Omar S. Akbari

Split suppression gene drives reveal a design tradeoff between inheritance and reproductive load in Aedes aegypti

This study develops split suppression gene drives in Aedes aegypti, showing that inheritance efficiency and reproductive fitness costs must be balanced for effective population suppression.

The sex determination gene doublesex is essential for female-specific flight and hearing properties in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

This study shows that the doublesex gene is essential for female-specific flight and hearing traits in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by regulating gene expression in thoraces and ears.

Y-linked editors for invasive rodent control

This paper evaluates Y-linked genome editors (YLEs) for rodent control, finding they are efficient for population elimination with modest release sizes and minimal spillover.

Synthetic type III-E CRISPR-Cas effectors for programmable RNA-targeting

This paper identifies a novel type III-E-like CRISPR-Cas effector composed of Cas7-like and Cas1-like domains, demonstrating its RNA-targeting capability and modularity for engineering synthetic Cas effectors.

YOLito: A generalizable model for automated mosquito detection

YOLito automates mosquito detection and behavioral analysis, achieving high accuracy across species and assays.

A single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of the adult Aedes aegypti mosquito

The paper presents a single-nucleus RNA sequencing atlas of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, identifying novel cell types and sexual dimorphism in gene expression across tissues.

Engineering gene drive docking sites in a haplolethal locus in Anopheles gambiae

The paper develops and characterizes gene drive docking lines in Anopheles gambiae using RMCE and HACK techniques, identifies challenges for robust gene drive development.

CRISPR RNA binding drives structural ordering that primes Cas7-11 for target cleavage

This study investigates how crRNA binding induces structural changes in Cas7-11, revealing its conformational dynamics and how these changes regulate its function.

Transcriptome analysis of the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) reveals sex-specific expression patterns

This study presents the first transcriptome analysis of the winter tick, identifying sex-specific gene expression and a novel doublesex-like splicing mechanism in chelicerates.

Fluorescent-based sex-separation technique in major invasive crop pest, Drosophila suzukii

The paper develops a fluorescence-based sex-separation technique for Drosophila suzukii using a transgenic reporter system called SEPARATOR.

A self-limiting Sterile Insect Technique alternative for Ceratitis capitata

The paper develops a split-CRISPR/Cas9 system for sex conversion in Mediterranean fruit flies to improve population control strategies.

Establishing a Male-Positive Genetic Sexing Strain in the Asian Malaria Vector Anopheles stephensi

This paper applies the SEPARATOR system to Anopheles stephensi to enable male-specific genetic sexing for biocontrol, confirming evolutionary conservation of sex-specific splicing.

A fluorescent sex-sorting technique for insects with the demonstration in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper develops a sex-sorting technique for insects using fluorescent proteins and differential splicing in Drosophila melanogaster.

Cost-effectiveness of Precision Guided SIT for Control of Anopheles gambiae in the Upper River Region, The Gambia.

This paper evaluates the cost-effectiveness of precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) for malaria control in The Gambia, finding it to be a cost-effective and economically beneficial approach.

Polycomb response elements reduce leaky expression of Cas9 under temperature-inducible Hsp70Bb promoter in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper shows Polycomb response elements reduce leaky Cas9 expression under a heat-inducible promoter in Drosophila, but further regulation is needed for precise control.

A CRISPR endonuclease gene drive reveals two distinct mechanisms of inheritance bias

This study investigates inheritance bias mechanisms in a CRISPR gene drive in Aedes aegypti, finding two distinct mechanisms: homing in double heterozygous males and meiotic drive.

Parasitic nematode fatty acid- and retinol-binding proteins compromise host immunity by interfering with host lipid signaling pathways

This study shows parasitic nematode fatty acid- and retinol-binding proteins (FARs) suppress host immunity by modulating lipid signaling pathways and reducing antimicrobial peptide production in flies.

Genetically Encoded CRISPR components Yield Efficient Gene Editing in the Invasive Pest, Drosophila suzukii

The paper develops transgenic Drosophila suzukii strains expressing Cas9 with different promoters and terminators to enable efficient gene editing for studying gene function and control strategies.

Spatial control of gene expression in flies using bacterially derived binary transactivation systems.

The paper characterizes bacterially-derived binary transactivation systems in Drosophila melanogaster for spatial gene expression control.

Inherently confinable split-drive systems in Drosophila

This study tests split gene-drive systems in Drosophila that target essential genes, showing variable copy efficiencies and sex-biased transmission, with outcomes that can be inherently confined.

Eliminating Mosquitoes with Precision Guided Sterile Males

This paper develops a CRISPR-based sterile insect technique to eliminate Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in controlled environments.

An integrated mosquito small RNA genomics resource reveals dynamic evolution and host responses to viruses and transposons.

The paper develops an integrated resource to analyze small RNA profiles in mosquitoes, revealing evolutionary dynamics and host responses to viruses and transposons.

Synergistic Coding of Carbon Dioxide and a Human Sweat Odorant in the Mosquito Brain

The paper identifies how the mosquito brain detects CO2 and a human sweat odorant through synergistic neural coding.

Improved reference genome of the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus

The paper presents an improved genome assembly of Aedes albopictus, revealing new biological features and enabling population and developmental studies.

A home and rescue gene drive efficiently spreads and persists in populations

This paper introduces a gene drive called HomeR that efficiently spreads and persists in Drosophila populations by limiting resistance allele accumulation.

Germline mutagenesis of Nasonia vitripennis through ovarian delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein

The paper develops a method to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein into Nasonia vitripennis ovaries for germline gene editing using ReMOT or BAPC, achieving efficient somatic and germline editing.

A novel drug-inducible sex-separation technique for insects

This paper introduces a drug-inducible system for sex separation in insects, demonstrating 100% efficiency in Drosophila melanogaster with low fitness costs.

The Developmental Transcriptome of Ae. albopictus, a Major Worldwide Human Disease Vector

This study characterizes the developmental transcriptome of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes using RNAseq, identifying gene expression patterns and comparing them to Aedes aegypti.

Assessment of a split homing based gene drive for efficient knockout of multiple genes

This study evaluates a split homing gene drive in Drosophila to simultaneously target two genes, showing high disruption efficiency but also resistance allele accumulation.

The olfactory basis of orchid pollination by mosquitoes

This paper shows that mosquitoes pollinate an orchid through scent-based attraction and neural processing in their antennal lobe, revealing the ecological and neural mechanisms behind nectar-feeding behavior.