Homing CRISPR targeting female reproduction in Anopheles gambiae (I) - Imperial College & Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

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

Crisanti A

Institution

Imperial College London, UK

Project leader

Nolan T

Institution

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Publications

Authors name for system

CRISPR-Cas9 gene drive system targeting female reproduction

Class of Technology

Homing gene drive

Field(s) of application

Vector control

Description of system

Homing CRISPR gene drive(s) targeting female fertility genes (including AGAP005958)

For specialists

Description

Three homing CRISPR gene drives targeting three different female fertility genes each conferring a recessive sterility phenotype. Drive targeting the gene AGAP007280 is most viable.

(subject to emergence of resistance)

Notes on readiness of technology

Partial proof of concept in laboratory trials – activity subject to emergence of ‘mutations resistant to gene drive’ (Hammond et al. 2017)

Assessed for CRISPR-Cas off-target effects (Garrood et al., 2021)

Phenotype

For drive targeting AGAP007280: substantially (unintended) reduced female fertility in hetero-zygotes; infertility in homo-zygotes

Authors name for construct(s)

[vas2-] CRISPRh

Research in target organism

✖

Research in model organism

✖

Intended for release

✖

Intended direct effects

Population suppression/eradication