Female-Specific Flightless (fsRIDL) Phenotype for Control of Aedes albopictus
Autor(es): Labbe, Genevieve M. C.; Scaife, Sarah; Morgan, Sian A.; Curtis, Zoe H.; Alphey, Luke
Resumo: Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is a vector of several arboviruses including dengue and chikungunya, and is also a significant nuisance mosquito. It is one of the most invasive of mosquitoes with a relentlessly increasing geographic distribution. Conventional control methods have so far failed to control Ae. albopictus adequately. Novel Genetics-based strategies offer a promising alternative or aid towards efficient control of this mosquito.Methodology/Principal Findings: We describe here the isolation, characterisation and use of the Ae. albopictus Actin-4 gene to drive a dominant lethal gene in the indirect flight muscles of Ae. albopictus, thus inducing a conditional female-specific late-acting flightless phenotype. We also show that in this context, the Actin-4 regulatory regions from both Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti can be used to provide conditional female-specific flightlessness in either species.Conclusion/Significance: With the disease-transmitting females incapacitated, the female flightless phenotype encompasses a genetic sexing mechanism and would be suitable for controlling Ae. albopictus using a male-only release approach as part of an integrated pest management strategy.
Palavras-Chave: Mosquito-Borne Diseases; Lethal Genetic System; Transgenic Technologies; Insect; Expression; Dominant;Vector; Sterility; Aegypti; Genome
Imprenta: Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 6, n. 7, 2012
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001724
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Genome ; Aedes aegypti - Dengue ; Aedes aegypti - Public health
Data de publicação: 2012
