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Gutiérrez-Ramos X, Vázquez M, Dorantes-Acosta AE, Díaz-Fleischer F, Peralta-Alvarez CA, Nuñez-Martínez HN, Arzate-Mejía RG, Recillas-Targa F, Arteaga-Vázquez MA, Zurita M. Novel tephritid-specific features revealed from cytological and transcriptomic analysis of Anastrepha ludens embryonic development. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 122:103412. [PMID: 32417415 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anastrepha ludens is a major pest of fruits including citrus and mangoes in Mexico and Central America with major economic and social impacts. Despite its importance, our knowledge on its embryonic development is scarce. Here, we report the first cytological study of embryonic development in A. ludens and provide a transcriptional landscape during key embryonic stages. We established 17 stages of A. ludens embryogenesis that closely resemble the morphological events observed in Drosophila. In addition to the extended duration of embryonic development, we observed notable differences including yolk extrusion at both poles of the embryo, distinct nuclear division waves in the syncytial blastoderm and a heterochronic change during the involution of the head. Characterization of the transcriptional dynamics during syncytial blastoderm, cellular blastoderm and gastrulation, showed that approximately 9000 different transcripts are present at each stage. Even though we identified most of the transcripts with a role during embryonic development present in Drosophila, including sex determination genes, a number of transcripts were absent not only in A. ludens but in other tephritids such as Ceratitis capitata and Bactrocera dorsalis. Intriguingly, some A. ludens embryo transcripts encode proteins present in other organisms but not in other flies. Furthermore, we developed an RNA in situ hybridization protocol that allowed us to obtain the expression patterns of genes whose functions are important in establishing the embryonic body pattern. Our results revealed novel tephritid-specific features during A. ludens embryonic development and open new avenues for strategies aiming to control this important pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Gutiérrez-Ramos
- Departamento de Genética Del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico; Group of Epigenetics and Developmental Biology, INBIOTECA, Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
| | - Martha Vázquez
- Departamento de Genética Del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Ana E Dorantes-Acosta
- Group of Epigenetics and Developmental Biology, INBIOTECA, Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
| | - Francisco Díaz-Fleischer
- Group of Epigenetics and Developmental Biology, INBIOTECA, Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
| | - Carlos A Peralta-Alvarez
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Hober N Nuñez-Martínez
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo G Arzate-Mejía
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Félix Recillas-Targa
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Mario A Arteaga-Vázquez
- Group of Epigenetics and Developmental Biology, INBIOTECA, Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico.
| | - Mario Zurita
- Departamento de Genética Del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
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Li J, Handler AM. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in an exogenous transgene and an endogenous sex determination gene in the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa. Gene 2019; 691:160-166. [PMID: 30611840 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.12.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing, using injected Cas9 protein, was achieved in the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa, by initially targeting an exogenous transgene, polyubiquitin-regulated EGFP (PUb-EGFP), for heritable non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) knock-outs using an individual sgRNA. Multiple deletion mutations, ranging from two to five nts proximal to the target site, were identified phenotypically by the loss of green fluorescence in transgenic flies that were also marked with PUb-DsRed. This represented a relatively high efficiency rate of 29% for germ-line mutations. Similar conditions were then used to target an endogenous sex-determination gene, As-transformer-2 (Astra-2), using two sgRNAs that targeted independent exon sequences 671 bp apart. Somatic mutations were identified phenotypically in G0 adult flies at a frequency of 81% based upon intersexual genital morphology, expected to occur only in XX females since Astra-2 knock-outs by dsRNA do not have a phenotypic effect in XY males. Consistent with this expectation, twelve types of short indels, ranging from -15 nts to +5 nts, were identified proximal to the 5' sgRNA-1 target site in intersexual adults. However, the 3' sgRNA-2 target was only associated with a single 774 bp deletion extending from the sgRNA-1 target site to 100 bp downstream of the sgRNA-2 target. This is encouraging for the eventual use of dual target sites for homology-directed repair (HDR) insertions, but suggests that the sgRNA-2 target site tested may not be optimal for Astra-2 HDR modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Li
- USDA/ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
| | - Alfred M Handler
- USDA/ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
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Tejeda MT, Arredondo‐Gordillo J, Orozco‐Dávila D, Quintero‐Fong L, Díaz‐Fleischer F. Directional selection to improve the sterile insect technique: Survival and sexual performance of desiccation resistant Anastrepha ludens strains. Evol Appl 2017; 10:1020-1030. [PMID: 29151857 PMCID: PMC5680626 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an effective, environmentally friendly method for insect control whose success depends on the sexual performance and survival of sterile males. These two parameters are influenced by environmental conditions of target areas, and releasing insects with a higher tolerance to stressful environments can improve SIT efficiency. Directional selection can be used to produce insect strains with higher tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, such as low humidity, for extended periods. We evaluated, under field cage conditions, the sexual competitiveness, sexual compatibility, and survival of strains of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) selected for desiccation resistance to determine the value of directional selection as a possible approach to enhance SIT efficiency. Fly strains (selected and unselected and those mass-reared) were exposed to stressful conditions of low humidity and food and water deprivation for 24 hr before test. As a control, mild conditions without the stressors were used. No differences in sexual competitiveness and sexual compatibility between selected, nonselected, and mass-reared strains were observed when previously exposed to mild conditions. Thus, selection for desiccation resistance does not modified negatively the sexual performance. However, when insects were exposed to stressful conditions, males of selected strains sexually outperform mass-reared males. Additionally, selected strains presented higher survival than mass-reared flies. The approach to integrate directional selection with other technologies in the SIT as well as the implications of using a desiccation-selected strain in the current pest management program is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco T. Tejeda
- INBIOTECAUniversidad VeracruzanaXalapaMéxico
- Departamento de Filtrado GenéticoPrograma Moscamed acuerdo SAGARPA‐IICAMetapa de DomínguezMéxico
| | - José Arredondo‐Gordillo
- Departamento de Biología, Ecología y Comportamiento, Desarrollo de MétodosPrograma Moscafrut Acuerdo SAGARPA‐IICAMetapa de DomínguezMéxico
| | - Dina Orozco‐Dávila
- Subdirección de ProducciónPrograma Moscafrut Acuerdo SAGARPA‐IICAMetapa de DomínguezMéxico
| | - Luis Quintero‐Fong
- Departamento de Validación Tecnológica, Desarrollo de MétodosPrograma Moscafrut Acuerdo SAGARPA‐IICAMetapa de DomínguezMéxico
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Haghighat-Khah RE, Scaife S, Martins S, St John O, Matzen KJ, Morrison N, Alphey L. Site-specific cassette exchange systems in the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the Plutella xylostella moth. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121097. [PMID: 25830287 PMCID: PMC4382291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically engineered insects are being evaluated as potential tools to decrease the economic and public health burden of mosquitoes and agricultural pest insects. Here we describe a new tool for the reliable and targeted genome manipulation of pest insects for research and field release using recombinase mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) mechanisms. We successfully demonstrated the established ΦC31-RMCE method in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, which is the first report of RMCE in mosquitoes. A new variant of this RMCE system, called iRMCE, combines the ΦC31-att integration system and Cre or FLP-mediated excision to remove extraneous sequences introduced as part of the site-specific integration process. Complete iRMCE was achieved in two important insect pests, Aedes aegypti and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, demonstrating the transferability of the system across a wide phylogenetic range of insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Elaine Haghighat-Khah
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxitec Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sara Martins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxitec Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver St John
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxitec Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Luke Alphey
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxitec Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (LA); (KJM)
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