Project Overview

We are using mathematical models to determine ideal strategies for CRISPR-Cas9-based gene drive systems to control insect crop pests responsible for major losses in global food production.

The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has greatly increased the ease of genome editing. One potential application of this is the engineering of gene drive systems capable of spreading desirable genes into populations and/or suppressing populations. Initial applications of this technology have been discussed in the context of controlling mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit; however, the technology applies broadly to species with short generation times that reproduce sexually, including agricultural insect pests. Between 10–16% of potential global food production is lost to insect pests every year. Hence, agricultural applications of gene drive technology could provide significant societal benefits by enhancing food security and reducing reliance on environmentally destructive insecticides.

Our lab has substantial experience developing mathematical models of gene drive systems for the purpose of controlling mosquito populations and the diseases they transmit. The goal of this project is to leverage this expertise in order to apply it to pest species of agricultural significance. We have identified a variety of crop pests of interest to which this technology may apply: i) Drosophila suzukii, a worldwide pest that infests fruit during the ripening stage; ii) the medfly, a worldwide pest native to the Mediterranean that infests several species of fruits; iii) the pink bollworm, an invasive pest in most of the world’s cotton-growing regions; and iv) the Asian citrus psyllid, a vector of citrus huanglongbing virus present in Asia and the southern US. For each of these species, we will use mathematical models to determine optimal CRISPR-Cas9-based gene drive architectures that could be successful in controlling their agricultural impact while ensuring biosafety through the ability to remediate them from the environment in the event of negative consequences or a change in public opinion.