O. Akbari

Sensory neurons regulate stimulus-dependent humoral immunity

This study shows sensory neurons regulate humoral immunity by releasing neuropeptides that influence B-cell responses and antibody production in bacterial infection and allergic asthma.

Engineered Skin Microbiome Reduces Mosquito Attraction to Mice

This study reduces mosquito attraction to mice by engineering their skin microbiome to lower lactic acid production, offering longer protection than DEET.

Experimental Test of Evolutionary Safety of a CRISPR-Cas9 Gene-Drive Element

The paper tests the evolutionary safety of CRISPR-Cas9 gene drives in yeast by measuring their impact on mutation rates and loss-of-heterozygosity, finding minimal effects.

A conserved odorant receptor underpins borneol-mediated repellency in culicine mosquitoes

This study identifies a conserved odorant receptor involved in borneol-mediated repellency in culicine mosquitoes by mapping the neural pathway activated by borneol.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri

This paper develops CRISPR/Cas9 methods for genetic modification of Diaphorina citri to combat Huanglongbing disease spread.

Mechanical transmission of Dengue Virus by Aedes aegypti may influence disease transmission dynamics during outbreaks

This study shows that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can mechanically transmit Dengue Virus to mice immediately after biting infected mice, impacting outbreak dynamics and suggesting implications for vector control.

Engineered Antiviral Sensor Targets Infected Mosquitoes

The paper develops REAPER, a Cas13-based antiviral sensor that kills infected mosquitoes upon activation by arbovirus infection.

CRISPR Mediated Transactivation in the Human Disease Vector Aedes aegypti

This paper develops a CRISPRa system in Aedes aegypti to transactivate endogenous genes, demonstrating its ability to overexpress developmental genes and suppress dengue virus.

A confinable female-lethal population suppression system in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae

This paper develops a genetic population suppression system in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes using CRISPR to eliminate female offspring, leading to sustained population reduction.

Creation of a single cell RNA seq meta-atlas to define human liver immune homeostasis

This paper creates a meta-atlas of human liver immune cells using scRNA-seq data to define immune homeostasis features and identify pathway differences across studies.

Temperature-Inducible Precision Guided Sterile Insect Technique

This paper introduces a temperature-inducible pgSIT method in Drosophila that eliminates the need for genetic crosses and sex sorting to produce sterile males for population control.

Programmable RNA Targeting using CasRx in Flies

This study evaluates the use of CasRx, a Cas ribonuclease, for programmable RNA targeting in Drosophila melanogaster, showing transcript targeting, toxicity, and off-target effects.

Broad Dengue Neutralization in Mosquitoes Expressing an Engineered Antibody

This paper develops genetically engineered Aedes aegypti mosquitoes expressing an engineered antibody that broadly neutralizes all four DENV serotypes, significantly reducing viral transmission.

Methods for the generation of heritable germline mutations in the disease vector Culex quinquefasciatus using CRISPR/Cas9.

The paper develops improved CRISPR/Cas9 methods for genome editing in Culex quinquefasciatus, achieving higher embryo survival and germline mutagenesis rates.

Engineered reciprocal chromosome translocations drive high threshold, reversible population replacement in Drosophila

Germline Cas9 Expression Yields Highly Efficient Genome Engineering in a Major Worldwide Disease Vector, Aedes aegypti

This paper develops transgenic Cas9 lines in Aedes aegypti for efficient genome editing, enabling high-throughput gene disruption and potential gene drive applications.