Assessment of a Split Homing Based Gene Drive for Efficient Knockout of Multiple Genes.

ABSTRACT: Homing based gene drives (HGD) possess the potential to spread linked cargo genes into natural populations and are poised to revolutionize population control of animals. Given that host encoded genes have been identified that are important for pathogen transmission, targeting these genes using guide RNAs as cargo genes linked to drives may provide a robust method to prevent disease transmission. However, effectiveness of the inclusion of additional guide RNAs that target separate genes has not been thoroughly explored. To test this approach, we generated a split-HGD in Drosophila melanogaster that encoded a drive linked effector consisting of a second gRNA engineered to target a separate host-encoded gene, which we term a gRNA-mediated effector (GME). This design enabled us to asses

SUBMITTER: Kandul NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7003086 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature