遗传不育技术在蚊媒疾病防控中的应用

疟疾、登革热等重大传染性蚊媒疾病严重危害人类健康,且目前缺乏有效的药物和疫苗,防治埃及伊蚊、冈比亚按蚊等媒介昆虫是控制和消除这些疾病的有效手段。化学杀虫剂的大规模使用在一定程度上控制了疾病的传播,但其抗药性和环境污染等问题也随之而来。分子生物学的飞速发展为昆虫不育技术(SIT)的更新及害虫防治提供了新的策略,由此发展起来的以释放携带显性致死基因昆虫(RIDL)为代表的一系列遗传不育技术为蚊虫种群防控提供了更加有效的选择。本文概述了遗传技术在蚊虫防控中的应用进展,包括蚊虫遗传防治的历史和策略,阐述了RIDL技术体系的原理,同时介绍了相关遗传控制品系和已经开展的田间释放研究,展示了遗传修饰不育技术在蚊媒疾病防治中的巨大潜力。

Application of genetic pest management in the control of mosquito-borne diseases

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and malaria, are global problems and pose a serious threat to public health. An estimated 2.5 billion people live in areas at the risk of epidemic transmission. For now, no vaccines are available against the pathogens respnsible for these diseases, and the mosquito control is considered as one of the most effective ways to reduce transmission. Mass application of pesticides could reduce the mosquito population but it also brings problems like insect resistance and environmental pollution. The release of insects with dominant lethality (RIDL) technology and other genetic control systems based on the traditional sterile insect technique (SIT) provide new strategies to control disease vector mosquitos, such as Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. Those new version of genetic control methods are species-specific and environment-friendly, and now being developed and tested worldwide. Here the principle and recent progress of mosquito genetic control are reviewed. The history of mosquito SIT is introduced, and the genetic control strategies including self-limiting and self-sustaining populations are also illustrated. The development, as well as laboratory and field trials of RIDL strains are described. It is suggested that genetic control strategies such as RIDL are promising methods to fight against mosquitoes carrying human diseases.