<![CDATA[THE AKBARI LAB - News Press/Blog]]>

<![CDATA[THE AKBARI LAB - News Press/Blog]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:21:31 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[How Mosquitoes “Smell” Danger and Why It Matters]]>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:19:03 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/how-mosquitoes-smell-danger-and-why-it-mattershttps://news.web.baylor.edu/news/story/2026/how-mosquitoes-smell-danger-and-why-it-matters-0

]]><![CDATA[Six UC San Diego Faculty Elected to National Academy of Inventors for 2026]]>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:21:27 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/six-uc-san-diego-faculty-elected-to-national-academy-of-inventors-for-2026

https://today.ucsd.edu/story/six-uc-san-diego-faculty-elected-to-national-academy-of-inventors-for-2026

]]><![CDATA[TAKING THE BITE OUT OF MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE]]>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:08:00 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/taking-the-bite-out-of-mosquito-borne-diseasehttps://impact.ucsd.edu/story/taking-the-bite-out-of-mosquito-borne-disease/

]]><![CDATA[Zika 10 years later: Should we expect a resurgence?]]>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:42:27 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/zika-10-years-later-should-we-expect-a-resurgencehttps://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20260116/zika-10-years-later-should-we-expect-a-resurgence

]]><![CDATA[Researchers Uncover Previously Unexplored Details of Mosquito’s Specialized Detection Mechanisms]]>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:41:58 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/researchers-uncover-previously-unexplored-details-of-mosquitos-specialized-detection-mechanisms

https://today.ucsd.edu/story/researchers-uncover-previously-unexplored-details-of-mosquitos-specialized-detection-mechanisms

]]><![CDATA[Researchers release the world’s first head-to-toe cellular atlas of the mosquito]]>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:40:39 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/researchers-release-the-worlds-first-head-to-toe-cellular-atlas-of-the-mosquito

https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/38521-researchers-release-the-worlds-first-head-to-toe-cellular-atlas-of-the-mosquito/

]]><![CDATA[Current Opinion in Insect Science - Special issue - Insect Genomics (2026)]]>Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:34:35 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/current-opinion-in-insect-science-special-issue-insect-genomics-2026https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/103VG940PTF

Special issue
Insect Genomics (2026)Last update 11 August 2025Genetic biocontrol is an emerging form of biological control in which genetic variants or genetically modified forms of a target species act as the agents of suppression or modification. These strategies harness modern molecular tools to reduce or eliminate populations of harmful organisms, or to alter their capacity to transmit pathogens. For example, genetic biocontrol approaches targeting insects and arthropods can: 1. Enhance agricultural productivity and food security by mitigating crop losses caused by pests. 2. Reduce risks to public and veterinary health by limiting the spread of vector-borne diseases. 3. Promote biodiversity conservation by alleviating pressure from invasive species. The recent convergence of robust transgenic technologies, RNA-guided DNA endonucleases (e.g., CRISPR-Cas systems), and synthetic biology innovations has rapidly transformed genetic biocontrol from a niche discipline into a mainstream research frontier. Once largely theoretical, the field now commands widespread attention, with experimental systems demonstrating efficacy across agricultural, public health, and ecological contexts. This section will focus on the concepts, strategies, and challenges of implementing genetic biocontrol in the field, while broadening the scope to include: ● Population genetics and evolutionary dynamics that shape long-term efficacy. ● Mathematical and computational modeling to forecast ecological outcomes. ● Field studies and trial design that bridge laboratory success to real-world deployment. ● Social, ethical, and regulatory considerations that influence adoption and governance. By bringing together advances across these domains, the section aims to showcase the latest developments in genetic biocontrol research, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and highlight opportunities to adapt these technologies for broader applications in agriculture, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Guest Editors:

Yoosook Lee
Omar Akbari

]]><![CDATA[The Resurgence of Screwworm and Its Implications for U.S. Agriculture and Biotech Sectors]]>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:54:20 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/the-resurgence-of-screwworm-and-its-implications-for-us-agriculture-and-biotech-sectorshttps://www.ainvest.com/news/resurgence-screwworm-implications-agriculture-biotech-sectors-2508/]]><![CDATA[Regulatory overhaul needed to advance ag technology, lawmakers told]]>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 01:01:13 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/regulatory-overhaul-needed-to-advance-ag-technology-lawmakers-told ]]><![CDATA[House Hearing on Crop Production]]>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:56:20 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/house-hearing-on-crop-productionBryan (CEO of Agragene) presents on pgSIT from 26min -on.

]]><![CDATA[Innovators Hour: Interview with Agragene’s Stephanie Gamez & Bryan Witherbee]]>Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:35:37 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/innovators-hour-interview-with-agragenes-stephanie-gamez-bryan-witherbee

]]><![CDATA[Scaling Science: Pooja Y. Patel on Purpose-Driven Biotech and Public Health]]>Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:29:23 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/scaling-science-pooja-y-patel-on-purpose-driven-biotech-and-public-health

]]><![CDATA[University of Nevada, Reno Biotechnology Program celebrates over two decades of impact]]>Wed, 28 May 2025 15:54:22 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/university-of-nevada-reno-biotechnology-program-celebrates-over-two-decades-of-impacthttps://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2025/biotech-program

]]><![CDATA[Shared Values from the Genetic Rescue Community]]>Sat, 03 May 2025 12:43:14 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/shared-values-from-the-genetic-rescue-communityhttps://reviverestore.org/shared-values-from-the-genetic-rescue-community/

]]><![CDATA[Agragene and Associates Insectary partner on gene editing approach to SWD control]]>Fri, 18 Apr 2025 15:01:39 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/agragene-and-associates-insectary-partner-on-gene-editing-approach-to-swd-controlhttps://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/agragene-and-associates-insectary-partner-gene-editing-approach-swd-control

agragene_and_associates_insectary_partner_on_gene_editing_approach_to_swd_control_-_the_packer_-_fru.pdf

]]><![CDATA[Precision-Guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT)]]>Sun, 16 Feb 2025 18:34:43 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/precision-guided-sterile-insect-technique-pgsitWelcome to 'The Deep Dive Podcast', where we explore cutting-edge science shaping our world. Today, we’re unpacking Precision-Guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT)—a revolutionary vector control method using CRISPR to sterilize male insects and eliminate females. How does it work? What are its challenges? Stay tuned for an in-depth exploration!

]]><![CDATA[Nice paper from Agragene]]>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:37:00 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/nice-paper-from-agragene

]]><![CDATA[Why We Invested in Synvect.]]>Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:24:54 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/why-we-invested-in-synvect

https://medium.com/redbudvc/why-we-invested-in-synvect-1d34029b0cee

]]><![CDATA[Entanglements: The Undark PodcastTruth, Beauty, Science — in audio form.]]>Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:33:24 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/entanglements-the-undark-podcasttruth-beauty-science-in-audio-formPodcast: Should We Unleash GMO Mosquitoes?

]]><![CDATA[Agragene Featured on Youtube.]]>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:16:41 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/agragene-featured-on-youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/embed/b5O2beTeo_o

]]><![CDATA[Pest control gets the crISPR treatment]]>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:04:30 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/pest-control-gets-the-crispr-treatment

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02449-z

]]><![CDATA[October 08th, 2024]]>Tue, 08 Oct 2024 21:02:58 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/october-08th-2024https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/opinion/fauci-west-nile-virus.html

]]><![CDATA[University Spinoff Aims to Eliminate, Control Mosquito Populations]]>Wed, 04 Sep 2024 15:21:34 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/university-spinoff-aims-to-eliminate-control-mosquito-populations

https://www.sdbj.com/uncategorized/university-spinoff-aims-to-eliminate-control-mosquito-populations/

]]><![CDATA[Are we entering a new era of mosquito control?]]>Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:25:20 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/are-we-entering-a-new-era-of-mosquito-control

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/mosquito-disease-control-parasite-gene

]]><![CDATA[Engineered microbes may find use in living, long-term mosquito repellent]]>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:41:08 GMThttps://www.akbarilab.com/news-pressblog/engineered-microbes-may-find-use-in-living-long-term-mosquito-repellent

https://newatlas.com/science/engineered-bacteria-mosquito-repellent/

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