Generic cell ablation system: sterile-insect technique for control of infectious disease vector and prevention of leakage of beneficial insect strains

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K08161
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: Kasashima Megumi 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 生物機能利用研究部門, 上級研究員 (90458290)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山本 大介 自治医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90597189)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Transgenic silkworm / Genome editing / Specific gene expression / Sterilization / apoptosis / cell death

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Considering the Genetic Resource Security Strategy, it is necessary to develop a practical technique for sterilizing silkworms in order to prevent the unauthorized export or dissemination of valuable strains. First, we developed an effector utilizing mammalian apoptosis-associated gene and verified its ability to induce cell death in silkworms. Next, we expressed this gene in the testes of malaria-vector mosquitoes and confirmed that sterilization of male mosquito can be achieved. In addition, to develop the site-specific knock-in technology required for inducible sterilization, we established a knock-in strain by inserting the Gal4 gene that is expressed under the native initiation codon of the silk gland expressed gene.

Free Research Field

Insect genetics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

The apoptosis gene used in this study can induce cell death in vivo regardless of insect type or tissue. It can be used not only as a sterilization technique, but also as a highly versatile system for functional analysis of nerves or specific tissues in Entomology.