Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors

A number of different genetics-based vector control methods have been proposed. Two approaches currently under development in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the two-locus engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drive systems. Each of these is theoretically capable of increasing in frequency w...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Edgington, M, Alphey, L
Format: Journal article
Published: Public Library of Science 2018
_version_ 1826299302337576960
author Edgington, M
Alphey, L
author_facet Edgington, M
Alphey, L
author_sort Edgington, M
collection OXFORD
description A number of different genetics-based vector control methods have been proposed. Two approaches currently under development in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the two-locus engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drive systems. Each of these is theoretically capable of increasing in frequency within a population, thus spreading associated desirable genetic traits. Thus they have gained attention for their potential to aid in the fight against various mosquito-vectored diseases. In the case of engineered underdominance, introduced transgenes are theoretically capable of persisting indefinitely (i.e. it is self-sustaining) whilst in the killer-rescue system the rescue component should initially increase in frequency (while the lethal component (killer) is common) before eventually declining (when the killer is rare) and being eliminated (i.e. it is temporally self-limiting). The population genetics of both systems have been explored using discrete generation mathematical models. The effects of various ecological factors on these two systems have also been considered using alternative modelling methodologies. Here we formulate and analyse new mathematical models combining the population dynamics and population genetics of these two classes of gene drive that incorporate ecological factors not previously studied and are simple enough to allow the effects of each to be disentangled. In particular, we focus on the potential effects that may be obtained as a result of differing ecological factors such as strengths of larval competition; numbers of breeding sites; and the relative fitness of transgenic mosquitoes compared with their wild-type counterparts. We also extend our models to consider population dynamics in two demes in order to explore the effects of dispersal between neighbouring populations on the outcome of UD and KR gene drive systems.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T04:59:51Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:d7e98909-ebe4-4e37-b6bd-b1f8c55f0d6e
institution University of Oxford
last_indexed 2024-03-07T04:59:51Z
publishDate 2018
publisher Public Library of Science
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:d7e98909-ebe4-4e37-b6bd-b1f8c55f0d6e2022-03-27T08:44:24ZPopulation dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectorsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d7e98909-ebe4-4e37-b6bd-b1f8c55f0d6eSymplectic Elements at OxfordPublic Library of Science2018Edgington, MAlphey, LA number of different genetics-based vector control methods have been proposed. Two approaches currently under development in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the two-locus engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drive systems. Each of these is theoretically capable of increasing in frequency within a population, thus spreading associated desirable genetic traits. Thus they have gained attention for their potential to aid in the fight against various mosquito-vectored diseases. In the case of engineered underdominance, introduced transgenes are theoretically capable of persisting indefinitely (i.e. it is self-sustaining) whilst in the killer-rescue system the rescue component should initially increase in frequency (while the lethal component (killer) is common) before eventually declining (when the killer is rare) and being eliminated (i.e. it is temporally self-limiting). The population genetics of both systems have been explored using discrete generation mathematical models. The effects of various ecological factors on these two systems have also been considered using alternative modelling methodologies. Here we formulate and analyse new mathematical models combining the population dynamics and population genetics of these two classes of gene drive that incorporate ecological factors not previously studied and are simple enough to allow the effects of each to be disentangled. In particular, we focus on the potential effects that may be obtained as a result of differing ecological factors such as strengths of larval competition; numbers of breeding sites; and the relative fitness of transgenic mosquitoes compared with their wild-type counterparts. We also extend our models to consider population dynamics in two demes in order to explore the effects of dispersal between neighbouring populations on the outcome of UD and KR gene drive systems.
spellingShingle Edgington, M
Alphey, L
Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
title Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
title_full Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
title_fullStr Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
title_full_unstemmed Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
title_short Population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer-rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
title_sort population dynamics of engineered underdominance and killer rescue gene drives in the control of disease vectors
work_keys_str_mv AT edgingtonm populationdynamicsofengineeredunderdominanceandkillerrescuegenedrivesinthecontrolofdiseasevectors
AT alpheyl populationdynamicsofengineeredunderdominanceandkillerrescuegenedrivesinthecontrolofdiseasevectors