Tracking plans to genetically modify wild species
Science Advances
The introduction states 'Given the key position of P. leucopus in the life cycles of both the tick vector and several pathogens (Fig. 1), transmission-blocking field vaccines (5) and gene-drive technologies to render wild Peromyscus resistant to infection (6) are increasingly seen as plausible ways to prevent human disease.'
The results section also states 'A more thorough characterization of natural nucleotide variation in this species across its range will aid in the design of efficient gene drive constructs for possible application to this disease reservoir with avoidance of annotated SNPs.'