Escalating vector disease burdens pose significant global health risks, as such innovative
tools for targeting mosquitoes are critical. CRISPR-Cas technologies have played a crucial
role in developing powerful tools for genome manipulation in various eukaryotic organisms.
Although considerable efforts have focused on utilizing class II type II CRISPR-Cas9
systems for DNA targeting, these modalities are unable to target RNA molecules, limiting
their utility against RNA viruses. Recently, the Cas13 family has emerged as an efficient tool …

… Akin to a Trojan Horse resting in wait to eliminate its enemy, REAPER remains inactive in
the absence of its target viral RNA and becomes activated upon viral infection. We
demonstrate that REAPER is programmed to directly target deadly arboviruses like CHIKV,
resulting in reduced viral transmission and even mortality of infected mosquitoes. … In this
study, we addressed the need for engineering programmable and effective methods for
controlling viral transmission via mosquito vectors by generating a Cas13 based antiviral …