Tracking plans to genetically modify wild species
Further iterations of a gene drive targeting the AGAP007280 gene (originally described by Hammond et al., 2015) with three alternative promoters, namely zpg, nos and exu. This design is subject to the emergence of resistance.
Further development of the gene drive targeting the AGAP007280 gene (originally described by Hammond et al., 2015) has been carried out, but the design remains subject to the emergence of resistance, and so the laboratory proof of concept is not complete. Hammond, Karllsoon et al. (2021) test the influence of employing different promoters in the gene drive design on fecundity and mutagenic activity (incl. emergence of resistance). Garood et al (2021) assessed a version of this drive employing the zpg promoter for CRISPR-Cas off-target effects. Taxiarchi et al. (2021) assessed the capacity of anti-CRISPR proteins to halt versions of this drive based on the zpg and nos promoters.
Relative to other designs, the system employing the zpg promoter (zpg-CRISPRh) showed improved fecundity of heterozygotes, lower mutagenic activity and reduced drive resistance. Infertility was observed in homozygotes.
nos-CRISPRh
zpg-CRISPRh
exu-CRISPRh