The Pirbright Institute Achieves World’s First Gene-Edited Biting Midges

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have achieved the world's first successful gene editing of Culicoides biting midges using CRISPR technology. The breakthrough provides a new tool for studying how these tiny insects spread livestock diseases such as bluetongue virus (BTV), Schmallenberg virus (SBV), and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV).

Biting midges measure only 1-4 millimeters long, making them difficult to study using conventional laboratory methods. The Pirbright Institute researchers used the DIPA-CRISPR method, which delivers CRISPR-Cas9 components through an injection into adult female insects. The technique successfully introduced mutations in a gene responsible for eye color, demonstrating that genome editing is feasible in Culicoides.

The researchers said the study establishes a practical gene editing method for biting midges and opens new possibilities to explore the genes involved in disease transmission. They believe the approach will accelerate research on vector biology and could eventually contribute to new strategies for controlling midge-borne diseases that affect livestock worldwide.

For more information, read the article from The Pirbright Institute.