Cas9-mediated gene editing in the black-legged tick, <i>Ixodes scapularis</i>, by embryo injection and ReMOT Control.

ABSTRACT: Despite their capacity to acquire and pass on an array of debilitating pathogens, research on ticks has lagged behind other arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, largely because of challenges in applying available genetic and molecular tools. CRISPR-Cas9 is transforming non-model organism research; however, successful gene editing has not yet been reported in ticks. Technical challenges for injecting tick embryos to attempt gene editing have further slowed research progress. Currently, no embryo injection protocol exists for any chelicerate species, including ticks. Herein, we report a successful embryo injection protocol for the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the use of this protocol for genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9. We also demonstrate that the ReMOT Control techniq

SUBMITTER: Sharma A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9076890 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature