<p>Progress in malaria control has plateaued, prompting the exploration of additional tools. Here, we characterise two germline-specific promoters, <i>spo11</i> and <i>vasa1</i>, in the malaria vector <i>Anopheles gambiae</i>. These promoters display distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns, making them well-suited for potential applications in CRISPR-based gene drives and sex ratio distortion systems. Leveraging these unique promoter features, we developed a Sex Distorter Male Drive (SDMD) technology that generates a highly male-biased progeny while spreading through super-Mendelian inheritance. This approach greatly simplifies previous genetic construct designs, potentially improving genetic stability and resilience against the development of target site resistance, a major challenge for the efficacy of genetic strategies. Our findings position SDMD as a promising and potentially resistance-resilient tool for the population suppression of <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes in malaria-endemic regions.</p>

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Sex distorter male drive for resistance-resilient population control of the human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

  • Silvia Grilli,
  • Oksana Vertsimakha,
  • Louise Marston,
  • Irati Aramburu Gonzalez,
  • Austin Burt,
  • Andrea Crisanti,
  • Federica Bernardini

摘要

Progress in malaria control has plateaued, prompting the exploration of additional tools. Here, we characterise two germline-specific promoters, spo11 and vasa1, in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. These promoters display distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns, making them well-suited for potential applications in CRISPR-based gene drives and sex ratio distortion systems. Leveraging these unique promoter features, we developed a Sex Distorter Male Drive (SDMD) technology that generates a highly male-biased progeny while spreading through super-Mendelian inheritance. This approach greatly simplifies previous genetic construct designs, potentially improving genetic stability and resilience against the development of target site resistance, a major challenge for the efficacy of genetic strategies. Our findings position SDMD as a promising and potentially resistance-resilient tool for the population suppression of Anopheles mosquitoes in malaria-endemic regions.