Aedes aegypti sex conversion by transgenesis

• Grant number: 13/16609-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Margareth de Lara Capurro-Guimarães
• Grantee: Helena Corrêa de Araújo Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

When considering a mosquito release program, one of the first issues to decide is how to eliminate females. The greatest number of options might eventually be available for those who can use transgenic mosquitoes, but the inherent characteristics of the target species itself also provide possibilities for interim measures until more efficient methods can be developed. Differences in intrinsic size, behaviour and development rate between females and males for sexing may be available. Ideal systems specifically kill female embryos using some treatment that can be manipulated during production. Such killing systems are far more efficient than using intrinsic sexual differences, but these systems require selectable genetic markers and sex-linkage created by rare random chromosomal rearrangements. While intrinsic sexual differences should not be considered long-term substitutes for more robust and efficient sexing systems, in the absence of these, the accessibility and integration of less efficient systems can provide a stop-gap measure that allows rapid start up with a minimum of investment. The goal of this project is to generate transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that will produce males-only progeny. The key components of this strategy are the embryonic zygotic genes (EZGs) promoters and RNAi that will knockdown the doublesex (Aedsx) pathway. The 3' UTR of the transgene will include a SV40 polyadenylation signal to stabilize that transcript. This gene will be regulated by Tet-On Tet-Off systems to produce laboratory colonies.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CORREA DE ARAUJO, HELENA ROCHA; KOJIN, BIANCA BURINI; CAPURRO, MARGARETH LARA. Sex determination and Aedes population control. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 11, n. 2, DEC 24 2018. (13/16609-4)

OLIVEIRA, FELIPE A. A.; BURI, MARCUS V.; RODRIGUEZ, BORIS L.; COSTA-DA-SILVA, ANDRE L.; ARAUJO, HELENA R. C.; CAPURRO, MARGARETH L.; LU, STEPHEN; TANAKA, APARECIDA S.. The first characterization of a cystatin and a cathepsin L-like peptidase from Aedes aegypti and their possible role in DENV infection by the modulation of apoptosis. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 146, p. 141-149, MAR 1 2020. (13/16609-4, 12/03657-8)

COSTA-DA-SILVA, ANDRE LUIS; IOSHINO, RAFAELLA SAYURI; CORREA DE ARAUJO, HELENA ROCHA; KOJIN, BIANCA BURINI; DE ANDRADE ZANOTTO, PAOLO MARINHO; LEAL OLIVEIRA, DANIELLE BRUNA; MELO, STELLA REZENDE; DURIGON, EDISON LUIZ; CAPURRO, MARGARETH LARA. Laboratory strains of Aedes aegypti are competent to Brazilian Zika virus. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 2, FEB 10 2017. (13/19921-9, 14/17766-9, 13/16609-4)

CORREA DE ARAUJO, HELENA ROCHA; KOJIN, BIANCA BURINI; CAPURRO, MARGARETH LARA. Sex determination and Aedes population control. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 11, p. 7-pg., 2018-12-24. (13/16609-4)