Female-specific flightless (fsRIDL) phenotype for control of Aedes albopictus

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 6; no. 7; p. e1724
• Main Authors: Labbé, Geneviève M C, Scaife, Sarah, Morgan, Siân A, Curtis, Zoë H, Alphey, Luke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.07.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Actins - genetics; Aedes - genetics; Aedes - physiology; Aedes albopictus; Animals; Biology; Dengue fever; Disease Vectors; DNA sequencing; Female; Females; Flight; Flight, Animal; Genetic aspects; Genotype & phenotype; Growth; Identification and classification; Insect control; Insects; Male; Males; Methods; Mosquito Control - methods; Mosquitoes; Nonnative species; Nucleotide sequencing; Phenotype; Tropical diseases; United Kingdom; South America; Europe; Africa; Phenotype; Animals; Actins; Female; Male; Flight, Animal; Disease Vectors; Aedes; Mosquito Control
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001724

Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is a vector of several arboviruses including dengue and chikungunya, and is also a significant nuisance mosquito. It is one of the most invasive of mosquitoes with a relentlessly increasing geographic distribution. Conventional control methods have so far failed to control Ae. albopictus adequately. Novel genetics-based strategies offer a promising alternative or aid towards efficient control of this mosquito. We describe here the isolation, characterisation and use of the Ae. albopictus Actin-4 gene to drive a dominant lethal gene in the indirect flight muscles of Ae. albopictus, thus inducing a conditional female-specific late-acting flightless phenotype. We also show that in this context, the Actin-4 regulatory regions from both Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti can be used to provide conditional female-specific flightlessness in either species. With the disease-transmitting females incapacitated, the female flightless phenotype encompasses a genetic sexing mechanism and would be suitable for controlling Ae. albopictus using a male-only release approach as part of an integrated pest management strategy.