The present invention covers means and methods to increase the efficiency of recombinant protein expression, in particular to optimize the industrial production of recombinant proteins in insect pupae, particularly in Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) pupae. Moreover, the present invention is also directed to the pupae itself comprising baculovirus, pupae infected, transformed, transduced or transfected with baculovirases or bacmids, as well as devices suitable for performing the methods of the present invention.

Provided is a gene editing system comprising (i) a polynucleotide encoding an endonuclease under the control of an inducible expressing regulatory sequence; (ii) a guide polynucleotide targeting a female-essential genomic sequence that is required for female-specific viability, and (iii) a guide polynucleotide targeting a male sterility genomic sequence that is required for male-specific fertility. Additionally provided are insect eggs, an insects, and an insect populations, each of which is genetically modified by the gene editing system. Further provided are methods and compositions relating to producing such systems, insect eggs, insects, insect populations and uses thereof in reducing a wild-type insect population.

Described herein are methods and compositions for autocatalytic genome editing and neutralizing autocatalytic genome editing. The autocatalytic genome editing may be based on genomic integration of a construct containing multiple elements or on a trans-complementation approach, in which genetic elements can be propagated separately. The disclosure provides a method for autocatalytic genome editing based on the CRISPR/CAS9 system, and methods of use thereof, in animals, humans, and plants for eliminating pathogens, targeting suppression of crop pests, strategies to combat virus (e.g., HIV) and other diseases (e.g., cancer) caused by retrovirus, as well as to generate homozygous mutations that are transmitted to nearly all offspring.

The present invention relates to a degenerative disease model Drosophila. More particularly, a technique is disclosed for alleviating the phenotypes of a degenerative disorder symptom of Drosophila. Using this technique, illumination with low dose radiation on a degenerative disease model Drosophia alleviates symptoms of the degenerative disease.

As disclosed herein, the invention relates to a method of screening for a therapeutic for chronic myeloid leukemia. In an aspect, the invention relates to transgenic Drosophila. In an aspect, the invention relates to a Drosophila system for screening compounds treating chronic myeloid leukemia.

There is provided a transgenic insect comprising a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a fungal laccase wherein the heterologous nucleic acid is integrated in the insect genome, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid is operably linked to a promoter, and expression of the laccase allows for production of an active fungal laccase in the insect. The insect or laccase preparations comprising meal or powder made from the insect are used to reduce or remove phenolic contaminants (such as BPA) or aromatic components (such as indigo dyes) from waste.

The invention provides a splice control module for sex-specific splicing and expression of a gene of interest. In certain embodiments, a dsx-based splice control module is used to express a lethal gene in an insect that is spliced in a sex-specific manner to impart lethality to female insects but not male insects.

Provided is a breeding apparatus that can facilitate disposition and collection of a spawning bed. A breeding apparatus includes a breeding area forming member that forms breeding areas for organisms and is open at least at the bottoms of the breeding areas, and a spawning bed sheet that forms the bottom surfaces of the breeding areas, has a belt shape, and is provided so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the belt shape relative to the breeding area forming member.

The invention provides a system for rearing insects, including at least one room for storing a plurality of crates for storing insects to be reared, a dosing station for filling insects and/or feed to the crates, an automated central harvesting unit including a harvesting station for unloading the insects from the crates for subsequent processing of the insects and/or a plurality of further processing stations, a crate collection system for transferring the crates between the at least one room and the central harvesting unit comprising a plurality of crate collection devices for collecting crates in or from the at least one room, and a connection for connecting the at least one room and the central harvesting unit. The connection may be any means for transferring the crates between the at least one room and the central harvesting unit, including a path for allowing an automated guided vehicle to move from the at least one room to the central harvesting unit, a conveyer line connecting the at least one room to the central harvesting unit, a robot arm etc. The crates are used in a continuous loop in the system. The invention further provides a system for rearing insects, including at least one room, a compartment or compartments of a room and/or a lane for storing a plurality of crates for storing the insects to be reared, at least one swap area, leaving space for crates to be temporarily stored, and a collection system for transporting the crates between rooms, compartments, and/or lanes and the swap area or vice versa. Moreover, the invention provides a method for operating an insect rearing system, in particular the systems according to the invention. That is, the system may include at least one room for storing a plurality of crates for rearing the insects, a dosing station for filling insects and/or feed to the crates, a central crate harvesting unit including a harvesting station for unloading the insects from the crates for subsequent processing of the insects and/or E including a plurality of processing stations, and a plurality of crate collection devices for collecting crates in or from the at least one room. The crates may be transferred between the at least one room and the central harvesting unit via a connection.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified arthropods, genetically modified bacteria, and methods for controlling and/or reducing arthropod populations.