Transgenic expression of Nix converts genetic females into males and allows automated sex sorting in Aedes albopictus

Lutrat Célia, Olmo Roenick P., Baldet Thierry, Bouyer Jérémy, Marois Eric. 2022. Transgenic expression of Nix converts genetic females into males and allows automated sex sorting in Aedes albopictus. Communications Biology, 5:210, 10 p.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03165-7

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Résumé : Aedes albopictus is a major vector of arboviruses. Better understanding of its sex determination is crucial for developing mosquito control tools, especially genetic sexing strains. In Aedes aegypti, Nix is the primary gene responsible for masculinization and Nix-expressing genetic females develop into fertile, albeit flightless, males. In Ae. albopictus, Nix has also been implicated in masculinization but its role remains to be further characterized. In this work, we establish Ae. albopictus transgenic lines ectopically expressing Nix. Several are composed exclusively of genetic females, with transgenic individuals being phenotypic and functional males due to the expression of the Nix transgene. Their reproductive fitness is marginally impaired, while their flight performance is similar to controls. Overall, our results show that Nix is sufficient for full masculinization in Ae. albopictus. Moreover, the transgene construct contains a fluorescence marker allowing efficient automated sex sorting. Consequently, such strains constitute valuable sexing strains for genetic control.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : Aedes albopictus, vecteur de maladie, lutte anti-insecte, génomique fonctionnelle, expression des gènes, gène, masculinisation, génétique moléculaire, sex ratio

Mots-clés libres : Functional genomics, Gene expression, Genomics, Molecular engineering

Classification Agris : H10 - Ravageurs des plantes
S50 - Santé humaine

Champ stratégique Cirad : CTS 4 (2019-) - Santé des plantes, des animaux et des écosystèmes

Agences de financement européennes : European Commission

Programme de financement européen : H2020

Projets sur financement : (EU) Revolutionizing Insect Control

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