83 - Molecular editing in the sexual differentiation of Aedes aegypti

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM PDT

Location: B113

Presenter(s)

Gerardo Trujillo-Rodriguez (they/them/theirs)

Research- Professor
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Co-Author(s)

Iram Pablo P. Rodríguez-Sánchez, n/a (he/him/his)

Research- Professor
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Maria de Lourdes Ramirez-Ahuja, n/a

Research- Professor
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Margarita Martinez-Fierro, n/a

Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
IG

Idalia Garza-veloz, n/a

Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico

Abstract:

Sexual dilution in Aedes aegypti seeks to reduce the proportion of fertile females through genetic editing. Using CRISPR/Cas9, key genes involved in sexual development such as doublesex (dsx), transformer (tra), and sex-lethal (sxl) are flanked, altering their expression. By disrupting these genes, male or intersex phenotypes are induced in genetically female individuals, limiting reproduction. This strategy allows modified mosquitoes to be released to compete with wild populations, reducing their vector capacity.