Genetic interventions of Aedes aegypti for the control of arboviruses

Antonio M.N.; Huarcaya M.F.T.; Castillo C.A.T.; Rodriguez M.N.C. · Boletin de Malariologia y Salud Ambiental (2022) · DOI: 10.52808/bmsa.7e6.624.006

Resumen

The ineffectiveness of current strategies for the chemical control of vector mosquitoes raises the need to develop novel approaches, among these are genetic strategies to reduce populations of vector mosquitoes or replace them with those that are not capable of transmitting pathogens, this is achieved through molecular tools that allow the manipulation and transgenesis of genes. Mosquito genome sequences and associated expressed sequence marker databases enable large-scale investigations to provide new insights into evolutionary, biochemical, genetic, metabolic, and physiological pathways. Furthermore, comparative genomics reveals the basis of evolutionary mechanisms with special attention to the specific interactions between vectors and pathogens. Transgenesis technology has been developed for the yellow fever and dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Successful integration of exogenous DNA into the germ line of this mosquito with the transposable elements has been achieved. The availability of multiple elements and marker genes provides a powerful set of tools to investigate the basic biological properties of this insect vector, as well as the materials to develop new strategies for genetic control of mosquito populations based on the sterile insect technique. One of this strategy is to release radiation-sterilized males into the population; another, to integrate a dominant lethal gene under the control of a specific promoter in immature females. The use of this genetic modification technique will constitute an important tool for the integrated management of vectors.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental