Zach Adelman

Areas of Expertise

• Vector biology
• Gene editing
• Gene drive
• Biotechnoloty
• Genomics
• Insect Physiology

Professional Summary

Zach N. Adelman, Ph.D, is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. A major focus of his research is on the development of novel gene editing/gene replacement approaches for disease vector mosquitoes as well as robust safeguards for their potential use. Adelman has served as author or co-author on more than 75 peer-reviewed publications, including several recent papers on the handling, containment, and regulation of gene drive-containing arthropods, and served as editor of a book published in 2015 entitled “Genetic Control of Malaria and Dengue”. Adelman served as a member of his institution’s IBC for 7 years, including 4 years as chair, and since 2016 has served on a Federal Advisory Committee that advises the NIH Director on issues of Biotechnology. Dr. Adelman’s research program has been continually funded by NIH since 2007.

Selected Publications

1. Adelman, Z. N. and Kojin, B. (2021) Malaria-resistant mosquitoes; the principle is proven, but will the effectors be effective? J of Med Ent, Vol 58, #5:1997–2005, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab090
2. Adelman, Z. N. (2021) Demystifying the risk assessment process for laboratory-based experiments utilizing invasive genetic elements: It’s more than gene drive. Applied Biosafety, Vol 26, No. 3, 154-163. https://doi.org/10.1089/apb.20.0074
3. O’Leary, S. and Adelman, Z.N. (2020) CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of female-biased genes AeAct-4 or myo-fem in Ae. aegypti results in a flightless phenotype in female, but not male mosquitoes. PLoS Neg. Trop. Dis. Dec 18;14(12):e0008971. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008971.
4. Aryan, A., Anderson, M.A.E., Biedler, J., Qi, Y., Overcash, J.M., Naumenko, A.N., Sharakhova, M.V., Mao, C., Adelman, Z.N., and Tu, Z. (2020) Nix alone is sufficient to convert female Aedes aegypti into fertile males and myo-sex is needed for male flight. PNAS Jul 28;117(30):17702-17709. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2001132117
5. Zapletal, J., Najmitabrizi, N., Erraguntla, M., Lawley, M.A., Myles, K.M., and Adelman, Z. N. (2020) Making gene drive biodegradable. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 376: 20190804.