This research proposal aims to develop the phenomenon of cytoplasmic incompatibility as a general tool for the genetic manipulation of insect disease vectors, in order to reduce their vector competence for certain human pathogens. It primarily focuses on utilizing the reproductive advantage accrued to insects that carry the intracellular bacterial symbiont, Wolbachia pipientis, as a means to drive desirable genes into natural insect vector populations. It also aims to develop the necessary technology needed to utilize Wolbachia pipientis as a gene expression vector within insect tissue. One of the ultimate aims of this project is the introduction and expression of gene constructs in Wolbachia as a means to target disease agents directly within insect cells. 1. The extent of natural Wolbachia infection will be determined in representative mosquito species using the recently developed diagnostic PCR assay. 2. Wolbachia will be transferred into the uninfected mosquito disease vectors, Aedes aegypti, Aedes triseriatus and Anopheles gambiae using embryonic microinjection techniques. 3. These trans-infected mosquito species will be tested for their ability to express the cytoplasmic incompatibility phenotype using conventional genetic crossing techniques. 4. The technology will be developed to transform Wolbachia with broad host range plasmids in order to use this bacterium as an expression vector in insect tissue.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29AI034355-03
Application #
2069476
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1993-07-01
Project End
1998-06-30
Budget Start
1995-07-01
Budget End
1996-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Endersby, N M; Hoffmann, A A; White, V L et al. (2011) Changes in the genetic structure of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) populations in Queensland, Australia, across two seasons: implications for potential mosquito releases. J Med Entomol 48:999-1007
Endersby, N M; Hoffmann, A A; White, V L et al. (2009) Genetic structure of Aedes aegypti in Australia and Vietnam revealed by microsatellite and exon primed intron crossing markers suggests feasibility of local control options. J Med Entomol 46:1074-83
Mukhopadhyay, J; Ghosh, K; Braig, H R (2000) Identification of cutaneous Leishmaniasis vectors, Phlebotomus papatasi and P. duboscqi using random amplified polymorphic DNA. Acta Trop 76:277-83
Dobson, S L; Bourtzis, K; Braig, H R et al. (1999) Wolbachia infections are distributed throughout insect somatic and germ line tissues. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 29:153-60
Zhou, W; Rousset, F; O'Neil, S (1998) Phylogeny and PCR-based classification of Wolbachia strains using wsp gene sequences. Proc Biol Sci 265:509-15
Braig, H R; Zhou, W; Dobson, S L et al. (1998) Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding the major surface protein of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis. J Bacteriol 180:2373-8
Sasaki, T; Braig, H R; O'Neill, S L (1998) Analysis of Wolbachia protein synthesis in Drosophila in vivo. Insect Mol Biol 7:101-5
Poinsot, D; Bourtzis, K; Markakis, G et al. (1998) Wolbachia transfer from Drosophila melanogaster into D. simulans: Host effect and cytoplasmic incompatibility relationships. Genetics 150:227-37
O'Neill, S L; Pettigrew, M M; Sinkins, S P et al. (1997) In vitro cultivation of Wolbachia pipientis in an Aedes albopictus cell line. Insect Mol Biol 6:33-9
Sinkins, S P; Braig, H R; O'Neill, S L (1995) Wolbachia superinfections and the expression of cytoplasmic incompatibility. Proc Biol Sci 261:325-30

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