Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript "Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication" is a well written perspective about the priorities to be considered when developing a regulatory framework for considering gene drive mice for invasive rodent eradication.
Although the use of the technology is far from being deployed, this reviewer thinks this perspective is timely and well grounded.
I would only suggest to the authors consider adding a couple of sentences about the health implications of removing targeted rodent species. For example, the white footed mice is a reservoir for Lyme disease[see and cite: http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1985.34.355 and
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2787105 ] and getting rid of this mouse species could help control that important disease and potentially similar outcomes, of reducing disease transmission, could be expected in other zoonotic diseases, for example cutaneous leishmaniasis, where rodents are also reservoirs of infection [see and cite https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tmh/43/1/43_2014-30/_article ]
Author Response
Point 1
I would only suggest to the authors consider adding a couple of sentences about the health implications of removing targeted rodent species. For example, the white footed mice is a reservoir for Lyme disease[see and cite: http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1985.34.355 and
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2787105 ] and getting rid of this mouse species could help control that important disease and potentially similar outcomes, of reducing disease transmission, could be expected in other zoonotic diseases, for example cutaneous leishmaniasis, where rodents are also reservoirs of infection [see and cite https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tmh/43/1/43_2014-30/_article ]
We appreciate the useful suggestion that public health is an important dimension of invasive rodent eradication. Therefore we have included additional language to note the public health element. However, our project focuses on Mus musculus, and detailed information on Peromyscus leucopus is a bit beyond the scope of this paper.
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript entitled “Sustainability as a framework for considering gene drive mice for invasive rodent eradication” written by Barnhill-Dilling et al. is aimed at providing sustainable options for developing gene drive technologies to eradicate invasive rodents.
Gene drive technology has become a promising and alternative tool to using toxicants, an approach which has not proved to be entirely efficient on large islands or highly populated ones. The use of gene drive applications taking sustainability into consideration might be a viable option.
This perspective article is well-organized and up-to-date. The authors clearly demonstrate the use of gene drive emphasizing the three fundamental pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. I suggest this manuscript be considered for publication after adding additional information.
I believe that in order to facilitate understanding of this matter, the authors should also include an additional table showing the comparison between rat poison and gene drives.
Author Response
I believe that in order to facilitate understanding of this matter, the authors should also include an additional table showing the comparison between rat poison and gene drives.
An excellent suggestion, and we have included a new table on page 2.
