Targeted Mutagenesis in the Malaria Mosquito Using TALE Nucleases

<div><p><i>Anopheles gambiae</i>, the main mosquito vector of human malaria, is a challenging organism to manipulate genetically. As a consequence, reverse genetics studies in this disease vector have been largely limited to RNA interference experiments. Here, we report the targeted disruption of the immunity gene <i>TEP1</i> using transgenic expression of Transcription-Activator Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), and the isolation of several <i>TEP1</i> mutant <i>A. gambiae</i> lines. These mutations inhibited protein production and rendered <i>TEP1</i> mutants hypersusceptible to <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>. The TALEN technology opens up new avenues for genetic analysis in this disease vector and may offer novel biotechnology-based approaches for malaria control.</p>