Omar S. Akbari

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

This study investigates how olfactory and visual cues are integrated in mosquitoes, showing CO2 modulates visual responses and revealing asymmetrical, time-dependent neural coupling between these senses.

The paper uses live calcium imaging in Ae. aegypti larvae to study sensorimotor responses and foraging strategies, revealing the role of chemosensory systems.

This study generates Ae. aegypti mosquitoes engineered with synthetic miRNAs to reduce ZIKV infection, dissemination, and transmission.

This paper describes a CRISPR-based method called precision guided SIT (pgSIT) that produces 100% sterile male insects, enhancing the scalability and effectiveness of insect population control.

The paper presents an improved Aedes aegypti genome assembly, AaegL5, which enhances biological understanding and vector control efforts by resolving key genomic features and identifying new targets for intervention.

This paper describes a CRISPR/Cas9-based method for site-specific transgenesis on the D. melanogaster Y-chromosome and demonstrates its application in detecting chromosomal nondisjunction.

The paper develops a synthetic Medea gene drive in D. suzukii, showing high inheritance bias but noting resistance and fitness costs that limit its spread.

This study shows that aversive olfactory learning influences mosquito host preference, with dopamine playing a key role in modulating olfactory responses.

The paper reviews CRISPR-based gene drive systems to assess their ability to spread in populations and be recalled if needed.

This study demonstrates efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in malaria mosquitoes to enable reverse genetic analysis.

This paper develops a CRISPR/Cas9 protocol to generate heritable germline mutations in the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis, enabling genetic studies of various biological processes.