Indel Detection following CRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis using High-resolution Melt Analysis in the Mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Mosquito gene editing has become routine in several laboratories with the establishment of systems such as transcription-activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), and homing endonucleases (HEs). More recently, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology has offered an easier and cheaper alternative for precision genome engineering. Following nuclease action, DNA repair pathways will fix the broken DNA ends, often introducing indels.

CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of female-biased genes AeAct-4 or myo-fem in Ae. aegypti results in a flightless phenotype in female, but not male mosquitoes.

Aedes aegypti is a vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Current vector control strategies such as community engagement, source reduction, and insecticides have not been sufficient to prevent viral outbreaks. Thus, interest in novel strategies involving genetic engineering is growing.

Maternal organophosphate flame-retardant exposure alters offspring feeding, locomotor and exploratory behaviors in a sexually-dimorphic manner in mice.

Increased usage of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) has led to detectable levels in pregnant women and neonates, which is associated with negative neurological outcomes. Therefore, we investigated if maternal OPFR exposure altered adult offspring feeding, locomotor, and anxiety-like behaviors on a low-fat (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD). Wild-type C57Bl/6J dams were orally dosed with vehicle (sesame oil) or an OPFR mixture (1 mg/kg combination each of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate, triphenyl phosphate and tricresyl phosphate) from gestation day 7 to postnatal day 14.