Photo credit: Center for Disease Control
By Ashlee Hutchinson
New publication!
Funded by Revive & Restore’s Catalyst Science Fund, researchers at Macquarie University have successfully demonstrated a cutting-edge technique for genetic biocontrol in just one generation. With the intention of translating this technology to mosquitos to tackle vector-borne diseases, our team has successfully demonstrated proof-of-concept in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster).
The Toxic Male Technique, developed by Dr. Maciej Maselko and Samuel Beach, works by genetically engineering insects to produce toxic peptides in their ejaculate fluid. When males mate with females, this is released into the female reproductive tract to reduce their lifespan. Unlike other proposed genetic biocontrol methods like gene drives, this method enables a rapid reduction in population size within just one generation. Importantly, these outcomes are achieved regardless of whether reproduction occurs.
We are proud to announce that this incredibly innovative research was just published in Nature Communications.
Read their paper titled “Recombinant venom proteins in insect seminal fluid reduce female lifespan”: https://www.nature.com/
