UC San Diego

Aedes aegypti is a major vector of arboviral diseases, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, posing a significant global public health challenge. Its geographic distribution expands due to climate change and urbanization; innovative strategies are needed to reduce mosquito populations and disease transmission. This thesis investigates two complementary strategies that advance both the understanding of mosquito sensory biology and the development of genetic vector control technologies.The first study focused on the odorant receptor Or15, implicated in detecting plant-derived volatile compounds associated with nectar sources. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome and non-homologous end joining mediated mutagenesis an Or15 knockout line was generated. Successful gene disruption was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction enzyme digestion, Nanopore sequencing, and Sanger sequencing. This line provides a valuable resource for investigating the role of Or15 in mosquito olfactory behavior and nectar-seeking.The second study integrated the Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter (SEPARATOR) into the precision-guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT) platform to create the Next Generation Sterile Insect Technique (ngSIT). The incorporation of SEPARATOR enables automated fluorescent sex sorting, improving scalability of sterile male production for population suppression. The ngSIT platform maintained robust sex-specific fluorescence while preserving complete female flightlessness, male sterility, and overall male fitness, supporting its potential as a scalable genetic mosquito control strategy.Together, these studies advance understanding of mosquito sensory biology and genetic control technologies, providing tools to investigate mosquito behavior and supporting the development of scalable strategies of Ae. aegypti population suppression.