Compositions and methods for insect control
AssigneeIndiana University Research and Technology Corporation
InventorIrene Newton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are expression vectors encoding the Wolbachia protein WalE1. Also described are insects transformed with an expression vector of the present disclosure, and progeny thereof. Also described are methods for improving Wolbachia replication and transmission in its insect host by overexpressing WalE1 in the insect host. Improved Wolbachia replication and transmission provides for insect population control and pathogen resistance in insects, which can reduce disease transmission.
Claims10
A method to control a native mosquito population, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a population of transgenic Wolbachia-infected mosquitos, wherein the mosquitos are transformed with a vector comprising a polynucleotide that encodes Wolbachia actin localizing effector 1 (WalE1) or a functional fragment of Wal E1 operably linked to an expression control sequence and wherein the overexpression of WalE1 is greater than a mosquito harboring Wolbachia but lacking the vector comprising the polynucleotide that encodes Wolbachia actin localizing effector 1 (WalE1) or the functional fragment of WalE1 operably linked to the expression control sequence;
- b) crossing the transgenic Wolbachia-infected female mosquitos with male mosquitos of a native mosquito population, wherein the Wolbachia-infected female mosquitos (i) are from the population of transgenic Wolbachia-infected mosquitos that overexpress (WalE1) polypeptide, or (ii) are progeny of the population of transgenic Wolbachia-infected male mosquitos that overexpress the WalE1 polypeptide;
- c) generating a progeny mosquito population from the cross, wherein the progeny are capable of greater Wolbachia loads compared to a female mosquito of the native mosquito population;
- and
- d) releasing the Wolbachia-infected male progeny mosquitos to mate with Wolbachia-uninfected female mosquitos in the native mosquito population, thereby producing unviable progeny and controlling the native mosquito population.
A method of generating a mosquito population capable of greater Wolbachia infection loads, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a population of transgenic Wolbachia-infected mosquitos, wherein the mosquitos are transformed with a vector comprising a polynucleotide that encodes Wolbachia actin localizing effector 1 (WalE1) or a functional fragment of Wal E1 operably linked to an expression control sequence and wherein the overexpression of WalE1 is greater than a mosquito harboring Wolbachia but lacking the vector comprising the polynucleotide that encodes Wolbachia actin localizing effector 1 (WalE1) or the functional fragment of Wal E1 operably linked to the expression control sequence;
- b) crossing the transgenic Wolbachia-infected male mosquitos with a female mosquito of a native mosquito population, wherein the Wolbachia-infected male mosquitos (i) are from the population of transgenic Wolbachia-infected mosquitos that overexpress (WalE1) polypeptide, or (ii) are progeny of the population of transgenic Wolbachia-infected male mosquitos that overexpress the WalE1 polypeptide;
- c) generating a progeny mosquito population from the cross, wherein the progeny are capable of greater Wolbachia loads compared to a female mosquito of the native mosquito population.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.