1

(termed cd:nos-Cas9 in Terradas et al. 2022)

Research in target organism

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Research in model organism

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Intended for release

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Intended direct effects

Population modification/replacement