| The Southern House Mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, is a pest of worldwide importance, causing death and disability to millions by transmitting pathogenic metazoans and viruses. The Hermes transposable element-based transformation system has provided a molecular tool kit that is broadly applicable to insects, including mosquitoes. The following dissertation presents the first transgenic research applied to a mosquito in the genus Culex, resulting in two stable transgenic strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Additional research was performed as a demonstration of a step towards producing a strain of Cx. quinquefasciatus genetically manipulated to be refractory to lymphatic filariasis-causing parasites. A third transgenic strain was produced in the course of this effort.; To demonstrate further utility for transgenic strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus and the Hermes system, research was performed aimed at showing remobilization of the transgene in these insects. Remobilization is a critical step in developing and demonstrating robust applications for mosquito transformation, such as enhancer trapping. These initial tests have demonstrated excision, a step in the remobilization process, in Cx. quinquefasciatus, and should pave the way for refinements of these types of applications in this organism. |
