Journal article

Authors list: Yan, Ying; Ahmed, Hassan M. M.; Wimmer, Ernst A.; Schetelig, Marc F.

Publication year: 2025

Pages: 826-837

Journal: Trends in Biotechnology

Volume number: 43

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0167-7799

eISSN: 1879-3096

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.005

Publisher: Cell Press

Abstract: 
Spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, or SWD), an insect pest of soft-skinned fruits native to East Asia, has rapidly spread worldwide in the past 15 years. Genetic controls such as sterile insect technique (SIT) have been considered for the environmentally friendly and cost-effective management of this pest. In this review, we provide the latest developments for the genetic control strategies of SWD, including sperm-marking strains, CRISPR-based sex-ratio distortion, neoclassical genetic sexing strains, transgenic sexing strains, a sex-sorting incompatible male system, precision-guided SIT, and gene drives based on synthetic Maternal effect dominant embryonic arrest (Medea) or homing CRISPR systems. These strategies could either enhance the efficacy of traditional SIT or serve as standalone methods for the sustainable control of SWD.

Harvard Citation style: Yan, Y., Ahmed, H., Wimmer, E. and Schetelig, M. (2025) Biotechnology-enhanced genetic controls of the global pest Drosophila suzuki, Trends in Biotechnology, 43(4), pp. 826-837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.005

APA Citation style: Yan, Y., Ahmed, H., Wimmer, E., & Schetelig, M. (2025). Biotechnology-enhanced genetic controls of the global pest Drosophila suzuki. Trends in Biotechnology. 43(4), 826-837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.09.005