ABSTRACT
Gene drives could potentially provide an inexpensive, easily implemented, and powerful solution to malaria and many other vector-borne diseases. Though the idea of gene drive was first proposed several decades ago, mosquito genetic tools have only recently enabled intensive study on this topic. CRISPR nucleases in particular have created a recent explosion of gene drive studies, several of which have demonstrated successful laboratory results. Proposed gene drive strategies against Anopheles generally fall under two categories. In the modification strategy, the gene drive is designed to either spread a cargo gene or disrupt one or more native genes such that malaria transmission is impaired or eliminated. An X-shredder is composed of a nuclease that is designed to shred the X-chromosome in male gametes, thus allowing only sperm with Y-chromosomes to fertilize eggs and thereby, increasing the male to female sex ratio in the next generation.
