Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Hoermann:2020:10.1101/2020.05.09.086157,
author = {Hoermann, A and Tapanelli, S and Capriotti, P and Masters, EKG and Habtewold, T and Christophides, GK and Windbichler, N},
doi = {10.1101/2020.05.09.086157},
title = {Converting endogenous genes of the malaria mosquito into simple non-autonomous gene drives for population replacement},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.09.086157},
year = {2020}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Gene drives for mosquito population replacement are promising tools for malaria control. However, there is currently no clear pathway for safely testing such tools in endemic countries. The lack of well-characterized promoters for infection-relevant tissues and regulatory hurdles are further obstacles for their design and use. Here we explore how minimal genetic modifications of endogenous mosquito genes can convert them directly into non-autonomous gene drives without disrupting their expression. We co-opted the native regulatory sequences of three midgut-specific loci of the malaria vector <jats:italic>Anopheles gambiae</jats:italic> to host a prototypical antimalarial molecule and guide-RNAs encoded within artificial introns, that support efficient gene drive. We assess the propensity of these modifications to interfere with the development of <jats:italic>Plasmodium falciparum</jats:italic> and their effect on fitness. Because of their inherent simplicity and passive mode of drive such traits could form part of an accepted testing pathway of gene drives for malaria eradication.</jats:p>
AU  - Hoermann,A
AU  - Tapanelli,S
AU  - Capriotti,P
AU  - Masters,EKG
AU  - Habtewold,T
AU  - Christophides,GK
AU  - Windbichler,N
DO  - 10.1101/2020.05.09.086157
PY  - 2020///
TI  - Converting endogenous genes of the malaria mosquito into simple non-autonomous gene drives for population replacement
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.09.086157
ER  -
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