Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40221789›Full record

ArticleBMC biology2025

A self-limiting sterile insect technique alternative for Ceratitis capitata.

Serafima Davydova, Junru Liu, Yiran Liu, Kavya Prince, Jonathan Mann, Nikolay P Kandul, W Evan Braswell, Jackson Champer, Omar S Akbari, Angela Meccariello

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Serafima DavydovaDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2 AZ, UK.
Junru LiuSchool of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
Yiran LiuCenter for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
Kavya PrinceDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2 AZ, UK.
Jonathan MannDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2 AZ, UK.
Nikolay P KandulSchool of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
W Evan BraswellUSDA APHIS PPQ Science & Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Road, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA.
Jackson ChamperCenter for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
Omar S AkbariSchool of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
Angela MeccarielloDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2 AZ, UK. a.meccariello@imperial.ac.uk.

Funding

Horizon 2020 101059523U.S. Department of Agriculture 23-8130-1007-IAU.S. Department of Agriculture AP23PPQS&T00C108
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGenetic biocontrol systems have broad applications in population control of insects implicated in both disease spread and food security. Ceratitis capitata (the Mediterranean fruit fly), a major agricultural pest with a global distribution, is one of the appealing targets for such genetic control.

resultsIn this study, we establish and characterise a novel split-CRISPR/Cas9 system we term Sex Conversion Induced by CRISPR (SCIC) in C. capitata. Using the white eye gene for toolkit selection we achieved up to 100% CRISPR/Cas9 efficiency, displaying the feasibility of C. capitata split-CRISPR/Cas9 systems using constitutive promoters. We then induce sex conversion by targeting the transformer gene in a SCIC approach aimed for SIT-mediated releases upon radiation-based sterilisation. Knock-out of transformer induced partial to full female-to-male sex conversion, with the remaining individuals all being intersex and sterile. SCIC population modelling shows a strong potential to outcompete traditional SIT, allowing for faster population elimination with fewer released sterile males.

conclusionOverall, we construct an appropriate CRISPR/Cas9 toolkit for the use in C capitata. Our results build the foundation for further genetic pest control methods in the species and related tephritid agricultural pests.

Indexed as

Ceratitis capitataCRISPR-Cas SystemsPest Control, BiologicalAnimalsFemaleMaleAgricultural pestsCRISPR/Cas9MedflySex conversionSITTephritidTransformer

Identifiers

PMID40221789
PMCPMC11993972

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.