Models to investigate some issues regarding the feasibility of driving refractoriness genes into mosquito vector populations

A genetic driving system extremely closely genetically linked to a refractoriness gene is needed if such genes are to be of any use in the control of vector-borne disease. Wolbachia cytoplasmic symbionts and/or appropriate factors from Wolbachia incorporated into the mosquito genome may be usable as driving factors. Maximal fitness of refractoriness factors is needed, otherwise any genetic recombination between the refractoriness factor and the driver can be shown, by simple models, to lead ultimately to fixation of the driver no longer linked to the refractoriness factor. Models can also show the serious impact of non-isolation of the target wild population and incompleteness of the refractoriness.