Split homing CRISPR variants targeting CP in Anopheles gambiae - Imperial College

Anopheles gambiae (s.s)

African malaria mosquito

Intended use

Reduction of transmission of malaria pathogen by this vector

Readiness of Technology

5 - Limited proof of concept in laboratory

Project leader

Windbichler N

Institution

Imperial College London, UK

Project leader

Habtewold T

Institution

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK

Project leader

Christophides GK

Institution

Imperial College London, UK

Project leader

Lwetoijera DW

Institution

Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania

Publications

Hoermann et al., 2022

Habtewold et al. 2025

Authors name for system

'Integral gene drive' (2022) and 'Non-autonomous gene drive' (2025)

Class of Technology

Split homing gene drive

Field(s) of application

Vector control

Location of proposed release

Possibly Tanzania

Additional notes

Mosquitoes in Habtewold et al are described as 'Gene drive capable' and as having 'non-autonomous gene drive capabilities'. The strategy is to modify mosquitoes to express two antimicrobial peptides - magainin 2 and melittin.

Description of system

Split homing CRISPR variant

For specialists

Research in target organism

✖

Research in model organism

✖

Intended for release

✔

Intended direct effects

Population modification/replacement