Can CRISPR-Cas9 gene drives curb malaria?

@article{Alphey2016CanCG,
  title={Can CRISPR-Cas9 gene drives curb malaria?},
  author={Luke S. Alphey},
  journal={Nature Biotechnology},
  year={2016},
  volume={34},
  pages={149-150}
}
  • L. Alphey
  • Published 1 February 2016
  • Medicine
  • Nature Biotechnology
Gene drives in mosquitoes to reduce the spread of malaria move closer, though technical and regulatory hurdles remain. 
View on Nature
ora.ox.ac.uk
41 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
1
Background Citations
15
Methods Citations
3

41 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

Mosquitoes Bite: A Zika Story of Vector Management and Gene Drives
TLDR
This chapter suggests that developments occurring in mosquito vector control using synthetic biology will introduce new genetic bugaboos into the debate over releasing genetically altered species, both accidentally and purposefully.
How should the applications of genome editing be assessed and regulated?
An EASAC working group on genome editing recommends that regulators should focus on specific applications of these new techniques rather than attempting to regulate genome editing itself as a new…
A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on CRISPR in Social Sciences and Humanities
Abstract Background: The rise of CRISPR not only opens up multiple opportunities for genetic editing but also results in potentially threatening or controversial applications. Objectives: This stud...
Population modification of Anopheles mosquitoes for malaria control: pathways to implementation
TLDR
This work elegantly summarizes the concepts and literature surrounding population modification strategies, proposes a framework to translate the latest research findings into effective control strategies suitable for implementation in the field, and outlines several possible routes whereby promising lab studies can be translated to vector control approaches.
Current status of genome editing in vector mosquitoes: A review.
TLDR
The high specificity and flexibility of CRISPR/Cas9 system may offer possibilities for novel genome editing for the control of important diseases spread by vector mosquitoes.
Mini-review on CRISPR-Cas9 and its potential applications to help controlling neglected tropical diseases caused by Trypanosomatidae.
Expansion of the CRISPR/Cas Genome-Sculpting Toolbox: Innovations, Applications and Challenges.
TLDR
This review provides an illustrative overview of the current research trends using CRISPR/Cas technology and highlights the latest developments in CRISpr/Cas technique includingCRISPR imaging, discovery of novel CRISP systems, and applications in altering the genome, epigenome or RNA in different organisms.
Progress and Prospects of CRISPR/Cas Systems in Insects and Other Arthropods
TLDR
This paper seeks to provide a comprehensive and impartial overview of the progress of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in different arthropods, reviewing not only fundamental studies related to gene function exploration and experimental optimization but also applied studies in areas such as insect modification and pest control.
How driving endonuclease genes can be used to combat pests and disease vectors
TLDR
The theory that guides the design of DEG constructs intended to perform different functions is summarised and the studies that have explored the likelihood of resistance to DEG phenotypes arising are reviewed, and how this risk may be reduced.
CRISPR‐Cas9 technology and its application in haematological disorders
TLDR
The latest applications of CRISPR‐Cas9 technology in haematological disorders, current challenges and future directions are reviewed and discussed.
...
1
2
3
4
5
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 11 REFERENCES
Highly efficient Cas9-mediated gene drive for population modification of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi
TLDR
A highly effective autonomous Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated gene-drive system in the Asian malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, adapted from the mutagenic chain reaction (MCR).
A CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Drive System Targeting Female Reproduction in the Malaria Mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae
TLDR
Population modeling and cage experiments indicate that a CRISPR-Cas9 construct targeting one of these loci meets the minimum requirement for a gene drive targeting female reproduction in an insect population, which could expedite the development of gene drives to suppress mosquito populations to levels that do not support malaria transmission.
Genetic control of mosquitoes.
  • L. Alphey
  • Biology
    Annual review of entomology
  • 2014
TLDR
Genetics can potentially provide new, species-specific, environmentally friendly methods for mosquito control and several methods with different molecular biology are under development and the first field trials have been completed successfully.
A synthetic sex ratio distortion system for the control of the human malaria mosquito
TLDR
It is demonstrated that distorter male mosquitoes can efficiently suppress caged wild-type mosquito populations, providing the foundation for a new class of genetic vector control strategies.
The Population Genetics of Using Homing Endonuclease Genes in Vector and Pest Management
TLDR
Homing endonuclease genes (HEGs) encode proteins that in the heterozygous state cause double-strand breaks in the homologous chromosome at the precise position opposite the HEG, which represents a powerful genetic drive mechanism that might be used as a tool in managing vector or pest populations.
Site-specific selfish genes as tools for the control and genetic engineering of natural populations
  • A. Burt
  • Biology
    Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
  • 2003
TLDR
The proposed constructs are evolutionarily stable in the face of the mutations most likely to arise during their spread, and strategies are also available for reversing the manipulations.
Engineered underdominance allows efficient and economical introgression of traits into pest populations.
A novel form of underdominance is suggested as a mechanism that is able to drive desired genes into pest populations through the release of transgenic individuals over one or more generations. Such a…
Suppression of a Field Population of Aedes aegypti in Brazil by Sustained Release of Transgenic Male Mosquitoes
TLDR
It is concluded that sustained release of OX513A males may be an effective and widely useful method for suppression of the key dengue vector Ae.
The mutagenic chain reaction: A method for converting heterozygous to homozygous mutations
TLDR
In Drosophila, it is found that MCR mutations efficiently spread from their chromosome of origin to the homologous chromosome, thereby converting heterozygous mutations to homozygosity in the vast majority of somatic and germline cells.
Genes in Conflict: The Biology of Selfish Genetic Elements
...
1
2
...