Imperial College London, UK.
Pathog Glob Health. 2012 Mar;106(1):20-31. doi: 10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000003.
Anopheles gambiae is the primary vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and is a potential target of genetic control programs. We determined the capacity of male A. gambiae created by germline transformation to introduce infertility into stable age-distribution populations. We also determined effects of the transgenes on life history.
Stable age-distribution populations of A. gambiae mosquitoes were established in large indoor cages. Male mosquitoes carrying an I-PpoI homing endonuclease gene were introduced at ×5 and ×10 release rates where they competed with target male mosquitoes for matings. Similar trials were conducted in small cages with an additional ×1 release level.
Infertility was successfully introduced into all target populations. In supporting experiments, complete female infertility was observed in all strains and species of the A. gambiae complex to which transgenic males were mated. Life history experiments demonstrated that reductions in I-PpoI male vigor exist in the form of reduced adult male emergence, longevity and competitiveness.
A. gambiae I-PpoI males are capable of introducing high levels of infertility in target populations in indoor cage trials. This was accomplished despite losses of vigor resulting from the HEG transgene. These results motivate further trials of sexually I-PpoI A. gambiae in outdoor cage and field trials.
冈比亚按蚊是撒哈拉以南非洲地区疟疾的主要传播媒介，也是遗传控制计划的潜在目标。我们确定了通过种系转化产生的雄性冈比亚按蚊将不育引入稳定年龄分布种群的能力。我们还确定了转基因对生活史的影响。
在大型室内笼中建立稳定的年龄分布种群的冈比亚按蚊。携带 I-PpoI 同源内切酶基因的雄性蚊子以 ×5 和 ×10 的释放率引入，与目标雄性蚊子竞争交配。在小笼子中进行了类似的试验，增加了 ×1 的释放水平。
在所有目标种群中成功引入了不育。在支持性实验中，与转基因雄性交配的所有冈比亚按蚊复合体的所有品系和物种都观察到完全的雌性不育。生活史实验表明，I-PpoI 雄性活力的降低表现为成虫雄性出现率、寿命和竞争力的降低。
冈比亚按蚊 I-PpoI 雄性能够在室内笼试验中在目标种群中引入高水平的不育。尽管 HEG 转基因导致活力下降，但仍实现了这一目标。这些结果促使在户外笼和田间试验中进一步试验有性 I-PpoI 冈比亚按蚊。
