SELECTED Manuscripts - Submitted/Under Peer Review

2021

PictureMosquito olfactory receptor families expressed in odorant receptor neurons (ORNs) and housed in distinct sensilla.
(86) Coutinho-Abreu, I.V.,  Riffell, J.A., and Akbari, O.S. The Neuroethology of Mosquito Host-seeking Behavior. 2020. 

Current Publication Status: Submitted to Communications Biology. 

PictureGene drive element (wGDe) inheritance and somatic eye phenotype in the progeny of double heterozygote split-drive carriers.
(85)  Verkuijl, S.,A.,N., Gonzalez, E., Li, M., Ang, J., Kandul, N.P., Anderson, M.,A.,E., Akbari, O.S., Bonsall, M.B.,  Alphey, L., A CRISPR endonuclease gene drive reveals two distinct mechanisms of inheritance bias. 2020.



​Current Publication Status: Manuscript available on bioRxiv. 

PictureCharacterization of alternative binary systems in Drosophila melanogaster
(84) Gamez, S., Vesga, L.C., S Mendez-Sanchez, S.C., . Akbari, O.S., Spatial control of gene expression in flies using bacterially derived binary transactivation systems. 2020. 

​Current Publication Status: Submitted to Insect Molecular Biology; Manuscript available on bioRxiv.  

PictureOSNs expressing divergent chemoreceptor gene families project centrally to defined regions of the Aedes aegypti antennal lobe
(83) Shankar, S., Tauxe, G.M., Spikol, E.D., Li, M., Akbari, O.S., Giraldo, D., McMeniman, C.J., Synergistic Coding of Human Odorants in the Mosquito Brain. 2020. 

Current Publication Status: Submitted to Science; Manuscript available on bioRxiv. 



PictureHarnessing SENSR to detect evidence of SARS-CoV-2 viral transcripts.
(82) Brogan,D.J., Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Lin, C.P., Smidler, A.L., Yang, T., Alcantara, L.M., Antoshechkin, I., Liu, J.,  Raban, R.R., Belda-Ferre, P., Knight, R.,  Komives, E.A., Akbari, O.S., A Sensitive, Rapid, and Portable CasRx-based Diagnostic Assay for SARS-CoV2.  2020

Current Publication Status: Manuscript submitted to the CRISPR Journal; Manuscript available on medRxiv. 
Picture
(81) Parks, S.C., Nguyen, C., Nasrolahi, S., Juncaj1, D., Lu, D.,, Ramaswamy, R., Buchman, A., . Akbari, O.S., Yamanaka, N., Boulanger, M.J.,  Dillman1, A.R., Parasitic nematodes secrete fatty acid- and retinol-binding proteins to compromise host immunity by interfering with host lipid signaling pathways. 2020. 

​Current Publication Status: Under Peer Review @ PNAS


Picture sGD elements display different Super-Mendelian inheritance patterns depending on the transheterozygote progenitor sex
(80)  Terradas, G. , Buchman, A.B., Bennett, J.B., Shriner, I., Marshall, J.M., Akbari, O.S., Bier, E., Inherently confinable split-drive systems in Drosophila. 2020

Current Publication Status: Under Peer Review @ Nature Communications;  Manuscript available on bioRxiv 


PicturePerformance of contemporary gene drive systems for population replacement
(79) Kandul, N.P., Liu, J., Bennett, J.B., Marshall, J.M., Akbari, O.S. A home and rescue gene drive forces its inheritance stably persisting in populations. 2020. 

Current Publication Status: Under Peer Review @ eLife; Manuscript available on bioRxiv. 
PictureExamples of novel suppression and modification approaches in transgenic mosquitoes
(78)  Wang, G.H., Gamez, S., Raban, R.,  Marshall, J.M., Alphey, L., Li, M.,  Rasgon, J.L., Akbari, O.S.  Combating mosquito-borne pathogens using genetic control technologies. 2020

Current Publication Status: Under Peer Review @ Nature Biotechnology. 
PicturePublic Engagement
(77) Cynthia E. Schairer, James Najera, Anthony A. James, Omar S. Akbari, and Cinnamon S. Bloss.  Oxitec and MosquitoMate in the United States: Lessons for the Future of Gene Drive Mosquito Control. 2020

Current Publication Status: Under Revision @ Pathogens and Global Health. 
PictureAssessment of temperature inducible pgSIT systems.
(76)  Kandul, N.P., Liu, J.,  Akbari, O.S., Temperature-Inducible Precision Guided Sterile Insect Technique. 2020 


​Current Publication Status: Under Revision @ Nature Communications. 
PictureSchematic of the various attractive and aversive cues emitted from a human arm.
(75) Clark, J.T.,  Nunez-Flores, R., Ejercito, J., Guda, T., Naters, W., Luy, M., Li, M., Akbari, O.S., Ray, A., Insect olfactory neurons and receptors detect DEET through widespread activation and selective inhibition. 2020

Current Publication Status:  Submitted to Cell Reports 


PictureDevelopment of Synthetic Reproductive Barriers
(74) Buchman, A., Shriner, I., Yang, T., Liu, J., Antoshechkin, I., Marshall, J.M., Perry, M.W., Akbari, O.S.* Engineered Reproductively Isolated Species Drive Reversible Population Replacement. 2020

Current Publication Status: Under Peer Review @Nature Communications. Manuscript available on bioRxiv. 


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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS - Peer reviewed/Accepted AND In Press

PictureSchematic representation of a paternal sex ratio distorter.
(73) Benetta, E.D., Akbari, O.S.,  Ferree, P.M.  Mechanistic Comparison of Reproductive Manipulations Caused by Selfish Symbionts and Chromosomes. 2021. 

Current Publication Status: Accepted and In Press @ Heredity. 

PictureUbiquitous in vivo exogenous RNA targeting using a three-component CasRx system.
(72) Sun, R., Brogan, D.,  Buchman, A., Yang, T.,  Akbari, O.S.  Methods for ubiquitous and tissue-specific RNA targeting in Drosophila melanogaster using CRISPR/CasRx. 2021. 

Current Publication Status: Accepted and In Press @ JOVE. 
PictureOverview of the mosquito small RNA genomics resource.
(71) Ma, Q., Srivastav, S.P.,  Gamez, S., Feitosa-Suntheimer, F., Patterson, E.I., Johnson, R.M., Matson, E.R., Gold, A.S., Brackney, D.E., Connor, J.H., Colpitts, T.M., Hughes, G.L., Rasgon, J.L, Nolan, T., Akbari, O.S., Lau, N.C.,  An integrated mosquito small RNA genomics resource reveals dynamic evolution and host responses to viruses and transposons. 2021. Genome Research. doi: 10.1101/gr.265157.120


2020

PictureCore Commitments for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms
(70) Kanya C. Long, Luke Alphey, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Karl J. Campbell, Jackson Champer, Chun-Hong Chen, Amit Choudhary, George M. Church, James P. Collins, Kimberly L. Cooper Jason A. Delborne, Owain R Edwards, Claudia I. Emerson, Kevin Esvelt, Sam Weiss Evans, Robert M. Friedman, Valentino M. Gantz, Fred Gould, Sarah Hartley, Elizabeth Heitman, Janet Hemingway, Hirotaka Kanuka, Jennifer Kuzma, Jim V. Lavery, Yoosook Lee, Jeantine E. Lunshof, John M. Marshall, Philipp W. Messer, Craig Montell, Kenneth A. Oye, Megan J. Palmer, Philippos Aris Papathanos, Prasad N. Paradkar, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Jason L. Rasgon, Gordana Rašić, Larisa Rudenko, J. Royden Saah, Maxwell J. Scott, Jolene T. Sutton, Adam E. Vorsino, Omar S. Akbari†, Core commitments for field trials of gene drive organisms. 2020. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.abd1908

Link to Supplemental File PDF 

Summary: http://science.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/370/6523/1417?ijkey=KnRWjndPVB0Rs&keytype=ref&siteid=sci
                                                                                                                                             
Reprint: http://science.sciencemag.org/cgi/rapidpdf/370/6523/1417?ijkey=KnRWjndPVB0Rs&keytype=ref&siteid=sci
 
Full text: http://science.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/370/6523/1417?ijkey=KnRWjndPVB0Rs&keytype=ref&siteid=sci

CLICK HERE to Become a Signatory to these Core Commitments.

Press Releases:
Scientists Set a Path for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms
PictureTimeline for pupal and adult Nasonia vitripennis microinjection
(69) Dalla Benetta, E., Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Rasgon, J.L.,  Akbari, O.S., ​ Methods for pupal and adult injections for RNAi, ReMOT and BAPC- mediated CRISPR gene editing in Nasonia vitripennis. 2020. JOVE. doi: 10.3791/61892
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(68) Alphey, L.S, Crisanti, A., Randazzo, F., Akbari, O.S. Standardizing the Definition of Gene Drive. 2020. PNAS. doi. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2020417117 

Supplementary Table 1. 

CLICK HERE to Become a Signatory to these Definitions
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Picture
(67)  Navarro-Payá, D., Flis, I.,  Anderson, M.A.E.,  Hawes, P., Li, M., Akbari, O.S., Basu, S., and Alphey, L., Targeting female flight for genetic control of mosquitoes.  2020.  Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases. doi. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008876

PictureGene Drive Categories
(66)  Schairer, C.E., Cheung, C., Buchman, A.,  Akbari, O.S., Bloss, C.S., Interdisciplinary development of a standardized introduction to gene drives for lay audiences. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01146-0

PicturePhylogeny of the Argonaute-(Ago) family proteins
(65) Gamez, S., Srivastav, S., Akbari, O.S., Lau, NC., Diverse defenses: a perspective comparing Dipteran Piwi-piRNA pathways. (2020). Cells. doi:10.3390/cells9102180

PictureWe got the Cover!
(64)  Bulger, E.A., Xu,X-R,  Gantz, V.M., Klanseck, C., Heimler, S.R., Klanseck, C.,  Auradkar, A., Bennett, J.B.,  Miller, L.A., Leahy, S.,   Juste, S.S.,  Buchman, A.,  Akbari, O.S.,  Marshall, J.M., Bier, E., Active-genetic neutralizing elements for halting or deleting gene-drives. (2020). Molecular Cell.  
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2020.09.003

Press Releases:
​www.scienceblog.com 
​www.scitechdaily.com 
PictureGlobal dynamics of gene expression in Ae. albopictus.
(63) Palatini, U., Masri, R.A., Cosme, L.V. , Koren, S., Thibaud-Nissen, F., Biedler, J.K., Krsticevic, F., Johnston, J.S., Halbach, R., Crawford, J.E., Antoshechkin, I., Failloux, A., Pischedda, E., Marconcini, M., Ghurye, J., Rhie, A., Sharma, A., Karagodin1, D.A., Jenrette, J., Gamez, S., Miesen, P., Caccone, A.,  Sharakhova, M.V., Tu, Z., Papathanos, P.A., Van Rij, R.P., Akbari, O.S., Powell, J., Phillippy, A.M., Bonizzoni M., Improved reference genome of the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus. (2020). Genome Biol. 2020 Aug 26;21(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s13059-020-02141-w.PMID: 32847630 

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PictureRemot delivery into Oocytes
(62) Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Dalla Benetta, E., Heu, C.C., Rasgon, J., Ferree, P.M., Akbari, O.S., Germline mutagenesis of Nasonia vitripennis through ovarian delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. (2020). Insect Molecular Biology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12663



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Picture
(61) Raban, R., Akbari, O.S. A day in the life of a mosquito insectary team: pushing closer to solutions for mosquito-borne diseases. (2020).  Nature Lab Animal DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-020-0617-y


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PictureWe got the cover!
(60) Buchman, A., Brogan, D., Sun, R., Yang, T., Hsu, P., Akbari, O.S.* Programmable RNA Targeting using CasRx in Flies. The CRISPR Journal. (2020). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/crispr.2020.0018 

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PictureTranslating gene drive classes into Spanish.
(59) Cheung, C., S Gamez, S.,Carballar-Lejarazú, R.,  Ferman, V.,  Vasquez, V., Terradas, G., Schairer, C.E.,  Bier, E., Marshall, J.M., James, A.A., Akbari, O.S., Bloss, C.S., Translating Gene Drive Science to Promote Linguistic Diversity in Community and Stakeholder Engagement. (2020). Global Public Health, DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1779328 




PictureTimeline for creating C. quinquefasciatus mutants by microinjection
(58) Bui, M., Li, M., Raban, R.R., Liu, N., Akbari, O.S.*, Embryo microinjection techniques for efficient site-specific mutagenesis in Culex quinquefasciatus. (2020). Journal of Visualized Experiments (JOVE). DOI: doi:10.3791/61375 




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PictureDevelopment of sex-sorter cassette in Drosophila.
(57) Kandul, N.P., Liu, J.,  Hsu, A.D.,  Hay, B.A.,  Akbari, O.S.*, A novel drug-inducible sex-separation technique for insects. (2020). Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16020-2. 

Press Releases:
Nature Research Community. Bioengineering. 
PictureReplacement, remediation and confinement outcomes for translocations and UDMEL
(56) Hector M Sanchez C. , Jared Bennett , Sean L Wu , Gordana Rasic , Omar S Akbari , John M. Marshall*. Confinement and reversibility of threshold-dependent gene drive systems in spatially-explicit Aedes aegypti populations. (2020).  BMC Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-020-0759-9​. 
PictureComposition and origin of PSR chromosome
(55)  Dalla Benetta, E., Antoshechkin,I., Yang,T.,  Nguyen, H.Q.M.,, Ferree, P.M.,* Akbari,O.S.* Genome Elimination Mediated by Gene Expression from a Selfish Chromosome. (2020). Science Advances . Vol. 6, no. 14, eaaz9808. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz9808. 

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PicturePhoto from iStock Microvone.
(54) Friedman, Robert M., John M. Marshall, and Omar S. Akbari. “Gene Drives: New and Improved.” Issues in Science and Technology 36, no. 2 (Winter 2020): 72–78.


Commentary to this article written by four leaders: 
Jason Delborne, Kent Redford, Greg Kaebnick and Fred Gould. pdf. 
PictureMathematical Model predictions comparing split drives to linked drives and release of a transgene.
(53) Ming Li, Ting Yang, Nikolai Kandul, Michelle Bui, Stephanie Gamez, Robyn Raban, Jared Bennett, Héctor M. Sánchez C., Gregory C. Lanzaro, Hanno Schmidt, Yoosook Lee, John M. Marshall, and Omar S. Akbari*. Development of a Confinable Gene-Drive System in the Human Disease Vector, Aedes aegypti. (2020). eLife. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.51701

Nature Lab Animal Research Highlight by Ellen P. Nuff (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-020-0490-8). pdf


Press Release(s):
By Emily Packer, eLIFE Sciences
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PictureEngineered resistance to Dengue
(52) Anna Buchman, Stephanie Gamez, Ming Li, Igor Antoshechkin, Shin-Hang Lee, Shin-Wei Wang, Chun-Hong Chen, Melissa J. Klein, Jean-Bernard Duchemin, James E. Crowe, Jr., Prasad N. Paradkar*, and Omar S. Akbari*, Broad Dengue Neutralization in Mosquitoes Expressing an Engineered Antibody. (2020). Plos Pathogens.   doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008103


Nature Lab Animal Research Highlight by Ellen P. Nuff (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-020-0490-8). pdf

Press Releases (>50 news articles below are some)
By Kelly Servick, Science Magazine, January 16, 2020  By Genelle Weule, Genetic Literacy Project, January 29, 2020 CNet in Spanish, February, 2nd 2020 ​carhoy.com, In Spanish, February 6th, 2020 La Nación La Arena The daily Star, January 24th, 2019 By Peter Rejcek, Singularity Hub, February 02, 2020 ​By City News Service, 10news, January 16, 2020 By EurekAlert!, January 16, 2020 By City News Service, Fox5, January 16, 2020 By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, January 16, 2020 By Science Daily, January 16, 2020 ​By Nick Larvars, New Atlas, January 16, 2020 By Bonnie Burton, cnet, January 17, 2020 ​By James Patterson, tunisiesoir, January 18, 2020 By Jeevan Biswas, ibtimes, January 20, 2020 ​By Mario Aguilera, UC San Diego, January 23, 2020 ​By Ronald Bailey, Reason, January 24, 2020 ​By Brenda Gregorio-Nieto, NBC San Diego, January 26, 2020By Kevin Stone - The Heartland Institute
PictureGene Drives in ACP
(51) Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Bui, M., Li, M., Raban, R., Akbari, O.S.*, Genetic Manipulation Solutions to Eliminate The Asian Citrus Psyllid. (2020). Citrograph. Vol. 11, No. 1.  pdf. 

PictureWe got the Cover!
(50)  Raban, R.R,  Marshall, J.M.,  Akbari,O.S*. Progress toward engineering gene drives for population control. (2020). Journal of Experimental Biology. 223, jeb208181. doi:10.1242/jeb.208181. pdf. 


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PictureSplit-HGD system forces super-Mendelian transmission and knocks out multiple genes
(49) Kandul, N.P, Liu, J., Buchman, A.B., Gantz, V.M., Bier, E., and Akbari, O.S.*, Assessment of a split homing based gene drive for efficient knockout of multiple genes.  (2020). G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. Feb. pii: g3.400985.2019. doi: 10.1534/g3.119.400985.


PictureOrthology analysis on Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus samples across corresponding developmental time points.
(48) Gamez, S., Antoshechkin, I., Mendez-Sanchez, S.C., Akbari, O.S.* The Developmental Transcriptome of Ae. albopictus, a Major Worldwide Human Disease Vector. (2020). G3. Genes, Genomes, Genetics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.401006. pdf


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2019

PictureMosquitoes are attracted to odors emitted by orchids.


(47) Chloé Lahondère, Clément Vinauger, Ryo P. Okubo, Gabriella Wolff, Omar S. Akbari, and Jeffrey A. Riffell,* The olfactory basis of orchid pollination by mosquitoes.​ (2019). PNAS. Dec 23. pii: 201910589. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1910589117.


Press Releases:
News Medical Life Sciences Phys.org, by James Urton ​Technology Networks, Jan 22, 2020 ​James Urton and Kendall Daniels
PictureCRISPR/Cas9 efficiently generates heritable, site-specific mutations in Culex quinquefasciatus.
(46) Ming Li, Ting Li, Nannan Liu, Robyn Raban, Xuegui Wang and Omar S. Akbari*. Methods for the generation of heritable germline mutations in the disease vector Culex quinquefasciatus using CRISPR/Cas9. (2019). Insect Molecular Biology. doi: 10.1111/imb.12626.

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PicturePrecision guided SIT and Homing based Gene drives.
(45) ​Akbari, O.S*. Using CRISPR to Combat Human Disease Vectors. (2019). National Academy of Engineering. The Bridge. pdf. 

PDF to the Full Book. 

PictureCommunity-Engagement-Triangle (Capire) from the Capire consulting group.
(44) Cynthia E Schairer, Riley Taitingfong, Omar S. Akbari and Cinnamon S Bloss. A Typology of Community and Stakeholder Engagement Based on Documented Examples in the Field of Novel Vector Control. (2019). Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases. doi https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007863. pdf
 

PictureSchematic of life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum.
(43) John M. Marshall*, Robyn Raban, Nikolay P. Kandul, Jyotheeswara R. Edula,  Tomás León, and Omar S. Akbari*. Winning the tug-of-war between effector gene design and pathogen evolution in vector population replacement strategies. (2019). Frontiers in Genetics. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01072   
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PictureModel-predicted impact of releases of pgSIT eggs on Aedes aegypti mosquito population density with comparison to releases of Wolbachia-based incompatible insect technique (IIT), release of insects carrying a dominant lethal gene (RIDL), and female-specific RIDL (fsRIDL).
(42)  Kandul, N.P,  Liu, J., Sanchez C., H.M.,Wu, S.L., Marshall, J.M.,  Akbari,O.S.*, Reply to ‘Concerns about the feasibility of using “precision guided sterile males” to control insects.’ (2019). Nature Communications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11617-8. pdf


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(41)  Richard Feachem, Ingrid Chen,  Omar S. Akbari, Amelia Bertozzi-Villa,  Samir Bhatt, Fred Binka,  Maciej Boni,  Caroline Buckee,  Joseph Dieleman,  Arjen Dondorp,  Alex Eapen,  Neelam Sekhri Feachem, Scott Filler, Peter Gething, Roly Gosling, Annie Haakenstad, ; Kelly Harvard, ; Arian Hatefi, ; Jimee Hwang, Dean Jamison,  Kate Jones, Corine Karema,  Richard Nchabi Kamwi,  Altaf Lal, PhD; Erika Larson,  Cynthia Lee,  Margaret Lees,  Neil Lobo,  Angela Micah,  Bruno Moonen,  Gretchen Newby, Xiao Ning, Muhammad Pate, Martha Quiñones, Michelle Roh, Ben Rolfe,  Dennis Shanks,  Balbir Singh, Kenneth Staley,  James Tulloch, MJennifer Wegbreit, Hyun Ju Woo, Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho;  LANCET COMMISSION ON MALARIA ERADICATION Malaria Eradication. Within a Generation: Ambitious, Achievable and Necessary. (2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31139-0. 

Lancet Webpage dedicated to the report here. 

Press Releases:
   It's 'Ambitious' — But Possible — to Eradicate Malaria by 2050, According to a Landmark Report
By Jamie Ducharme, Time Magazine, September 9, 2019 By Kate Kelland, Weekly Times (Australia), September 9, 2019 By  Press Association, September 9, 2019 News 18 (India), September 9, 2019
Official Press release
List of all the press coverage here. pdf 
PictureCO2 modulates mosquitoes’ responses to small field rotating visual objects
(40) Vinauger, C., Van Breugel, F., Locke, L., Tobin, K., Dickinson, M., Fairhall, A., Akbari, O.S., Riffell, J., Visual-olfactory integration in the human disease vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti. (2019). Current Biology. DOI: :https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.06.043


Press Release(s):
UW News (http://www.washington.edu/news/2019/07/18/mosquito-sensory-integration/).  PDF HERE

Science Daily (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190718112528.htm​)


PictureGCaMP6s is a general tool to record calcium responses in multiple tissues in Ae. aegypti.
(39) Bui, M., Shyong, J., Lutz, E.K., Yang, T., Li, M., Truong, K., Arvidson,R., Buchman,A., Riffell, J.A.*,  Akbari, O.S.* Live calcium imaging of Aedes aegypti neuronal tissues reveals differential importance of chemosensory systems. (2019). BMC Neuroscience. 2019 Jun 17;20(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12868-019-0511-y. PMID: 31208328​
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See gCamp in Action in Ae. aegypti: 
Supplemental Video 1 - Adult Mouthparts - Link 
Supplemental Video 2 - Adult Antennae - Link
Supplemental Video 3 -Adult Compound Eye - Link
Supplemental Video 4 - Whole Larvae - Link
Supplemental Video 5 - Larval Brain - Link
PictureDrive Through Genome Elimination
(38) Dalla Benetta, E., Akbari, O.S., Ferree, P.M., Sequence Expression from Supernumerary B Chromosomes: Function or Fluff? (2019). Genes, 10, 123; doi:10.3390/genes10020123



PictureEngineered resistance to Zika virus
(37) Buchman, A., Gamez, S., Li, M., Antoshechkin​, I., Lee, S.H., Wang, S.W., Chen, C.H., Klein, M.J., Duchemin, J.B. , Paradkar, P.N.*, Akbari, O.S.*, Engineered resistance to Zika virus (ZIKV) in transgenic Ae. aegypti expressing a polycistronic cluster of synthetic miRNAs. (2019). PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1810771116
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Press Releases:
https://www.csiro.au/en/News/News-releases/2019/mozzies-get-wings-clipped-spreading-Zika-virus
PictureZygotic expression of CRISPR components ensures 100% penetrance
(36) Kandul, N.P,  Liu, J., Sanchez C., H.M.,Wu, S.L., Marshall, J.M.,  Akbari,O.S.*, Transforming Insect Population Control with Precision Guided Sterile Males with Demonstration in Flies. Nature Communications. volume 10, Article number: 84 (2019) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07964-7

Supplementary Information. pdf


Press Releases:
New CRISPR-based technology developed to control pests with precision-guided genetics. 
Precision-Guided Sterile Insect Technique. IGTRCN
Broadcasted Live on Local TV in San Diego - NBC 7
​https://www.nbcsandiego.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Local-Researchers-Develop-Insect-Gene-Editing-Tool_San-Diego-504137652.html
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2018

PictureAaegL5 assembly statistics, annotation, and chromatin accessibility analysis
(35) Benjamin J Matthews, Olga Dudchenko, Sarah Kingan, Sergey Koren, Igor Antoshechkin, Jacob E Crawford, William J Glassford, Margaret Herre, Seth N Redmond, Noah H Rose, Gareth D Weedall, Yang Wu, Sanjit S Batra, Carlos A Brito-Sierra, Steven D Buckingham, Corey L Campbell, Saki Chan, Eric Cox, Benjamin R Evans, Thanyalak Fansiri, Igor Filipovic, Albin Fontaine, Andrea Gloria-Soria, Richard Hall, Vinita S Joardar, Andrew K Jones, Raissa GG Kay, Vamsi Kodali, Joyce Lee, Gareth J Lycett, Sara N Mitchell, Jill Muehling, Michael R Murphy, Arina Omer, Frederick A Partridge, Paul Peluso, Aviva Presser Aiden, Vidya Ramasamy, Gordana Rasic, Sourav Roy, Karla Saavedra-Rodriguez, Shruti Sharan, Atashi Sharma, Melissa Smith, Joe Turner, Allison M Weakley, Zhilei Zhao, Omar S Akbari, William C Black, Han Cao, Alistair C Darby, Catherine Hill, J Spencer Johnston, Terence D Murphy, Alexander S Raikhel, David B Sattelle, Igor V Sharakhov, Bradley J White, Li Zhao, Erez Lieberman Aiden, Richard S Mann, Louis Lambrechts, Jeffrey R Powell, Maria V Sharakhova, Zhijian Tu, Hugh M Robertson, Carolyn S McBride, Alex R Hastie, Jonas Korlach, Daniel E Neafsey, Adam M Phillippy, Leslie B Vosshall. Improved reference genome of Aedes aegypti informs arbovirus vector control. Nature. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0692-z. pdf. 

Press Release(s)
Newsline. Mosquito genome opens new avenues for reducing bug-borne disease.pdf
Newsweek. NEW MOSQUITO GENES DISCOVERED THAT COULD EXPLAIN WHY SOME PEOPLE GET BITTEN MORE THAN OTHERS.
PictureTargeted transgene insertion on the D. melanogaster Y-chromosome.
(34) Buchman, A. and Akbari O.S.*, Site-specific transgenesis of the D. melanogaster Y-chromosome using CRISPR/Cas9. Insect Mol Biol. (2018) doi: 10.1111/imb.12528.  pdf
PictureComplex Genome Editing Examples
(33) Gantz V.M and Akbari, O.S.* Gene Editing Technologies and Applications for Insects. Current Opinion in Insect Science (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2018.05.006. pdf

PictureTranslocation dynamics in a linear, three population migration model.
(32) Buchman, A.B, Ivy, T., Marshall, J.M., Akbari, O.S.*, Hay B.A.* Engineered reciprocal chromosome translocations drive high threshold, reversible population replacement in Drosophila. ACS Synthetic Biology. (2018) doi: PMID: 29608276. DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00451 . pdf

Supporting Information. pdf 

Press Release(s)
www.igtrcn.org Engineered Translocation-based Underdominance Gene Drive​. pdf
PictureTaken from Andrew M. Hammond & Roberto Galizi (2018): Gene drives to fight malaria: current state and future directions, Pathogens and Global Health
(31) Robyn Raban and Omar S. Akbari*. Gene drives may be the next step towards sustainable control of malaria. (2018) Pathogens and Global Health. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2017.1453587. pdf
​


​
PictureSynthetically Engineered D. Suzukii Medea

(30) Buchman, A.B., Marshall, J.M, Ostrovski, D., Yang, T., Akbari O.S.*, Synthetically Engineered Medea Gene Drive System in the Worldwide Crop Pest, D. suzukii. (2018) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1713139115. pdf


​Recommended in F1000Prime as being of special significance in its field. 

Supporting Information. pdf

Press Release(s)
MIT Technology Review - Farmers seek to deploy powerful gene drive. pdf
www.technlogyreview.de pdf  (in german)
UCSD News Center - Researchers Develop First Gene Drive Targeting Worldwide Crop Pest. pdf 
www.sciencemag.org - Can a genetic weapon combat one of the world’s major crop destroyers?. pdf
www.kjzz.org - Researchers Turn to Gene Drive to Fight Destructive, Invasive Fruit Fly. pdf ;  MP3
https://igtrcn.org/gene-drive-in-a-major-agricultural-pest/ - Gene Drive in a Major Agricultural Pest. pdf
Todays Science - Driving Out Pests with Genetic Engineering. pdf
PictureConfinement of Gene Drives
(29) Marshall, J.M*, Akbari, O.S.*, Can CRISPR-based gene drive be confined in the wild? A question for molecular and population biology. ACS Chemical Biology. 2018 Feb 7. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00923. pdf. 


bioRxiv 173914; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/173914. pdf

Press Releases(s)
https://igtrcn.org. Gene Drives and the Potential Benefits of CRISPR Technology. pdf
PictureOdour stimuli are learned and represented differentially in the mosquito brain
(28) Vinauger, C., Lahondère1, C., Wolff, G.H., Locke, L.T.,  Liaw, J.E., Parrish, J.Z., Akbari, O.S., Dickinson, M.H., Riffell, J.A., Dopamine modulation of host learning in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. (2018). Current Biology. doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.015. pdf

bioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/172726. pdf

Insect Olfaction: Once Swatted, Twice Shy. Current Biology Dispatch. pdf

​
​Press Releases(s)
www.sciencenews.org .Rough lessons can lessen the pull of human scent on a mosquito. pdf
www.nytimes.com. Swatting at Mosquitoes May Help You Avoid Bites, Even if You Miss. pdf
www.nationalgeographic.com. First-Ever Evidence That Mosquitoes Can Be Trained. pdf
www.washington.edu. If you swat mosquitoes, they may learn to avoid your scent. pdf
www.popsci.com. Mosquitoes learn not to mess with you when you swat them. pdf
www.nature.com. How to teach mosquitoes to avoid temptation. pdf
www.npr.com.  How To Teach Mosquitoes To Leave You Alone. pdf

2017

PictureAe. aegypti Double and Triple CRISPR mutants.
(27) Li M., Bui M., Yang T., White B.J., Akbari O.S.* Germline Cas9 Expression Yields Highly Efficient Genome Engineering in a Major Worldwide Disease Vector, Aedes aegypti. (2017). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) ; published ahead of print November 14, 2017, doi:10.1073/pnas.1711538114. pdf. 

Supporting Information. pdf 


PNAS Podcast.
Transcript PDF  
Listen Here  

Press Release(s)
IGTRCN - High Knock in/out Rates in Aedes aegypti Expressing Cas9 from a Transgene. pdf
UCR Today - Making Mosquitoes Self-Destruct - UCR researchers are generating genetically engineered insects to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. pdf
www.wired.com  - This gene-editing tech might be too dangerous to unleash. pdf
www.sciencenews.org - Current CRISPR gene drives are too strong for outdoor use, studies warn. pdf
www.geneengnews.com - Cas9 Expression in Mosquito Germlines Could Help Prevent Disease Spread. pdf
www.ibtimes.com - Yellow, Three-Eyed, Wingless Mosquitoes Created Using CRISPR Gene Editing Tool.pdf
www.news-medical.net - CRISPR shows potential to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes. pdf
www.entomologytoday.com  - Another Step Forward in Genetic Engineering of Mosquitoes.pdf
www.futurism.com - We Just Used Genetic Engineering to Create Completely Yellow, Three-Eyed, Wingless Mosquitoes
​PNAS - In this Issue. Cas9-expressing mosquito strains pave the way toward gene drives. pdf
PictureGene Drive
(26) Adelman, Z., Akbari, O.S., Bauer, J., Bier, E., Bloss, C., Carter, S., Callender, C., Costero-Saint Denis, A., Cowhey P., Dass, B., Delborne, J., Devereaux, M., Ellsworth, P., Gantz V., Gibson C., Hay B.A., Hoddle M., James A.A., James, S., Jorgenson, L., Kalichman M., Marshall J., McGinnis W., Newman J., Pearson A., Quemada H., Rudenko L., Shelton A., Vinetz J., Weisman, J., Wong B., Wozniak C., Rules of the road for insect gene drive research and testing. Nature Biotechnology. 2017 Aug 8;35(8):716-718. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3926. pdf

Press Release(s)
IGTRCN: Guidance Sought by Gene Drive Researchers. pdf


PictureDependence of population elimination probability on homing rate and resistant allele generation rate
(25) Marshall J.M.*, Buchman, A.B., Sanchez C. H.M., Akbari O.S.*, Overcoming evolved resistance to population-suppressing homing-based gene drives.  Scientific Reports. (2017) doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02744-7​. pdf 
​
 Supporting Information. pdf .  

​ bioRxiv. (2016) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/088427. pdf

Press Release(s)
Halting Mosquitoes on Continental Scale. pdf 
​TheScientist-Researchers Propose Solution to Gene Drive Technology Problem. pdf  
New gene-editing technique could drive out mosquito borne disease. pdf
UC Berkeley Press release. pdf 
www.geneengnews.com. pdf
​www.TheGuardian.ng.pdf

PictureFirst CRISPR mutants in three worldwide Malaria vectors
(24) Li M., Akbari O.S., White B.J., Highly efficient site-specific mutagenesis in Malaria mosquitoes using CRISPR. (2017). G3 (Bethesda). 2017 Dec 12. pii: g3.1134.2017. doi: 10.1534/g3.117.1134. pdf

Supporting Information. pdf

bioRxiv. pdf.

Press Release(s)
www.IGTRCN.com. A Protocol for the Highly Efficient Generation of Stable Mosquito Knockout Lines Using CRISPR/Cas9. pdf

PictureFlowchart for creation of CRISPR mutants in N. vitripennis
(23) Li, M., Bui, M., Akbari, O.S.*, Embryo microinjection and transplantation technique for genome manipulation of Nasonia vitripennis. J. Vis. Exp., e56990, doi:10.3791/56990 (2017). pdf

​Link to video here

Press Release(s)
JoVE Monthly Highlights December 2017 Video.  pdf
​
PictureSchematic of Nasonia vitripennis embryo collection and CRISPR/Cas9 microinjections.
(22) Li, M., Cook, L.U.,  Douglah, D., Chong, A., White, B.J., Ferree, P.M*, Akbari, O.S.*, Generation of heritable germline mutations in the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis using CRISPR/Cas9. Scientific Reports, Article number 901 (2017) doi:10.1038/s41598-017-00990-3. pdf

Supporting Information. pdf 

bioRxiv Version here. pdf

Press Release(s) - Over 30 News Articles on this paper here are a few:
IGTRCN "Nasonia Genome Editing." pdf
UCR Today "Researchers Create Red-eyed Mutant Wasps." pdf
Gizmodo "Scientists Are Making Horrible Red-Eye Mutant Wasps Because Why the Hell Not." pdf
UPI "Scientists engineer red-eyed mutant wasps." pdf
Yahoo Tech. pdf
​SCI News. pdf
www.iflscience.com. pdf
Technology Review pdf

​
​Radio/Video
BBC World Service Radio Interview - Listen Here
Youtube Video

PicturePSR specific small RNAs
(21) Li1, Y., Jing, X.A., Aldrich, J.C., Chen, J., Akbari, O.S., Ferree, P.M.* Unique sequence organization and small RNA expression of a ‘selfish’ B chromosome. (2017). Chromosoma.  Aug 5. doi: 10.1007/s00412-017-0641-x. pdf

2016

PictureMultiplexed in situ hybridization chain reaction (HCR)
(20) H.M.T. Choi, C.R. Calvert, N. Husain, D. Huss, J.C. Barsi, B.E. Deverman, R.C. Hunter, M. Kato, S.M. Lee, A.C.T. Abelin, A.Z. Rosenthal, O.S. Akbari, Y. Li, B.A. Hay, P.W. Sternberg, P.H. Patterson, E.H. Davidson, S.K. Mazmanian, D.A. Prober, M. van de Rijn, J.R. Leadbetter, D.K. Newman, C. Readhead, M.E. Bronner, B. Wold, R. Lansford, T. Sauka-Spengler, S.E. Fraser, N.A. Pierce. Mapping a multiplexed zoo of mRNA expression. Development, (2016) 143, 3632-3637 doi:10.1242/dev.140137 . pdf
Picture A Spiroplasma-infected male embryo exhibiting male-killing phenotypes. Blue labels are DNA, green labels are neurons. By P.M. Ferree.
(19) Cheng B, Kuppanda N, Aldrich JC, Akbari OS*, Ferree PM*. Male-Killing Spiroplasma Alters Behavior of the Dosage Compensation Complex during Drosophila melanogaster Embryogenesis.  Current Biology 2016 May 23;26(10):1339-45. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.050. Epub 2016 May 5. PMID: 27161498. pdf

     Primer Article
     Host–Symbiont Interactions: Male-Killers Exposed. pdf

​     Press Release
     Exploiting Male-Killing Bacteria to Control Insects. pdf
PictureThe NRY of An. gambiae mainly consists of massively amplified tandem arrays of a small number of satellites and TEs
(18) Hall AB, Papathanos PA, Sharma A, Cheng C, Akbari OS, Assour L, Bergman NH, Cagnetti A, Crisanti A, Dottorini T, Fiorentini E, Galizi R, Hnath J, Jiang X, Koren S, Nolan T, Radune D, Sharakhova MV, Steele A, Timoshevskiy VA, Windbichler N, Zhang S, Hahn MW, Phillippy AM, Emrich SJ, Sharakhov IV, Tu ZJ, Besansky NJ. Radical remodeling of the Y chromosome in a recent radiation of malaria mosquitoes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Apr 12;113(15):E2114-23. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1525164113. Epub 2016 Mar 29. PMID: 27035980. pdf
​

     Press Release
     Scientists Unlock Genetic Secret that Could Help Fight Malaria. pdf
PictureWe got the Cover!
(17) Champer J, Buchman A, Akbari OS*. Cheating evolution: engineering gene drives to manipulate the fate of wild populations. Nature Review Genetics. 2016 Mar;17(3):146-59. doi: 10.1038/nrg.2015.34. Epub 2016 Feb 15. Review. PMID: 26875679. pdf

     Primer Article
     Genetically-modified insects to combat vector-borne diseases — curtain rise or fall? pdf

     Press Release
     Engineered Gene Drives and the Future. pdf
     Insect Gene Drives – Reviewed and Compared. pdf


2015
PictureCover
(16) Marshall, J.M., Akbari, O.S., Chapter 9 - Gene Drive Strategies for Population Replacement. Pages 169-200 pdf  In book Genetic Control of Malaria and Dengue, 1st Edition, Zach Adelman. 2015. ISBN: 978-0-12-800246-9. pdf. 
PictureWe got the Cover! Nasonia Vitripennis - by Omar Akbari
(15) Ferree PM*, Fang C, Mastrodimos M, Hay BA, Amrhein H, Akbari OS*. Identification of Genes Uniquely Expressed in the Germ-Line Tissues of the Jewel Wasp Nasonia vitripennis. G3 (Bethesda). 2015 Oct 13;5(12):2647-53. doi: 10.1534/g3.115.021386.PMID: 26464360. Free PMC Article. pdf
     Supplemental Information

     Press Release
     Entomologist’s Jewel Wasp Gene Research Published. pdf

PictureThe spread of RNA-guided gene drive systems. Unlike the population dynamics of normal genomic alterations, gene drive systems can spread changes through wild populations by converting heterozygotes into homozygotes in each generation.
(14) Akbari OS, Bellen HJ, Bier E, Bullock SL, Burt A, Church GM, Cook KR, Duchek P, Edwards OR, Esvelt KM, Gantz VM, Golic KG, Gratz SJ, Harrison MM, Hayes KR, James AA, Kaufman TC, Knoblich J, Malik HS, Matthews KA, O'Connor-Giles KM, Parks AL, Perrimon N, Port F, Russell S, Ueda R, Wildonger J. Safeguarding gene drive experiments in the laboratory. Science. 2015 Aug 28;349(6251):927-9. doi: 10.1126/science.aac7932. Epub 2015 Jul 30. PMID: 26229113. pdf

     Press Release.    
     Gene drive research: Safeguarding the greater good. pdf​
PictureAntibody bound to the egg zona pellucida (indicated in blue), a binding site for sperm, results in infertility - By Bruce Hay
(13) Li J, Olvera AI, Akbari OS, Moradian A, Sweredoski MJ, Hess S, Hay BA. Vectored antibody gene delivery mediates long-term contraception. Current Biology. 2015 Oct 5;25(19):R820-2. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.08.002. PMID: 26439332. pdf
    Supplemental Information

     Press Release
     Long-term contraception in a single shot. pdf

2014

PictureFluorescent analysis of regulatory regions in Aedes aegypti.
(12) Akbari OS, Papathanos PA, Sandler JE, Kennedy K, Hay BA. Identification of germline transcriptional regulatory elements in Aedes aegypti. Scientific Reports. 2014 Feb 4;4:3954. doi: 10.1038/srep03954. PMID: 24492376. pdf
PictureCover
(11) Philippos A. Papathanos, Nikolai Windbichler and Omar S. Akbari. Sex Ratio Manipulation for Insect Population Control. Chapter 6. 2014.Page no: 83. pdf  Transgenic Insects: Techniques and Applications. Mark Q. Benedict. 2014. 


PictureModel for initial alteration of the paternal genome by PSR as suggested by testis transcriptome profiling
(10) ​Akbari OS*, Antoshechkin I, Hay BA, Ferree PM*. Transcriptome profiling of Nasonia vitripennis testis reveals novel transcripts expressed from the selfish B chromosome, paternal sex ratio. G3 (Bethesda). 2013 Sep 4;3(9):1597-605. dos: 10.1534/g3.113.007583. PMID: 23893741. pdf ,  Supplemental Data
​
PictureMedea genetics, molecular basis of synthetic elements, and cycles of population replacement
(9) Akbari OS, Chen CH, Marshall JM, Huang H, Antoshechkin I, Hay BA. Novel synthetic Medea selfish genetic elements drive population replacement in Drosophila; a theoretical exploration of Medea-dependent population suppression. ACS Synthetic Biology. 2014 Dec 19;3(12):915-28. doi: 10.1021/sb300079h. Epub 2012 Dec 28. PMID: 23654248. pdf

2013

PictureGlobal dynamics of gene expression in Aedes aegypti.
(8) Akbari OS, Antoshechkin I, Amrhein H, Williams B, Diloreto R, Sandler J, Hay BA. The developmental transcriptome of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, an invasive species and major arbovirus vector. G3 (Bethesda). 2013 Sep 4;3(9):1493-509. doi: 10.1534/g3.113.006742. PMID: 23833213. pdf
    
     Supplemental Information
     Online resource. www.vector.caltech.edu
     Raw Data can be found at NCBI, Accession: PRJNA209388, Bioproject: 209388
​
PictureSchematic of the UDMEL Drive System and Illustration of How UDMEL Rewires Developmental Gene Expression
(7) Akbari OS, Matzen KD, Marshall JM, Huang H, Ward CM, Hay BA. A synthetic gene drive system for local, reversible modification and suppression of insect populations. Current Biology. 2013 Apr 22;23(8):671-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.02.059. Epub 2013 Mar 28. PMID: 23541732. pdf
​       Supplemental Information
       Primer Article

2011

PictureP element insertion into the endogenous PTE results in homeotic transformation and loss of Abd-B expression.
(6) Ho MC, Schiller BJ, Akbari OS, Bae E, Drewell RA. Disruption of the abdominal-B promoter tethering element results in a loss of long-range enhancer-directed Hox gene expression in Drosophila. PLoS One. 2011 Jan 21;6(1):e16283. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016283. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2011;6(2). doi: 10.1371/annotation/613079ca-aeae-4d29-bc5c-aa7202e6993e.  PMID: 21283702. pdf

2010

PictureDrosophila Polytene Chromosomes by Omar Akbari
(5) Oliver D, Sheehan B, South H, Akbari OS, Pai CY. The chromosomal association/dissociation of the chromatin insulator protein Cp190 of Drosophila melanogaster is mediated by the BTB/POZ domain and two acidic regions. BMC Cell Biology. 2010 Dec 31;11:101. doi: 10.1186/1471-2121-11-101. PMID: 21194420. pdf

2009

PictureThe Entry/Gateway® cloning procedures for generating epitope-tagged fusion proteins using the P-element destination vectors
(4) Akbari OS, Oliver D, Eyer K, Pai CY. An Entry/Gateway cloning system for general expression of genes with molecular tags in Drosophila melanogaster. BMC Cell Biology. 2009 Jan 29;10:8. doi: 10.1186/1471-2121-10-8. PMID: 19178707. pdf

2008

PictureMolecular organization of cis-regulatory sequences at the Drosophila bithorax complex
(3) Akbari OS, Bae E, Johnsen H, Villaluz A, Wong D, Drewell RA. A novel promoter-tethering element regulates enhancer-driven gene expression at the bithorax complex in the Drosophila embryo. Development. 2008 Jan;135(1):123-31. Epub 2007 Nov 28. PMID: 18045839. pdf

2007

PicturePromoter tethering element regulates long-range promoter-enhancer interactions.
(2) Akbari OS, Schiller BJ, Goetz SE, Ho MC, Bae E, Drewell RA. The abdominal-B promoter tethering element mediates promoter-enhancer specificity at the Drosophila bithorax complex. Fly (Austin). 2007 Nov-Dec;1(6):337-9. PMID: 18504507. pdf

2006

PictureAn extensive array of cis-regulatory elements direct embryonic expression of the BX-C homeotic genes.
(1) Akbari OS, Bousum A, Bae E, Drewell RA. Unraveling cis-regulatory mechanisms at the abdominal-A and Abdominal-B genes in the Drosophila bithorax complex. Developmental Biology. 2006 May 15;293(2):294-304. Epub 2006 Mar 20. Review. pdf
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