(6) ENDONUCLEASE SEXING AND STERILIZING IN INSECTS          

• University of California, Riverside
• Filed:  11/2017
• Patent Application No.  PCT/US2018/061886
• Abstract: Methods of the disclosed precision guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) include methods for directing male sexing in a genetically modified insect and methods of producing a progeny of genetically modified sterile male insect egg. These methods include integrating at least one nucleic acid sequence into a genome of a first insect, the at least one nucleic acid sequence having at least one first guide polynucleotide targeting a female-essential genomic sequence that is required for female-specific viability, introducing an endonuclease into a second insect, and genetically crossing the first insect and the second insect thereby producing progeny expressing the endonuclease and the at least one nucleic acid sequence. For male sterility a second guide polynucleotide targets a male sterility genomic sequence that is required for male-specific sterility.

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(5) ENGINEERED RESISTANCE TO VIRUSES IN TRANSGENIC MOSQUITOES 

• University of California, Riverside
• Provisional Patent Application No. TBD
  
• Filed:  10/2017

• Abstract:  Recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have highlighted the need for novel strategies to control arboviral transmission. Here, we describe the development of the first mosquitoes synthetically engineered to be 100% resistant to ZIKV. We show that a synthetic polycistronic cluster of engineered microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting ZIKV (termed the anti-ZIKV transgene) is expressed and fully processed following a blood meal in Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti), ensuring the formation of mature synthetic miRNAs in the midgut lumen where ZIKV resides in the early stages of infection. Critically, we demonstrate that homozygous Ae. aegypti mosquitoes expressing the anti-ZIKV transgene are unable to be infected with,  and cannot transmit, ZIKV. Together, these compelling results provide a promising path forward for development of effective genetic-based ZIKV control strategies, which could potentially be extended to control other arboviruses.

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(4) USE OF MEDEA ELEMENTS FOR BIOCONTROL OF D. SUZUKII POPULATIONS 

• University of California, Riverside
• Provisional Patent Application No. 62/286,946
• Filed: 08/2017

• Abstract:  An insect gene drive system for biocontrol of a population of an insect is provided. The gene drive system includes: a) a first DNA sequence encoding a toxin under the control of a maternal germline-specific promoter active in the insect, with the first DNA sequence being linked to b) a second DNA sequence encoding an antidote under the control of an early embryo-specific promoter active in the insect. The toxin is expressed in maternal germline cells of the insect and results in maternal-effect lethality in the insect, and the antidote is expressed in embryos of the insect and counters the maternal-effect lethality. In some embodiments, the insect is Drosophila suzukii. pdf 

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(3) POPULATION CONTROL USING ENGINEERED TRANSLOCATIONS

• Publication number: 20160345556
• Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to systems for synthetically-engineered reciprocal chromosomal translocation for gene insertion into a population of organisms such as insects. pdf
• Type: Application
• Filed: May 25, 2016
• Publication date: December 1, 2016
• Inventors: Bruce A. Hay, Omar S. Akbari, Anna B. Buchman

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(2) REGULATION OF INSECT POPULATIONS

• Publication number: 20150237838
• Abstract: The present technology generally relates to compositions, methods, and populations that allow for the regulation of insect population. pdf 
• Type: Application
• Filed: February 25, 2015
• Publication date: August 27, 2015
• Inventors: Bruce A. Hay, Omar S. Akbari

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(1) REPRESSIBLE LETHAL SYSTEM FOR REGULATING INSECT POPULATIONS

• ​Publication number: 20140283155
• Abstract: Disclosed herein are components, systems and methods for regulating population of multicellular organisms, for example insects. pdf
• Type: Application
• Filed: March 12, 2014
• Publication date: September 18, 2014
• Inventors: Omar S. Akbari, Katie L. Kennedy, Bruce A. Hay

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