New genetic editing tools could stop the spread of mosquito diseases
Since the onset of the CRISPR genetic editing revolution, scientists have been working to leverage the technology in the development of gene drives that target pathogen-spreading mosquitoes such as
Anopheles and
Much less genetic engineering has been devoted to
Culex genus mosquitoes, which spread devastating afflictions stemming from West Nile virus-;the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States-;as well as other viruses such as the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and the pathogen causing avian malaria, a threat to Hawaiian birds.
University of California San Diego scientists have now developed several genetic editing tools that help pave the way to an eventual gene drive designed to stop