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Abstract
Vector-borne infectious diseases continue to be a major threat to public health. Although some prevention and treatment modalities exist for these diseases, resistance to such modalities, exacerbated by global climate change, remains a fundamental challenge. Developments in genomic engineering technologies present a new front in battling vector-borne illnesses; however, there is a lack of consensus over the scope and consequences of these approaches. In this article, we use malaria as a case study to address the developments and controversies surrounding gene drives, a novel genomic engineering technology. We draw attention to the themes of infection control, resistance, and reversibility using a science and technology studies framework. Unlike other current prevention and treatment modalities, gene drives have the capacity to alter not only single organisms but also entire species and ecologies. Therefore, broader public and scientific engagement is needed to inform a more inclusive discussion between clinicians, researchers, policy makers, and society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter F Martelli
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, USA,
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3
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Mitchell SN, Catteruccia F. Anopheline Reproductive Biology: Impacts on Vectorial Capacity and Potential Avenues for Malaria Control. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:a025593. [PMID: 28389513 PMCID: PMC5710097 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a025593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Vectorial capacity is a mathematical approximation of the efficiency of vector-borne disease transmission, measured as the number of new infections disseminated per case per day by an insect vector. Multiple elements of mosquito biology govern their vectorial capacity, including survival, population densities, feeding preferences, and vector competence. Intriguingly, biological pathways essential to mosquito reproductive fitness directly or indirectly influence a number of these elements. Here, we explore this complex interaction, focusing on how the interplay between mating and blood feeding in female Anopheles not only shapes their reproductive success but also influences their ability to sustain Plasmodium parasite development. Central to malaria transmission, mosquito reproductive biology has recently become the focus of research strategies aimed at malaria control, and we discuss promising new methods based on the manipulation of key reproductive steps. In light of widespread resistance to all public health-approved insecticides targeting mosquito reproduction may prove crucial to the success of malaria-eradication campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara N Mitchell
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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4
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Harvey-Samuel T, Ant T, Alphey L. Towards the genetic control of invasive species. Biol Invasions 2017; 19:1683-1703. [PMID: 28620268 PMCID: PMC5446844 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1384-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive species remain one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Their control would be enhanced through the development of more effective and sustainable pest management strategies. Recently, a novel form of genetic pest management (GPM) has been developed in which the mating behaviour of insect pests is exploited to introduce genetically engineered DNA sequences into wild conspecific populations. These 'transgenes' work in one or more ways to reduce the damage caused by a particular pest, for example reducing its density, or its ability to vector disease. Although currently being developed for use against economically important insect pests, these technologies would be highly appropriate for application against invasive species that threaten biodiversity. Importantly, these technologies have begun to advance in scope beyond insects to vertebrates, which include some of the world's worst invasives. Here we review the current state of this rapidly progressing field and, using an established set of eradication criteria, discuss the characteristics which make GPM technologies suitable for application against invasive pests.
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Bostrom N, Douglas T, Sandberg A. The Unilateralist's Curse and the Case for a Principle of Conformity. SOCIAL EPISTEMOLOGY 2016; 30:350-371. [PMID: 27499570 PMCID: PMC4959137 DOI: 10.1080/02691728.2015.1108373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In some situations a number of agents each have the ability to undertake an initiative that would have significant effects on the others. Suppose that each of these agents is purely motivated by an altruistic concern for the common good. We show that if each agent acts on her own personal judgment as to whether the initiative should be undertaken, then the initiative will be undertaken more often than is optimal. We suggest that this phenomenon, which we call the unilateralist's curse, arises in many contexts, including some that are important for public policy. To lift the curse, we propose a principle of conformity, which would discourage unilateralist action. We consider three different models for how this principle could be implemented, and respond to an objection that could be raised against it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Douglas
- Correspondence to: Thomas Douglas, Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Faculty of Philosophy, Suite 8, Littlegate House, St Ebbe’s Street, Oxford OX1 1PT, UK.
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6
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Champer J, Buchman A, Akbari OS. Cheating evolution: engineering gene drives to manipulate the fate of wild populations. Nat Rev Genet 2016; 17:146-59. [PMID: 26875679 DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2015.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Engineered gene drives - the process of stimulating the biased inheritance of specific genes - have the potential to enable the spread of desirable genes throughout wild populations or to suppress harmful species, and may be particularly useful for the control of vector-borne diseases such as malaria. Although several types of selfish genetic elements exist in nature, few have been successfully engineered in the laboratory thus far. With the discovery of RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated 9) nucleases, which can be utilized to create, streamline and improve synthetic gene drives, this is rapidly changing. Here, we discuss the different types of engineered gene drives and their potential applications, as well as current policies regarding the safety and regulation of gene drives for the manipulation of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Champer
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Center for Disease Vector Research, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Anna Buchman
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Center for Disease Vector Research, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Omar S Akbari
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Center for Disease Vector Research, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
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9
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Akbari OS, Bellen HJ, Bier E, Bullock SL, Burt A, Church GM, Cook KR, Duchek P, Edwards OR, Esvelt KM, Gantz VM, Golic KG, Gratz SJ, Harrison MM, Hayes KR, James AA, Kaufman TC, Knoblich J, Malik HS, Matthews KA, O'Connor-Giles KM, Parks AL, Perrimon N, Port F, Russell S, Ueda R, Wildonger J. BIOSAFETY. Safeguarding gene drive experiments in the laboratory. Science 2015; 349:927-9. [PMID: 26229113 PMCID: PMC4692367 DOI: 10.1126/science.aac7932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Multiple stringent confinement strategies should be used whenever possible
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar S Akbari
- Department of Entomology, Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92507, USA. Center for Disease Vector Research, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92507, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ethan Bier
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Univ. of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92095, USA.
| | - Simon L Bullock
- Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Austin Burt
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY, UK
| | - George M Church
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kevin R Cook
- Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center, Department of Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Peter Duchek
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Owain R Edwards
- CSIRO Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Underwood Avenue, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia
| | - Kevin M Esvelt
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Valentino M Gantz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Univ. of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92095, USA
| | - Kent G Golic
- Department of Biology, Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Scott J Gratz
- Laboratory of Genetics, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Melissa M Harrison
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Keith R Hayes
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, General Post Of ce Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Anthony A James
- Departments of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Univ. of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Thomas C Kaufman
- Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center, Department of Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Juergen Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Harmit S Malik
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Kathy A Matthews
- Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center, Department of Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Kate M O'Connor-Giles
- Laboratory of Genetics, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Annette L Parks
- Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center, Department of Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fillip Port
- Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Steven Russell
- Department of Genetics, Univ. of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Ryu Ueda
- Department of Genetics, Graduate Univ. for Advanced Studies, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan. NIG-Fly Stock Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Jill Wildonger
- Department of Biochemistry, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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