# DNA repair pathway choice and significance in targeted genome editing of Aedes aegypti

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2020 · $425,420

## Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the main vector of dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya viruses, and is
a model system for studies of other mosquitoes that vector arboviruses. Current strategies
based on suppressing mosquito populations can be effective, but are expensive and require a
robust public health infrastructure. The ability to introgress pathogen-resistance genes into
mosquito populations has long been sought as a potential alternative for disrupting dengue or
malaria transmission where funds and infrastructure are the limiting factors in effective mosquito
control. The recent development of effective site-specific nucleases such as homing
endonucleases and CRISPR/Cas9 advanced technical solutions to achieving such super-
Mendelian introgression, however there are still problems associated with the dominance of
end-joining processes preventing the integration and spread of transgenic sequences. In this
project, we aim to better understand DNA repair choice in mosquitoes and develop strategies to
increase rates of homology-based repair following double-stranded DNA break induction. In
Aim1 we will confirm the role of various potential end-joining factors in DNA repair and
successful female development, while in Aim 2 we perform temporally-controlled rescue
experiments to determine the most critical times during development for end-joining factors.
Finally in Aim 3 we will assess the impact of loss of end-joining factors on various forms of
homology-dependent repair. The knowledge gained from these experiments will further inform
the development of gene drive strategies for vector control as well as provide insight into
processes critical for mosquito development and evolution.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9836802
- **Project number:** 5R01AI137112-03
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Zach N. Adelman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $425,420
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-03 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9836802

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9836802, DNA repair pathway choice and significance in targeted genome editing of Aedes aegypti (5R01AI137112-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9836802. Licensed CC0.

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