scholarly journals Novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives eliminates resistance and localises spread

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicky R. Faber ◽  
Gus R. McFarlane ◽  
R. Chris Gaynor ◽  
Ivan Pocrnic ◽  
C. Bruce A. Whitelaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Sciurus Carolinensis ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Grey Squirrel ◽  
Gene Drives

AbstractInvasive species are among the major driving forces behind biodiversity loss. Gene drive technology may offer a humane, efficient and cost-effective method of control. For safe and effective deployment it is vital that a gene drive is both self-limiting and can overcome evolutionary resistance. We present HD-ClvR in this modelling study, a novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives that eliminates resistance and localises spread. As a case study, we model HD-ClvR in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which is an invasive pest in the UK and responsible for both biodiversity and economic losses. HD-ClvR combats resistance allele formation by combining a homing gene drive with a cleave-and-rescue gene drive. The inclusion of a self-limiting daisyfield gene drive allows for controllable localisation based on animal supplementation. We use both randomly mating and spatial models to simulate this strategy. Our findings show that HD-ClvR could effectively control a targeted grey squirrel population, with little risk to other populations. HD-ClvR offers an efficient, self-limiting and controllable gene drive for managing invasive pests.

scholarly journals Novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives eliminates resistance and localises spread

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicky R. Faber ◽  
Gus R. McFarlane ◽  
R. Chris Gaynor ◽  
Ivan Pocrnic ◽  
C. Bruce A. Whitelaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Sciurus Carolinensis ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Grey Squirrel ◽  
Gene Drives

AbstractInvasive species are among the major driving forces behind biodiversity loss. Gene drive technology may offer a humane, efficient and cost-effective method of control. For safe and effective deployment it is vital that a gene drive is both self-limiting and can overcome evolutionary resistance. We present HD-ClvR, a novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives that eliminates resistance and localises spread. As a case study, we model HD-ClvR in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which is an invasive pest in the UK and responsible for both biodiversity and economic losses. HD-ClvR combats resistance allele formation by combining a homing gene drive with a cleave-and-rescue gene drive. The inclusion of a self-limiting daisyfield gene drive allows for controllable localisation based on animal supplementation. We use both randomly mating and spatial models to simulate this strategy. Our findings show that HD-ClvR can effectively control a targeted grey squirrel population, with little risk to other populations. HD-ClvR offers an efficient, self-limiting and controllable gene drive for managing invasive pests.

scholarly journals Rodent gene drives for conservation: opportunities and data needs

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1914) ◽  
pp. 20191606 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Godwin ◽  
Megan Serr ◽  
S. Kathleen Barnhill-Dilling ◽  
Dimitri V. Blondel ◽  
Peter R. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Drive Systems ◽  
Invasive Rodents ◽  
Gene Drives

Invasive rodents impact biodiversity, human health and food security worldwide. The biodiversity impacts are particularly significant on islands, which are the primary sites of vertebrate extinctions and where we are reaching the limits of current control technologies. Gene drives may represent an effective approach to this challenge, but knowledge gaps remain in a number of areas. This paper is focused on what is currently known about natural and developing synthetic gene drive systems in mice, some key areas where key knowledge gaps exist, findings in a variety of disciplines relevant to those gaps and a brief consideration of how engagement at the regulatory, stakeholder and community levels can accompany and contribute to this effort. Our primary species focus is the house mouse, Mus musculus , as a genetic model system that is also an important invasive pest. Our primary application focus is the development of gene drive systems intended to reduce reproduction and potentially eliminate invasive rodents from islands. Gene drive technologies in rodents have the potential to produce significant benefits for biodiversity conservation, human health and food security. A broad-based, multidisciplinary approach is necessary to assess this potential in a transparent, effective and responsible manner.

scholarly journals Role of gene drives in malaria elimination strategy: modeling impact and cost-effectiveness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Metchanun ◽  
C. Borgemeister ◽  
J. von Braun ◽  
M. Nikolov ◽  
P. Selvaraj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Malaria Elimination ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gene Drives

AbstractThe tremendous burden of malaria has led to renewed efforts on malaria elimination and the development of novel tools for application where existing tools fall short. Gene drive mosquitoes, where transgenes and their associated phenotypes are efficiently propagated to future generations, are under development to suppress vector populations or render vectors incapable of malaria transmission. However, the role of gene drives in an integrated elimination strategy is underexplored. Using a spatially explicit agent-based model of malaria transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we describe the impact of integrating a population suppression driving-Y gene drive into malaria elimination strategies. We find that as long as the driving-Y construct is extremely effective, releases of gene drive mosquitoes can eliminate malaria, and we identify a cost ceiling for gene drive to be cost-effective relative to existing tools. Vector control via gene drive is worth considering as a supplemental intervention when the construct parameters and costs are suitable.One-sentence summaryWe estimate the impact and cost-effectiveness of gene drive mosquitoes, relative to existing interventions, in malaria elimination strategies

scholarly journals Selecting Biomonitors of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Guidelines for Practitioners and Decision Makers

Nitrogen ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-320
Author(s):  
D. Nayeli Martínez ◽  
Edison A. Díaz-Álvarez ◽  
Erick de la Barrera
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
Atmospheric Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Ecophysiological Response

Environmental pollution is a major threat to public health and is the cause of important economic losses worldwide. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is one of the most significant components of environmental pollution, which, in addition to being a health risk, is one of the leading drivers of global biodiversity loss. However, monitoring pollution is not possible in many regions of the world because the instrumentation, deployment, operation, and maintenance of automated systems is onerous. An affordable alternative is the use of biomonitors, naturally occurring or transplanted organisms that respond to environmental pollution with a consistent and measurable ecophysiological response. This policy brief advocates for the use of biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Descriptions of the biological and monitoring particularities of commonly utilized biomonitor lichens, bryophytes, vascular epiphytes, herbs, and woody plants, are followed by a discussion of the principal ecophysiological parameters that have been shown to respond to the different nitrogen emissions and their rate of deposition.

scholarly journals Identification of E2 with improved secretion and immunogenicity against CSFV in piglets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiling Xu ◽  
Yanli Wang ◽  
Guangwei Han ◽  
Weihuan Fang ◽  
fang he
Keyword(s):  
Single Dose ◽  
Signal Peptide ◽  
Classical Swine Fever Virus ◽  
Subunit Vaccine ◽  
Classical Swine Fever ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Virus Challenge

Abstract Background: Outbreaks of Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) cause significant economic losses in the swine industry. Vaccination is the major method to prevent and control the disease. As live attenuated vaccines fail to elicit differentiable immunity between infected and vaccinated animals, subunit vaccine was considered as an alternative candidate to prevent and eradicate CSFV. Subunit vaccines present advantages in DIVA immunogenicity and safety. The technology was limited due to the low yield and the high cost with multiple and large doses. The native E2 signal peptide has not been well defined before. Here, the aim of this study is to develop a cost-effective and efficacious E2 vaccine candidate against CSFV with signal peptide and E2 sequence selection. Results: A novel CSFV E2 sequence (E2ZJ) was identified from an epidemic strain of Zhejiang for outstanding secretion in baculovirus and enhanced immunogenicity. E2 secretion induced with the selected signal peptide, SPZJ (SP23), increase at least 50% as compared to any other signal peptides tested. Besides, unique antigenic features were identified in E2ZJ. E2ZJ elicited CSFV antibodies at the earlier stage than other E2 types tested in mice. Moreover, higher level of neutralization antibodies against both genotypes 1 and 2 CSFV with E2ZJ was detected than other E2s with the same dosage. Further, in piglets, E2ZJ successfully elicited neutralizing immunity. A single dose of 5 μg of E2ZJ was sufficient to induce protective antibodies against CSFV in piglets and provided 100% protection against lethal virus challenge. Conclusions: Our studies provide evidence that E2ZJ guided by a novel E2 signal peptide (SPZJ) was efficiently secreted and presented significantly improved immunogenicity than conventional E2 vaccines. Moreover, a single dose of 5 μg E2ZJ is efficacious against CSFV in piglets. Keywords: Classical swine fever virus; novel signal peptide; SPZJ-E2ZJ; subunit vaccine; protective immunity

scholarly journals The genome sequence of the eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Dan Mead ◽  
Kathryn Fingland ◽  
Rachel Cripps ◽  
Roberto Portela Miguez ◽  
Michelle Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Sex Chromosomes ◽  
Genome Assembly ◽  
Sciurus Carolinensis ◽  
Grey Squirrel ◽  
Individual Male ◽  
A Genome

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Sciurus carolinensis (the eastern grey squirrel; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciuridae). The genome sequence is 2.82 gigabases in span. The majority of the assembly (92.3%) is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal-level scaffolds, with both X and Y sex chromosomes assembled.

Towards CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drive in the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejiao Xu ◽  
Tim Harvey-Samuel ◽  
Hamid Anees Siddiqui ◽  
Joshua Ang ◽  
Michelle E Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Plutella Xylostella ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Diamondback Moth ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Global Agriculture ◽  
High Level ◽  
Gene Drives

Promising to provide powerful genetic control tools, gene drives have been constructed in multiple dipterans, yeast and mice, for the purposes of population elimination or modification. However, it remains unclear whether these techniques can be applied to lepidopterans. Here, we used endogenous regulatory elements to drive Cas9 and sgRNA expression in the diamondback moth, (Plutella xylostella), and test the first split-drive system in a lepidopteran. The diamondback moth is an economically important global agriculture pest of cruciferous crops and has developed severe resistance to various insecticides, making it a prime candidate for such novel control strategy development. A very high level of somatic editing was observed in Cas9/sgRNA transheterozygotes, although no significant homing was revealed in the subsequent generation. Although heritable, Cas9-medated germline cleavage, as well as maternal and paternal Cas9 deposition was observed, rates were far lower than for somatic cleavage events, indicating robust somatic but limited germline activity of Cas9/sgRNA under the control of selected regulatory elements. Our results provide valuable experience, paving the way for future construction of gene drive-based genetic control strategies in DBM or other lepidopterans.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document