Genetic shifting: a novel approach for controlling vector-borne diseases

Powell, Jeffrey R.; Tabachnick, Walter J.

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2014.04.005

Cited by 19 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…These estimates of N e also indicate that genetic drift is quite strong in Ae. aegypti consistent with the remarkable population genetic differentiation observed for neutral markers (Brown et al., ; Gloria‐Soria, Ayala, et al., ; Powell & Tabachnick, ). This strength of drift needs to be considered in genetic modification programs.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 76%

“…aegypti has become a model system in design of control programs using genetic methods that aim to suppress or genetically modify populations to decrease their efficiency at transmitting pathogens (McGraw & O'Neill, ). Methods of genetically modifying vector populations that rely on inundation and replacement (e.g., that of Powell & Tabachnick, ) are quite feasible with such small populations. On the other hand, such small breeding units must be quite spatially limited.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effective population sizes of a major vector of human diseases, Aedes aegypti

Saarman

Gloria‐Soria

Anderson

et al. 2017

Evolutionary Applications

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The effective population size (N e) is a fundamental parameter in population genetics that determines the relative strength of selection and random genetic drift, the effect of migration, levels of inbreeding, and linkage disequilibrium. In many cases where it has been estimated in animals, N e is on the order of 10%–20% of the census size. In this study, we use 12 microsatellite markers and 14,888 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to empirically estimate N e in Aedes aegypti, the major vector of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. We used the method of temporal sampling to estimate N e on a global dataset made up of 46 samples of Ae. aegypti that included multiple time points from 17 widely distributed geographic localities. Our N e estimates for Ae. aegypti fell within a broad range (~25–3,000) and averaged between 400 and 600 across all localities and time points sampled. Adult census size (Nc) estimates for this species range between one and five thousand, so the N e/N c ratio is about the same as for most animals. These N e values are lower than estimates available for other insects and have important implications for the design of genetic control strategies to reduce the impact of this species of mosquito on human health.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective population sizes of a major vector of human diseases, Aedes aegypti

Saarman

Gloria‐Soria

Anderson

et al. 2017

Evolutionary Applications

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“…Relaxing this assumption may reduce release efficiency if released individuals experience mating discrimination from the target population possibly due to favoring local adaptation (Baskett et al, ; Lenormand, ). However, genetic shifting selects the release strain from the local wild populations, which reduces the risk of mating discrimination by wild mosquitoes and ensures high local fitness (Powell & Tabachnick, ). Therefore, assortative mating is not likely to be strong.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has several advantages over the GM methods (discussed in Powell & Tabachnick, 2014). For instance, it eliminates the controversy over transgenics and does not require a priori knowledge of the vector genome, which increases its potential for broad application.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the efficacy of genetic shifting in control of mosquito‐borne diseases

Xia

Baskett

Powell

2019

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Many of the world's most prevalent diseases are transmitted by animal vectors such as dengue transmitted by mosquitoes. To reduce these vector‐borne diseases, a promising approach is “genetic shifting”: selective breeding of the vectors to be more resistant to pathogens and releasing them to the target populations to reduce their ability to transmit pathogens, that is, lower their vector competence. The efficacy of genetic shifting will depend on possible counterforces such as natural selection against low vector competence. To quantitatively evaluate the potential efficacy of genetic shifting, we developed a series of coupled genetic–demographic models that simulate the changes of vector competence during releases of individuals with low vector competence. We modeled vector competence using different genetic architectures, as a multilocus, one‐locus, or two‐locus trait. Using empirically determined estimates of model parameters, the model predicted a reduction of mean vector competence of at least three standard deviations after 20 releases, one release per generation, and 10% of the size of the target population released each time. Sensitivity analysis suggested that release efficacy depends mostly on the vector competence of the released population, release size, release frequency, and the survivorship of the released individuals, with duration of the release program less important. Natural processes such as density‐dependent survival and immigration from external populations also strongly influence release efficacy. Among different sex‐dependent release strategies, releasing blood‐fed females together with males resulted in the highest release efficacy, as these females mate in captivity and reproduce when released, thus contributing a greater proportion of low‐vector‐competence offspring. Conclusions were generally consistent across three models assuming different genetic architectures of vector competence, suggesting that genetic shifting could generally apply to various vector systems and does not require detailed knowledge of the number of loci contributing to vector competence.

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“…These measures include long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor and outdoor insecticidal treatments, the addition of chemicals to water, insect repellents, the reduction of breeding habitats, biological control, genetic control, waste management, housing modification, personal protection, and food safety along with medication and vaccines. 1,[4][5][6][7] However, many of these diseases are transmitted by insects, especially flying insects. The number of insect species has been estimated at five million.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%