Award details

13TSB_SynBio. Novel genetic tools for application in insect pest control

Reference	BB/L004445/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Helen White-Cooper
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Cardiff University
Department	School of Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	132,773
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	02/05/2013
End date	01/11/2014
Duration	18 months

Abstract

Oxitec is the world leader in genetics-based insect control. Oxitec's RIDL technology relies on release of mass-reared genetically sterile male insects, which mate with their wild pest counterparts, thereby causing a drop in population. This project aims to develop orthogonal conditional expression systems that can manipulate fertility, time of death, or gender of insects for RIDL, to permit advances in RIDL technology, thereby cementing Oxitec's leadership in the field. The only current system suitable for RIDL is the 'Tet-off' system, which enables gene expression to be suppressed by a dietary tetracycline. Other systems are not sufficiently tightly regulated, or are not suitable due to high cost or toxicity. We will investigate the systematic construction of switchable genetic expression modules from standardised parts usable across a range of insect species. Availability of multiple expression systems will permit development of strains with multiple repressible phenotypes of value for pest control.

Summary

See case for support submitted by project partner (Oxitec Ltd)

Impact Summary

See case for support submitted by project partner (Oxitec Ltd)

Committee	Research Committee A (Animal disease, health and welfare)
Research Topics	Synthetic Biology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Innovate UK (TSB) [2011-2015]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search