Development of vectors self-spreading into population by utilization of a homing endonuclease

我们试图开发一个载体系统自我扩展到昆虫种群，可能适用于未来的害虫控制。自扩展载体应该能够通过将转基因仅引入一小部分群体来进行群体范围的遗传操作。为了赋予这种属性，我们考虑利用自然发生的“自私的遗传因素”，这逐渐增加自己的遗传频率在人口的几代人。 在本研究中，我们设计并构建了几个版本的模型载体，其中包括来自酵母的归巢核酸内切酶基因，这是一种天然的自私遗传元件，将它们导入果蝇并观察它们的行为。不幸的是，迄今为止还没有成功的自膨胀矢量。

We attempted to develop a vector system self-expanding into insect populations that might be applicable to pest control in future. Self-expanding vectors should enable population-wide genetic manipulation by introducing a transgene into only a small fraction of population. To confer such property, we considered utilizing naturally occurring "selfish genetic elements", which gradually increase their own genetic frequency in population by generations. In this study, we designed and constructed several versions of model vectors comprising a homing endonuclease gene from yeast, which is one of the natural selfish genetic elements, introduced them into Drosophila and observed their behavior. Unfortunately, no successful self-expanding vector has been obtained so far.