A Toolbox of Aedes Aegypti Germline Regulatory Elements for the Development of Genetic Drive Systems and Population Control

Abstract

Experiments in Drosophila have demonstrated that Medea-like genetic drive systems are engineer-able and can permit invasion of synthetic transgenes in wild populations. Similar accomplishments have also been made in Anopheles strains using engineered HEG-based gene drive systems. Synthetic circuits that generate a novel selfish phenotype typically require efficient germline expression of transgenes. To enable the transfer of this technology to Aedes mosquitoes, we have characterized a repertoire of promoters for expression of transgenes in germline tissues. Candidates were selected on the basis of expression data from a NGS transcriptome study and on evolutionary relationships to known maternal genes. The expression of eGFP driven by five Aedes aegypti and one known Anopheles gambiae germline specific regulatory elements was analyzed in transgenic reporter strains. Overall, the tools represent a significant expansion of regulatory elements for germline manipulation in this mosquito. I will describe the assorted expression profiles and discuss possible downstream applications.

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