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

我们试图开发一种媒介系统，该系统可以自我扩展成昆虫种群，可能适用于未来的害虫防治。自我扩展的载体应该能够通过将转基因引入到一小部分种群中来实现全种群的遗传操作。为了赋予这种特性，我们考虑利用自然产生的“自私遗传元素”，这种元素在种群中逐渐增加自己的遗传频率，代代相传。在本研究中，我们设计和构建了几个版本的模型载体，其中包含来自酵母的归巢内切酶基因，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，到目前为止还没有成功的自扩展载体。

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.