Sex-conversion gene drives for insect pest management

基于CRISPR/Cas9的基因驱动可以将基因和期望的性状引入并传播到野生种群中。这种技术在害虫防治方面有广泛的潜在用途。例如，传播不育或降低昆虫传播病原体的能力。迄今为止，大多数研究工作都集中在蚊子等疾病媒介上。然而，基因驱动也有可能被更广泛地用于对抗全球农业害虫。在这个令人兴奋的项目中，学生将使用性别转换作为对全球重要的农业害虫的人口控制措施，通过操纵性别决定将作物破坏性的女性转化为良性男性。学生将获得分子遗传学，CRISPR/Cas9技术，基因组学和生殖生物学方面的尖端研究技能。该项目是与Pirbright研究所的同事合作，Pirbright研究所是世界领先的遗传技术开发研究中心。该项目旨在操纵全球农业害虫地中海实蝇（Ceratitis capitata）的性别决定途径，以便通过基因编辑（一种基因驱动系统，其中雄性被转化为XX假单胞菌）实现种群控制。然后将在行为和基因组测试中对所产生的系统进行评估。研究技能将获得在尖端的遗传和基因组操作。培训将在UEA和Pirbright进行，并将为应用领域的新型基因驱动系统的开发和应用提供关键见解。

CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives can introduce and spread genes and desirable traits into wild populations. There are a wide range of potential uses for this technology in insect pest control. For example, to spread sterility or to reduce the ability of insects to transmit pathogens. To-date, most research effort has been focused on disease vectors such as mosquitoes. However, gene drives also have the potential to be utilised much more widely to combat global agricultural pests. In this exciting project, the student will use sex conversion as a population control measure against agricultural pests of global importance, by manipulating sex determination to convert cropdamaging females into benign males. The student will gain cutting-edge research skills in molecular genetics, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, genomics and reproductive biology. The project is a collaboration with colleagues at the Pirbright Institute, a world leading research centre for the development of genetic technologies. The project aims to manipulate sex determination pathways in a global agricultural pest, the medfly (Ceratitis capitata) in order to effect population control through gene editing a gene drive system in which males are converted into XX pseudomales. The systems produced will then be evaluated in behavioural and genomic tests. Research skills will be gained in cutting-edge genetic and genomic manipulations. Training will be at UEA and at Pirbright and will deliver key insights into the development and application of novel gene drive systems in the applied sector.