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Table 3 Genetic manipulation of bacteria with potential use for paratransgenic control of Trypanosoma and Leishmania spp.

From: Overview of paratransgenesis as a strategy to control pathogen transmission by insect vectors

Transformed microbes used + effector genes

Insect vectors

Experimental results with transformed microbes

Key references

R. rhodnii + pRr1.1 shuttle plasmid with antibiotic resistance

R. prolixus

First proof of concept in insect vectors. Successful transformation and maintenance of symbiotic bacteria in vector

[66, 67, 70]

R. rhodnii + RrThioCec-(transformed R. rhodnii + cecropin A)

R. prolixus

Elimination or reduction of T. cruzi in vivo

[69, 71]

R. rhodnii + rDB3 antibody fragment

R. prolixus

Secretion of antibody fragments into gut lumen in vivo

[72]

Corynebacterium sp. + rDB3

Triatoma infestans

Secretion of antibody fragments into gut lumen in vivo

[82, 255]

R. rhodnii + recombinant Arthrobacter luteus β-1,3-glucanase

Potential additional effector in R. prolixus in vivo

Lysates of β-1,3-glucanase transformed R. rhodnii kill T. cruzi in vitro

[256]

R. rhodnii + rDB3 antibody fragment

R. prolixus

Semi-field simulation of transgenic bacteria spread in Cruzigard

[73]

E. coli + dsRHBP + dsCAT

R. prolixus

Proof of concept with transgenic symbiont -mediating RNAi in adults and nymphs

[111]

R. rhodnii + dsNP1

R. rhodnii + dsNP2

R. rhodnii + dsVg

R. prolixus

Proof of concept with transgenic symbiont -mediating RNAi in aposymbiotic nymphs

[74, 113, 260]

Sodalis glossinidius-fp

Glossina morsitans morsitans

Transfection study to progeny

[287, 288]

S. glossinidius-gfp

G. m. morsitans

Glossina fuscipes fuscipes

Reciprocal transinfection occurs with no fitness costs

[270]

S. glossinidius + Nb_An46

G. m. morsitans

The nanobody was expressed in vivo by the transformed Sodalis

[289, 290]

S. glossinidius-gfp

G. m. morsitans

Much impoved bacterial colonisation of progeny

[291]

S. glossinidius

G. m. morsitans

Paratransgenesis combination advocated with sterile insect technique

[294]

Bacillus subtilis-gfp

Phlebotomus argentipes

Laboratory transfection study in larvae and transstadial transmission

[330, 331]

Enterobacter cloacae-DR

Phlebotomus papatasi

Laboratory transfection study with limited tranasstadial transmission

[325]

  1. gfp green fluorescent protein, DR Enterobacter cloacae  expressing red fluorescent protein plus defensin (EC-DR), dsRHBP + dsCA  dsRNA forRhodnius heme-binding protein (RHBP) and catalase (CAT), dsNP1 dsRNA for Nitrophorin-1, dsNP2 dsRNA for Nitrophorin-2, dsVg  dsRNA for Vitellogenin, Nb_An46  a potent trypanolytic nanobody, i.e. Nb_An46. (Nanobody®)