CRISPR/Cas9-based split homing gene drive targeting doublesex for population suppression of the global fruit pest Drosophila suzukii

Genetic-based methods offer environmentally friendly species-specific approaches for control of insect pests. One method, CRISPR homing gene drive that target genes essential for development, could provide very efficient and cost-effective control. While significant progress has been made in developing homing gene drives for mosquito disease vectors, little progress has been made with agricultural insect pests. Here, we report the development and evaluation of split homing drives that target the ( ) gene in , an invasive pest of soft-skinned fruits. The drive component, consisting of single guide RNA and DsRed genes, was introduced into the female-specific exon of , which is essential for function in females but not males. However, in most strains, hemizygous females were sterile and produced the male transcript. With a modified homing drive that included an optimal splice acceptor site, hemizygous females from each of the four independent lines were fertile. High transmission rates of the DsRed gene (94 to 99%) were observed with a line that expressed Cas9 with two nuclear localization sequences from the promoter. Mutant alleles of with small in-frame deletions near the Cas9 cut site were not functional and thus would not provide resistance to drive. Finally, mathematical modeling showed that the strains could be used for suppression of lab cage populations of with repeated releases at relatively low release ratios (1:4). Our results indicate that the split CRISPR homing gene drive strains could potentially provide an effective means for control of populations.