Michael J. Smanski

Improving Perennial Ryegrass Transformation Protocols with Developmental Regulators

This study improves perennial ryegrass transformation by using developmental regulator genes, enabling efficient plant regeneration across genotypes.

Heterologous expression of microbial nitroreductases for TNT degradation in transgenic animals

The paper engineers Drosophila melanogaster to express microbial nitroreductases for TNT degradation screening, finding cofactor-dependent activity in fly lysates.

The strength of selection for costly toxin production increases with growth rate.

The paper models how growth rate affects selection for costly toxin production in microbes, finding stronger selection at higher growth rates in spatially-structured environments.

High-throughput investigation of genetic design constraints in domesticated Influenza A Virus for transient gene delivery

The paper investigates genetic design constraints in domesticated Influenza A Virus for transient gene delivery, identifying permissible mutations and RNA level motif depletion.

Engineering multiple species-like genetic incompatibilities in insects

This paper demonstrates a method to create engineered genetic incompatibilities in Drosophila melanogaster that can be tuned to cause hybrid lethality and are compatible with other engineered strains.

Batch cultivation of non-transgenic males suitable for SIT programs

The paper describes a method to produce non-genetically engineered male insects for SIT programs through batch cultivation, achieving high sex-selection rates without genetic modification.

Genetic incompatibility combined with female-lethality is effective and robust in simulations of Aedes aegypti population control

This study simulates a genetic control strategy for Aedes aegypti that combines incompatibility and female-lethality to suppress populations more effectively than gene drives.

Engineering species-like barriers to sexual reproduction

The paper engineers a genetic barrier to sexual reproduction by using programmable transcription factors to induce lethal gene expression in hybrid offspring.