Methods for modulating insect hygro- and/or thermosensation
AssigneeBrandeis University
InventorsZACHARY KNECHT, PAUL GARRITY, LINA NI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of modulating hygrosensing and/or thermosensing in an animal, particularly, an insect or disease vector, is provided. Also provided is a method of reducing survival, host-seeking, and/or reproductive capability of an animal, particularly an insect or disease vector. The methods involve an effective amount of an agent that modulates the activity and/or expression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide of an ionotropic receptor (Ir) selected from one or more of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, or Ir21a. A method of identifying an agent that modulates survival, host-seeking, and/or reproductive capability of an animal, e.g., an insect, is further provided.
Claims27
A method of modulating survival, host-seeking, and/or reproductive capability of an invertebrate organism, hygrosensing and/or thermosensing in an invertebrate organism, the method comprising administering to the invertebrate organism an effective amount of an agent that modulates the activity and/or expression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide of an ionotropic receptor selected from the group consisting of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, and Ir21a.
(canceled)
A method of identifying an agent that modulates survival, host-seeking, and/or reproductive capability of an invertebrate organism, hygrosensing and/or thermosensing in an invertebrate organism, the method comprising measuring activity of an ionotropic receptor selected from the group consisting of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, and Ir21a in an invertebrate organism contacted with a candidate agent, wherein an alteration in the activity relative to a reference indicates the candidate agent modulates hygrosensing and/or thermosensing in the invertebrate organism.
(canceled)
14-16. (canceled)
18-25. (canceled)
An expression vector for homology-dependent or independent transgene insertion comprising:
- (a) two target nucleic acid sequences comprising 100 to 1000 bp 5′ and 3′ of an ionotropic receptor open reading frame selected from the group consisting of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, and Ir21a;
- (b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a site-specific endonuclease or nickase;
- and
- (c) a nucleic acid sequence encoding two guide RNAs complementary to the target nucleic acid sequences.
(canceled)
31-35. (canceled)
38-40. (canceled)
A method for disrupting the expression or activity of an ionotropic receptor polypeptide in a wild-type population of invertebrate organisms, wherein the ionotropic receptor polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, and Ir21a, the method comprising introducing into a wild-type genome an expression vector for homology-dependent transgene insertion or homology independent transgene insertion, said expression vector comprising the following:
- (a) two target nucleic acid sequences comprising 100 to 1000 bp 5′ and 3′ of an ionotropic receptor open reading frame selected from the group consisting of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, and Ir21a or guide RNA binding sites flanking 5′ and 3′ an ionotropic receptor open reading frame selected from the group consisting of Ir25a, Ir93a, Ir40a, Ir68a, and Ir21a;
- (b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a site-specific endonuclease or nickase;
- and
- (c) a nucleic acid sequence encoding two guide RNAs complementary to the target nucleic acid sequences.
-46. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.