Novel genetic tools for application in insect pest control

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Translational synthetic biology is a relatively new approach to the development of precisely targeted, clean methods for controlling pest insects – agricultural pests and disease vectors such as mosquitoes. The first products have already been successfully field-tested. However, the range of available parts from which to construct the necessary genetic circuits is narrow, and the range of feasible genetic circuits correspondingly limited. In this project we will characterise and test additional components, in particular genetic switches allowing precise control over gene expression. In accord with the principles of synthetic biology, concepts of modularity, reusability and abstraction will be built in from the outset. Both designs and components will be tested in distantly related insect species to assess the extent to which these can be considered ‘standardised’ across different insects, or are likely to require species-specific modification and, if the latter, to derive general rules indicating how to do this.