Citation

BibTex format

@article{Galizi:2014:10.1038/ncomms4977,
author = {Galizi, R and Doyle, LA and Menichelli, M and Bernardini, F and Deredec, A and Burt, A and Stoddard, BL and Windbichler, N and Crisanti, A},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms4977},
journal = {Nature Communications},
title = {A synthetic sex ratio distortion system for the control of the human malaria mosquito},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4977},
volume = {5},
year = {2014}
}

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB - It has been theorized that inducing extreme reproductive sex ratios could be a method to suppress or eliminate pest populations. Limited knowledge about the genetic makeup and mode of action of naturally occurring sex distorters and the prevalence of co-evolving suppressors has hampered their use for control. Here we generate a synthetic sex distortion system by exploiting the specificity of the homing endonuclease I-PpoI, which is able to selectively cleave ribosomal gene sequences of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae that are located exclusively on the mosquito’s X chromosome. We combine structure-based protein engineering and molecular genetics to restrict the activity of the potentially toxic endonuclease to spermatogenesis. Shredding of the paternal X chromosome prevents it from being transmitted to the next generation, resulting in fully fertile mosquito strains that produce >95% male offspring. We demonstrate that distorter male mosquitoes can efficiently suppress caged wild-type mosquito populations, providing the foundation for a new class of genetic vector control strategies.
AU - Galizi,R
AU - Doyle,LA
AU - Menichelli,M
AU - Bernardini,F
AU - Deredec,A
AU - Burt,A
AU - Stoddard,BL
AU - Windbichler,N
AU - Crisanti,A
DO - 10.1038/ncomms4977
PY - 2014///
SN - 2041-1723
TI - A synthetic sex ratio distortion system for the control of the human malaria mosquito
T2 - Nature Communications
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4977
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/40722
VL - 5
ER -