Keywords: Africa
Imperial College London hosts West African journalists for science media programme
35528Nana Appiah Acquaye, Tech Review Africa, 2026-03-28 08:17:45.
Imperial College London has hosted a delegation of journalists from Ghana and Nigeria under the UK-Ghana Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Media Capacity Programme. The initiative, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the British High Commission Accra, and UK in Nigeria, aims to strengthen science communication and reporting capacity among African media professionals. During their visit to Imperial’s South Kensington campus, the journalists engaged with researchers working on advanced innovations including digital diagnostics, gene drive technology to combat malaria through Transmission Zero, and sustainable energy solutions under the DIGIBAT project. At the White City campus, the delegation met innovators in sustainable plastic development at Polymateria and explored emerging trends in agritech, areas expected to shape future science reporting. The group also interacted with Ofosua Adi-Dako of the University of Ghana, currently serving as a Global Faculty Fellow at Imperial’s I-X initiative, where she is advancing pharmacology research using artificial intelligence. The programme included workshops on science journalism and engagement with researchers, concluding with a media briefing by Imperial College President Hugh Brady. Organisers say the engagement is expected to strengthen collaboration between researchers and media practitioners, enhancing the quality and impact of science communication in West Africa.
Ifakara’s Transmission Zero team convenes stakeholders to review project progress
35524Ifakara Health Institute, 2026-03-19 09:32:34.
The Transmission Zero Program’s team at the Ifakara Health Institute hosted key stakeholders from government and research institutions in Dar es Salaam on March 17-18, to review progress and strengthen collaboration on the Transmission Zero project, an international research programme working to develop innovative genetic tools to stop malaria transmission. The project is African-led by Scientists from Ifakara Health Institute in collaboration with Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Switzerland. This collaborative model is paramount in ensuring sustainable capacity strengthening through infrastructure development, and knowledge and technology outputs. The meeting brought together members of the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) and ministerial authorities, and representatives from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to discuss program progress, challenges and considerations for introducing the program at scale.
CRISPR-Cas9 suppression gene drives for Nile tilapia control: prospects in sub-Saharan African freshwater ecosystems
35509Bobo, E. D., All Life, 19. 2026-03-16 15:14:01.
CRISPR-based suppression gene drives represent a promising tool for managing invasive Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) populations in sub-Saharan Africa’s freshwater ecosystems. Introduced through aquaculture, Nile tilapia supports livelihoods but also causes severe biodiversity loss. This review explores the technical feasibility of CRISPR-Cas9 suppression gene drives, specifically homing and Driving-Y drive systems, as species-specific, potentially self-sustaining biocontrol strategies. The theoretical effectiveness of these gene drive systems in reducing invasive Nile tilapia and restoring ecological balance is discussed within a precautionary framework. This study addresses the urgent need to protect native tilapia species, which are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable by the IUCN. Gene drives have the potential to reduce invasive populations and restore ecological balance. However, their effectiveness can be compromised by extensive hybridization with native Oreochromis species and resistance evolution in genetically diverse populations. Therefore, the ecological, ethical, and socioeconomic risks of gene drive systems were examined in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Cartagena Protocol. Hence, integrating molecular innovations with strong policy frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and comprehensive risk assessment is essential. CRISPR-Cas9 suppression drives deployment requires careful evaluation across ecological, ethical, and governance contexts to safeguard native ichthyofauna.
African scientists lead in Malaria research
35518Florian Jamax, Daily News, 2026-03-16 09:10:40.
For decades, African scientists have contributed essential data to global scientific research. Increasingly, however, they are no longer just contributors. Across the continent, researchers are assuming leadership roles, designing studies, building advanced laboratories and shaping research priorities that address Africa’s most urgent health challenges. This shift marks a significant transformation in the global scientific landscape. African institutions are developing the expertise and infrastructure required to lead high-impact studies from within the continent. Rather than relying solely on external partnerships, local scientists are defining research questions and creating solutions aligned with regional public health priorities. A major scientific breakthrough published in the journal Nature in late 2025 illustrates this transition. Beyond its immediate research findings, the study symbolised the growing capacity of African science to lead complex research addressing diseases that disproportionately affect the continent.
Equatorial Guinea’s high-tech push to end malaria by 2030
35501Ronald Musoke, The Independent, 2026-03-10 09:39:41.
In the humid equatorial belt of Central Africa; where dense forests, heavy rains and winding rivers create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, malaria has long been a stubborn public health adversary. For Equatorial Guinea, the disease has shaped health outcomes, economic prospects and daily life for decades. Now the small oil-rich nation is attempting something few countries in malaria-endemic regions have managed: complete elimination. Speaking during a virtual press briefing held on Feb. 26, hosted by the Addis Ababa-based Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Health Infrastructure, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, laid out an ambitious national strategy known as Vision 2030. The goal is simple but formidable—eradicate malaria across the country within the next five years. The plan builds on two decades of progress on Bioko Island and introduces a new phase of intervention combining vaccines, advanced surveillance, cutting-edge vector control and emerging technologies such as genetically modified mosquitoes. “This is a historic transition from advanced malaria control to full national elimination,” Ayekaba said. But the path from control to eradication will test the limits of science, policy and community engagement.
Regulatory Provisions for Post-Release Monitoring of Genetically Modified Organisms in Africa
35497Julia Njagi, John Muriuki, Paul Mbugua, et al., Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2026-03-10 09:22:44.
Genetically modified (GM) crops with improved traits such as resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and enhanced nutritional profiles have been commercially cultivated for over three decades. Despite extensive safety data and long-term cultivation experience, concerns continue to be raised about the potential risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This is particularly true for the African region, where only eight out of fifty-four countries have so far commercialized GMOs. Upon release into the environment, GM crops may interact with ecosystems in complex ways, possibly leading to unanticipated ecological effects. Consequently, post-release monitoring of GMOs is essential to identify early signs of adverse impacts, enabling timely responses such as adjustments in risk management strategies, mitigation measures, or re-evaluation of previous regulatory decisions. A supportive policy and regulatory environment are critical for facilitating the safe development, testing, and commercialization of GMOs. This study conducted a desktop review of post-release monitoring frameworks for GMOs in selected African countries, as well as interviews with key informants in countries that have commercialized at least one GMO product. The findings reveal that most sampled countries lack clearly defined environmental protection goals and specific provisions regarding the scope and duration of post-release monitoring of GMOs. Where the duration of monitoring is prescribed, it is a blanket cover for all GMOs regardless of their life cycles. Moreover, the responsibility for monitoring is often delegated entirely to the applicant, and where local institutions are involved, there is no clear coordination mechanism for data sharing. These findings underscore the need for case-by-case monitoring approaches, guided by clearly articulated national protection goals and clear roles and coordination among stakeholders to ensure the safe and responsible deployment of GMOs.
Compound effector genes suppress malaria parasite infections in gene-drive population modification strains of the African malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii
35494Rebeca Carballar-Lejarazú, Yuemei Dong, Thai Binh Pham, et al., G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 2026-03-09 10:43:52.
Malaria remains a major global health burden and is caused by protozoan parasites in the genus Plasmodium. Parasites are transmitted to humans during blood feeding by anopheline mosquitoes, and members of the Anopheles gambiae species complex are important vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Gene-drive technologies offer promising options for disease control by enabling the spread of genetic traits through mosquito populations that block parasite transmission. We report here the development and characterization of four population modification gene-drive strains in Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii carrying compound effector genes. We sought to enhance the effectiveness of existing gene-drive strains to block Plasmodium transmission, thereby reducing vector competence and minimizing the opportunities for selection of resistant parasites. Two compound effector gene modules, TP24 and TP43, were introduced using Cas9 endonuclease and dual guide RNAs into TP13-based gene-drive strains to produce the An. gambiae AgTP24 and AgTP43 strains. The gene-drive cassettes were then introgressed into An. coluzzii to produce AcTP24 and AcTP43. Gene-drive dynamics, gene conversion, and inheritance were high in all strains, with 95% to 100% inheritance of the gene-drive constructs. Life table analyses showed mixed impacts on fitness dependent on the species and copy number (hemi- or homozygosity) of the gene-drive systems. The compound effector molecule gene complexes significantly reduced both parasite prevalence and infection intensities in An. gambiae and An. coluzzii following challenge assays with the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum. These findings highlight the potential of compound effector strategies in gene-drive systems to achieve durable malaria transmission control.
Ecological analysis of mosquito larval communities in Burkina Faso to inform environmental monitoring of genetic control programs
35470Toé, I., Kientega, M., Lingani, A.J. et al., Scientific Reports, 16. 2026-02-24 14:26:04.
In Burkina Faso, the development of the gene drive technology targeting Anopheles coluzzii raises important ecological questions about potential non-target effects. Understanding interactions in mosquitoes’ natural environments is crucial for developing effective post-release environmental safety monitoring. This study assesses the ecological exposure and potential risks to non-target organisms associated with An. coluzzii suppression. Using co-occurrence, niche overlap metrics, and characterisation of physicochemical parameters, we evaluated interspecific relationships among mosquitoes and macroinvertebrate taxa from larval habitats in Burkina Faso. Combined index revealed distinct ecological relationships, ranging from competitive or facilitative coexistence to spatial segregation driven by predation or behavioural avoidance. Based on these interactions, an exposure score was developed to quantify the potential susceptibility of non-target organisms to ecological changes following the removal of An. coluzzii. The results showed variable exposure among taxa, with An. gambiae s.s. having the highest score, followed by An. arabiensis and Culex spp. Predatory taxa such as Corixidae showed niche overlap but limited spatial co-occurrence, suggesting effective predation. The detection of hybrid forms (An. coluzzii x An. gambiae s.s.) further highlights the potential for gene flow. This study introduces a quantitative framework that combines ecological indices and exposure scores to predict potential risks to non-target organisms.
Evaluation of local larval diets for mass rearing of Aedes aegypti to support sterile insect technique programs in Burkina Faso Get
35466Bouraïma Vincent Séré, Simon P Sawadogo, Prisca S L Paré, et al., Journal of Medical Entomology, 63. 2026-02-16 14:16:30.
Aedes aegypti Linnaeus 1762 is the primary vector of several viruses that cause arboviral diseases. Control strategies, such as SIT, require large-scale mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) production, which depends critically on larval nutrition. However, the high cost and limited availability of conventional feed components hinder SIT implementation, particularly in resource-limited settings. Faced with this situation, it is imperative to find locally produced food sources. Here, we assessed six locally derived diets for their suitability in mass rearing Aedes aegypti. The diets include: (B) African Clarias gariepinus Burchell 1822 (Siluriformes: Clariidae) dried without additives; (C) Cirina butyrospermi Vuillet 1911 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) dried without additives; (D) Glycine max (L.) Merr., 1917 without additives; (E) a 1:1 mixture of Clarias gariepinus and Cirina butyrospermi; (F) a 1:1 mixture of Clarias gariepinus and Glycine max; and a mixture of 50% Clarias gariepinus, (G) 25% Glycine max and 25% Cirina butyrospermi. (A) Commercial fish food formulation (TetraMin® Baby) served as the control. Diets C and D were associated with significantly delayed while diets C, D, and E yielded fewer adults than the control. In contrast, diets B and G provided the most favorable balance of development time, adult emergence, and survival, comparable to the control group. Diets D and F produced the lowest fecundity and hatch rates, whereas diet G generated large, fertile adults. Collectively, these findings indicate that diets B and G are suitable for mass rearing, with diet G emerging as a cost-effective alternative for SIT programs targeting Aedes aegypti in Burkina Faso.
Assessing the population genetic structure and demographic history of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis at island and mainland sites in Uganda: implications for testing novel malaria vector control approaches
35384Mwima, R., Hui, TY.J., Lukyamuzi, E. et al., Malar J, 2026-01-20 13:40:12.
Despite substantial investments in malaria control, the disease remains a major burden in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Uganda. Novel tools such as gene drive systems are being developed to suppress malaria vector populations, but their deployment requires detailed knowledge of mosquito population genetics. The genetic structure, diversity, and demographic history of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis were assessed at six sites in Uganda: three islands in Lake Victoria and three mainland sites. A total of 2918 An, gambiae and 173 An. arabiensis were genotyped using targeted amplicon sequencing of 62 loci across coding and non-coding regions of the genome. Population structure analyses revealed clear separation between the two species but little differentiation within each species across sites. Pairwise FST values among An. gambiae populations were low (0.00054–0.028) but often statistically significant, with mainland populations showing higher connectivity and island populations exhibiting greater isolation. Anopheles arabiensis mainland populations showed no statistically significant differentiation, suggesting panmixia. Principal component analysis and Bayesian clustering similarly distinguished species-level structure but no obvious substructure within sites. Mainland An. gambiae populations displayed higher nucleotide diversity than island populations, while An. arabiensis showed the lowest diversity overall. Tajima’s D values were negative across sites, consistent with recent population expansions. Effective population size estimates indicated small populations at the islands (146–249) compared to large mainland populations (4054–8190). These findings demonstrate strong genetic differentiation between An. gambiae and An. arabiensis, and subtle but meaningful structure between island and mainland An. gambiae populations. The reduced diversity and small effective population sizes at island sites suggest stronger genetic drift and limited gene flow, in contrast to the highly connected mainland populations. This study highlights how geographic and ecological factors shape mosquito population structure and provides critical evidence for the design and monitoring of genetic-based vector control interventions, including the planning and evaluation of field trials.
Gene drives tested against real-world malaria diversity
35377Marchal, I, Nature Biotechnology, 44. 2026-01-16 16:30:43.
Gene drive technology, which uses genetic engineering to propagate selected genes throughout a population, is a potential strategy for blocking the spread of malaria, either by suppressing mosquito populations or by making them unable to transmit the disease. However, gene drive mosquitos have mainly been tested in laboratory settings with decade-old Plasmodium parasite strains, and it is unknown whether they can block the transmission of genetically diverse Plasmodium now in circulation. In an important step toward application, Habtewold et al. now report in Nature the adaptation of a previously developed gene drive strategy to an African context.
Exploratory conversations with biodiversity-oriented civil society groups on the potential applications of gene drive-modified mosquitoes for malaria control in Tanzania
35354Finda, M.F., Sambo, M., Malika, G. et al., Transgenic Res, 35. 2026-01-13 09:53:50.
Gene drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) are gaining attention as sustainable tools to complement existing malaria control strategies. Their ability to self-propagate and spread through wild mosquito populations offers the promise of low-cost, long-lasting impact, but also raises ecological, ethical, and governance concerns. In this evolving debate, civil society organizations (CSOs) are pivotal actors in shaping dialogue, representing community concerns, and influencing policy decisions. This study examined the perspectives and recommendations of biodiversity-oriented CSOs on the governance, testing, and potential application of GDMMs for malaria control in Tanzania. An exploratory qualitative design was employed, involving eight in-depth interviews, one focus group discussion, and three large group discussions with representatives from ten biodiversity-focused CSOs in Tanzania. Participants were selected purposively based on prior involvement in national or regional dialogues related to biotechnology; and the discussions focused on concerns, uncertainties and needs associated with testing and potential use of GDMMs for malaria control, as well as the balance of prospective benefits against long-term environmental risks. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 Plus. Participants expressed cautious support for research on GDMMs for malaria control but raised concerns about scientific uncertainty, limited local expertise, inadequate transparency, potential transboundary effects and technological dependency. They emphasized the importance of generating robust, context-specific evidence before considering any environmental releases of gene drives; and highlighted concerns over inadequate accountability, particularly the lack of clarity on who would assume responsibility if adverse outcomes arise. They also advocated for early, inclusive, transparent, and continuous engagement with both target communities and the broader public. Lastly, to ensure objective and impartial oversight, they recommended development of local expertise that is independent of technology developers and sponsors. The CSOs’ perspectives were diverse but broadly aligned with the precautionary principle, calling for preventive action amid uncertainty, clear accountability, and the pursuit of safer alternatives. Although many expressed serious reservations about gene drive mosquitoes, there was a shared recognition that research on the technology is necessary, provided it is conducted under controlled, transparent, and auditable conditions. Overall, these exploratory discussions underscored the need for: (i) balanced dialogue between advocates and skeptics, (ii) robust ethical and regulatory frameworks covering the full life cycle of the technology, (iii) sustained community and stakeholder engagement from the early stages of research and development, (iv) enhancements of in-country capacity, and (v) national sovereignty in decision-making regarding GDMMs. Demonstrating and effectively communicating these elements will be as critical as ensuring their existence.
From song to stories: assessing the impact of exposure to arts-based community engagement tools in shaping knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability toward the Sterile Insect Technique for malaria control in South Africa
35319Manana, P.N., Jewett, S. & Munhenga, G., Malaria Journal, 24. 2026-01-05 11:31:18.
Community engagement (CE) is essential for public health interventions. This is particularly important when introducing novel technologies, such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), that require strong community understanding and acceptance. Against this background, arts-based CE strategies, including music, drama, and radio short stories, were developed and piloted, but their effectiveness remained unevaluated. This study assessed whether exposure to arts-based CE approaches influenced community knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of the SIT in uMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A cross-sectional survey to understand the influence of arts-based CE approaches was conducted in the Jozini municipality, uMkhanyakude District, after community exposure to these CE productions. Structured interviews were conducted with randomly sampled community members. Data were collected on CE exposure and SIT-related knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance. A chi-square test and a stepwise ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze the data after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Among 614 participants, only 26.2% (n = 161) were exposed to arts-based CE approaches. Those exposed were more likely to correctly identify that female mosquitoes feed on blood as compared to the unexposed (95.0% vs. 85.8%, p = 0.008), and to express support for SIT (e.g., 98.1% vs. 89.4% agreed with upcoming releases, p = 0.003). Exposure remained a significant predictor of SIT acceptance in multivariate models (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.45–0.94). Positive attitudes and accurate knowledge also independently predicted greater acceptance. Arts-based CE tools were effective in supporting the introduction of SIT by improving knowledge and acceptance. However, limited exposure suggests the need for more sustained and widely accessible engagement strategies to maximize reach and long-term impact. These findings suggest that artistic productions, especially when delivered through culturally relevant, multimodal formats, play a meaningful role in shaping community receptiveness to novel vector control methods like the SIT.
The ‘mosquito factory’ breeding genetically-engineered insects to fight malaria
35321Rachel Schraer, The Independent, 2025-12-28 11:31:52.
A British company breeding mosquitoes whose offspring cannot spread malaria is set to start releasing the insects into Djibouti city by the end of the year. Genetically-engineered male mosquitoes hatched in boxes placed around the East African capital will produce female babies with genes that cause them to die before they reach adulthood. Only female mosquitoes bite and spread disease. The scheme is designed to slash the number of mosquitoes to reduce cases of malaria, which currently infects up to 10 per cent of the country a year. Malaria is among the world’s biggest killers of children under five. “So much has been achieved with existing tools,” like bed nets and insecticide spraying, says Neil Morrison, chief strategy officer at Oxitec, the British biotech company which produces the altered mosquitoes. “But progress is stalling” as resistance is being built up. As global funding to fight malaria reduces, thanks to cuts by the US, UK and a number of other nations, Morrison adds: “We just need to get a bit smarter in terms of how we think about controlling mosquitoes.”A piece of code is inserted into the genetic material of the mosquitoes at a research facility in the UK, before the “friendly” mosquitoes are transported to a “mosquito factory” in Djibouti, Morrison explains. A chemical antidote is then given to the mosquitoes to “switch off” the code, allowing them to survive and breed within that “factory”.
New Gene Drive Stops the Spread of Malaria—Without Killing Any Mosquitoes
35343Shelly Fan, SingularityHub, 2025-12-18 11:51:00.
Mosquitoes are an uncomfortable, itchy nuisance. But for people in sub-Saharan Africa, a bite could mean death. The pests are living incubators for the parasite that causes malaria. Roughly 600,000 people are killed by the disease each year, with most being children under five years of age. Insecticides, malaria drugs, and mosquito nets saved a million lives globally in 2024 alone. But their efficacy is waning. Mosquitoes and the malaria parasite are becoming resistant to chemical inhibitors. And consistent, perfect use of physical barriers is hard to manage for years on end, especially for children. Realizing this, scientists have turned to a drastic solution: Gene drives, a technology that skews the rules of inheritance. Rather than nature’s fifty-fifty chance of an offspring inheriting a gene from either parent, gene drives raise the possibility of a gene’s inheritance to over 90 percent—if not higher. The tweak allows a gene to rapidly spread across entire populations. In lab tests encoding gene drives that reduce female mosquito fertility, mosquito populations have collapsed. Other experimental gene drives encoding genes that block parasite reproduction have suggested they could replace a natural population with one unable to carry malaria in just a few generations.
Impact of long-term mass-rearing on the genetic structure of tsetse fly Glossina palpalis gambiensis colonies
35273Kiswend-sida M. Dera, Soumaïla Pagabeleguem, Tito Tresor Melachio Tanekou, et al., Insect Science, 32. 2025-11-02 17:49:38.
Tsetse flies are the sole cyclic vectors of African trypanosomes, which cause human and animal African trypanosomiases in Africa. Tsetse fly control remains a promising option for disease management. The sterile insect technique (SIT) stands as an environmentally friendly tool to control tsetse populations. SIT requires the mass-rearing of competent sterile males to mate with wild females. However, long-term colonization might affect the genetic structure of the reared flies. This study investigated the genetic structure of four Glossina palpalis gambiensis colonies of different ages: two originating from Senegal (SEN and ICIRSEN) and two from Burkina Faso (CIR and IBD). Samples from these colonies were genotyped at ten microsatellite loci, followed by downstream population genetic analyses. The results show that the two colonies from Burkina Faso collected from close sites (∼20 km apart) over 45-year interval retained the same genetic background (FST_CIR∼IBD ≈ 0, P-value = 0.47). These flies were however, genetically different from those from the Senegal colonies (FST_CIR∼SEN ≈ 0.047; FST_IBD∼SEN ≈ 0.058, P-value = 10−4). Moreover, no significant difference was detected in the gene diversity of the CIR and IBD colonies, with HS values of 0.650 and 0.665, respectively. The inbreeding coefficient showed that all four colonies where under Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, with FIS values of 0.026, 0.012, −0.064, and 0.001, for CIR, IBD, ICIRSEN, and SEN, respectively. Furthermore, no sign of a recent bottleneck was identified in tsetse samples from any of the four colonies. The results suggest that long-term mass-rearing of tsetse flies has no significant impact on their genetic background and diversity.
UCMI partners with Equatorial Guinea to advance the fight against malaria
35265Ana Kormos, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2025-10-30 17:22:36.
The University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) announced a new partnership with the Government of Equatorial Guinea on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which took place in New York City in September. The partnership will support the implementation of Equatorial Guinea’s Vision 2030 strategy for malaria elimination. Despite progress in fighting malaria, the disease remains a major public health concern in the country, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas. Building on over two decades of impact through the MCD Global Health’s (MCD) Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project (BIMEP), this new collaboration will support the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria. The long-running BIMEP project has achieved a 78 percent reduction in malaria prevalence and eliminated two major mosquito vectors on Bioko Island. As a scientific partner, UCMI will work with the Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Program, BIMEP and MCD Global Health to advance research and support implementation of new malaria control strategies including the UCMI genetically modified mosquito. Drawing on its expertise in vector and malaria control research, UCMI will contribute to the advancement of innovative malaria control tools and strategies to ensure that Equatorial Guinea benefits from the latest scientific developments and best practices in full alignment with national priorities and community engagement.
UC Malaria Initiative Expands Activities to Equatorial Guinea
35209Andy Fell, UC Davis, 2025-10-01 14:52:44.
The University of California Malaria Initiative, which includes researchers at UC Davis, will partner in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea’s Vision 2030 strategy to eliminate malaria from the Central African country. The plan, which also includes Oxford University, Tsinghua University and a MCD Global Health, was announced Sept. 24 during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Vision 2030 builds on 20 years of experience in malaria control on Bioko island, Equatorial Guinea. This effort has led to a 78 percent reduction in malaria transmission and eliminated two major mosquitoes that transmit the disease. The program will include R21, a malaria vaccine developed at Oxford. It will also include a range of proven malaria control measures and health interventions. UCMI is focused on using genetically modified mosquitoes to eliminate malaria transmission. It is led by Professor Anthony James, Donald Bren and Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at UC Irvine. Professor Gregory Lanzaro, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the translational component of this program and established a field site in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and island nation off the coast of Central Africa, where he and his team have been working since 2018. They will now expand this work in Equatorial Guinea. “We are pleased to partner with the Government of Equatorial Guinea in their pioneering malaria elimination program," Lanzaro in a news release. "Our mission is to support countries in achieving malaria elimination through responsible science, deep collaboration, and genuine community engagement. Together, we can help build a future where malaria is no longer a threat to families and communities across the region."
Estimated cost and operational structure of pgSIT malaria vector control programs in selected West African countries
35203William A.C. Gendron, Robyn Raban, Agastya Mondal, et al., Scientific African, 29. 2025-09-30 15:35:38.
Malaria control has primarily been achieved through vector control, but current methods are insufficient to achieve elimination. Precision guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) is a mosquito suppression technique that generates sterile male mosquitoes for mass release. Our previous studies showed that this intervention is expected to be highly cost-effective in a malaria endemic region of West Africa, but these estimates used only 15-31% capacity for sex sorting, which is the limiting production step and a primary cost. We, therefore, determined the most cost efficient facility size by calculating the cost per million Anopheles gambiae suppressed as the facility was scaled up to suppress more mosquitoes. We developed an optimized facility size per 9.2 million mosquitoes suppressed, which can be a framework for scaling and increases the cost effectiveness of this intervention. The development of this intervention can potentially interrupt malaria transmission, strengthen local public health institutions, create manufacturing capacity, provide local jobs, and enhance regional health security capabilities that are more resilient to disruptions in supply chains and malaria investment.
From fear to leadership: Africa must embrace innovation instead of blocking it
35187Patricia Nanteza, The Observer, 2025-09-27 08:47:22.
In Burkina Faso, the Target Malaria project, a global research consortium aiming to use genetically modified mosquitoes to combat malaria, has faced a major setback. On August 18, 2025, judicial police raided the Research Institute in Health Sciences (IRSS), a key partner in the project. This raid, which scientists described as “brutal” and “humiliating”, involved sealing off offices and laboratories and treating researchers like criminals, searching even their vehicles for mosquitoes! This event occurred just one week after the project had celebrated a milestone on August 11, releasing about 16,000 genetically modified male mosquitoes in the village of Souroukoudingan, the first such release in Africa. The raid prompted Burkina Faso to announce the immediate suspension of all project activities. The Target Malaria project aims to combat malaria by using a gene drive to spread desirable genetic modifications in mosquitoes. The goal is to reduce the number of female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, as they are the ones that transmit malaria to humans. This can be achieved by introducing genes that produce enzymes which disrupt specific genes, such as those controlling fertility or sex determination. Since the genetic changes are self-sustaining and inheritable by a high percentage of offspring, the intervention offers a potentially cost-effective and sustainable solution for malaria control. For a country that records over 40,000 deaths from malaria each year, this pause was more than just a political decision – it was a health crisis delayed. The suspension, which followed years of preparation and a previous release of sterile mosquitoes in 2019, was a sobering reminder that Africa, while being the continent most affected by malaria, can also be the first to step back from promising innovations.
Advances in population-based interventions to control falciparum malaria
35153Samuel E Glossop, Thomas J Peto, Bipin Adhikari, Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2025-09-22 10:26:25.
Malaria is a complex disease and transmission can be prevented in multiple ways. A range of interventions to achieve this became widely available from the year 2000, and cases continually declined, but progress has plateaued since 2015. This review aims to cover the population-level prevention strategies responsible for this and those that could continue this progress, focusing on how they can be successfully integrated. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) made the most substantial contribution to reducing malaria mortality, but their distribution, access and use remains suboptimal while development of insecticide resistance requires continuous adaptation. Chemoprevention provides protections to tens of millions of people, primarily children in sub-Saharan Africa, but is also threatened by the emergence and spread of drug resistance. These strategies may have reached a point of saturation for reducing morbidity and mortality, thus calling for innovative developments to build upon more basic approaches such as accurate early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and improved housing. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is a significant improvement over the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, with greater efficacy, lower cost and scalable mass production. Field trials of current monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) suggest that next-generation mAbs could be a promising tool for seasonal chemoprophylaxis. Furthermore, gene drives may have the potential to eradicate entire populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. A multifaceted approach combining these new strategies with traditional approaches (ITNs and chemoprevention) offers a framework to reinvigorate progress towards malaria elimination.
Mosquito gene drive cancellation disrupts Africa’s malaria research
35139Esther Nakkazi, Nature Africa, 2025-09-12 15:46:02.
The abrupt suspension of an anti-malarial gene drive project in Burkina Faso has disrupted plans by scientists in Uganda working on their own modified mosquitoes. The Target Malaria project was put on hold by Burkina Faso’s government in August. Facilities holding genetically modified mosquitoes were sealed, and all samples ordered to be destroyed. Male mosquitoes released in a village were also neutralised with insecticides. A gene drive sees the release of a modified species with the aim of the modification being passed to the next generation, allowing its frequency to increase rapidly in a population. The project’s freeze casts doubt on other programmes across Africa. Jonathan Kayondo, principal investigator at Target Malaria Uganda, said scientists had not anticipated the decision. “It’s surprising, because Burkina Faso scientists had gone through all the regulatory approvals and were given the go-ahead. They were not operating illegally.” For Ugandan researchers, the termination threatens to disrupt timelines, reshape field study plans, increase costs, and denies the opportunity to build on data gathered. Target Malaria is a not-for-profit international research consortium, aiming to develop genetic technologies to reduce populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in Africa. Since 2012, it has operated at the Research Institute in Health Sciences (IRSS) in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, with funding from the Gates Foundation. In 20191, the Burkina Faso team had released a small, non-gene-drive strain of genetically modified mosquitoes, whose strains carry useful traits such as reduced fertility. The modifications were not preferentially inherited, and disappear naturally over generations.
OPINION: Military Shuts Down Bill Gates Genetically Modified Mosquito Project in West Africa
35137Jon Fleetwood, Substack, 2025-09-12 15:41:16.
Last month, the military government of Burkina Faso has done what no Western regulator dared to do: it ordered the immediate termination of Bill Gates’ genetically modified mosquito project—‘Target Malaria’—and the destruction of all bioengineered insect samples inside the country. This wasn’t a health agency issuing a polite memo. It was a military crackdown on a Gates-funded scheme that released engineered mosquitoes into villages without real informed consent from the people forced to live with the consequences. The press release from Target Malaria itself admits the sequence of events. First came the release: “On 11 August 2025, one small scale release of non gene drive genetically modified male bias mosquitoes took place successfully, in accord with terms and conditions of the ANB and ANEVE permits.” Translation: genetically engineered insects were already unleashed in Burkinabè villages, exposing citizens to an irreversible genetic experiment without their consent. Then came the military order to shut it down: “On 18 August, the national authorities requested the Target Malaria team at IRSS to suspend all their activities. The IRSS team complied with the request.” Finally, the junta (a government that has taken power by military force) made it permanent: “On 22 August, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation issued a communiqué informing ‘the Burkinabè public that it has terminated all the activities of the project Target Malaria on its territory.’” This wasn’t a pause. This was a military-ordered termination of Bill Gates’ mosquito project.
After ‘humiliating’ raid, Burkina Faso halts ‘gene drive’ project to fight malaria
35111Kai Kupferschmidt, Science, 2025-09-03 09:35:57.
On 11 August, the international nonprofit Target Malaria celebrated a milestone: In the village of Souroukoudingan, Burkina Faso, its researchers released about 16,000 male mosquitoes genetically modified to produce almost exclusively male offspring. The release, the first of its kind in Africa, was part of a project supported by the Gates Foundation that aims to rid the world of malaria using a so-called gene drive, a controversial technique to help desirable genes spread through a population fast. But a week later, that dream suffered a major setback. On 18 August, judicial police showed up at the Research Institute in Health Sciences (IRSS) in Bobo-Dioulasso, a key partner in Target Malaria, to stage what scientists described as a “brutal, humiliating” raid. According to minutes of a 26 August meeting between researchers and the country’s science minister, IRSS scientists were “treated like criminals, with their offices and laboratories sealed and marked as crime scenes.” The minutes noted that “everyone was searched, including their vehicles, on the grounds that researchers might be carrying mosquitoes in their pockets.” Four days later, the government suspended all of Target Malaria’s activities in Burkina Faso indefinitely. IRSS scientists killed the mosquitoes still living in their insectary, and the government sent a team to spray insecticides in Souroukoudingan to kill the mosquitoes released there.
Target Malaria activities suspended in Burkina Faso
35087Target Malaria, Target Malaria, 2025-08-28 18:52:04.
The National Biosafety Agency (ANB) and the National Environmental Assessment Agency (ANEVE) responded favourably in July 2025 to the authorisation request submitted by the Target Malaria Burkina Faso team based at the Institute of Health Sciences Research (IRSS) to conduct controlled releases of non gene drive genetically modified male bias mosquitoes. As part of this process, the Ethics Committee for Health Research (CERS) also issued its approval. In addition to the regulatory authorisations obtained from the ANB and ANEVE, the project received agreement from the communities of the field sites to proceed with the activities in their villages. On 11 August 2025, one small scale release of non gene drive genetically modified male bias mosquitoes took place successfully, in accord with terms and conditions of the ANB and ANEVE permits. On 18 August, the national authorities requested the Target Malaria team at IRSS to suspend all their activities. The IRSS team complied with the request. On 22 August, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation issued a communiqué informing “the Burkinabè public that it has terminated all the activities of the project Target Malaria on its territory”. The IRSS team, as part of the Target Malaria project, has operated since 2012 in compliance with the national laws of Burkina Faso. We have engaged actively with the national authorities and stakeholders of Burkina Faso and remain ready to cooperate.
Governance Landscape of Gene Drive for Malaria
35069GeneConvene Global Collaborative, 2025-08-28 10:24:11.
This infographic presents a hypothetical example of how real governance mechanisms could work to make decisions about gene drive field trials.
RESEARCH GROUP PUSHES GENE DRIVE TECHNOLOGY TO END MALARIA IN AFRICA || NEWS UPDATE
35049IDEA TV, YouTube, 2025-08-24 18:23:33.
Burkina Faso says no to Bill Gates’ plan of creating modified species of mosquitoes
35044Chinedu Okafor and BI Africa Contributor, Business Insider Africa, 2025-08-24 17:02:25.
In a statement published on Friday, officials urged Target Malaria, the initiative's principal NGO, to halt "all activities" in the nation. “All samples will be destroyed according to a strict protocol,” Samuel Pare, chief official at the higher education and research ministry, said in a Friday statement. The move is part of a larger crackdown on foreign-backed NGOs functioning under the present junta. The research, which began in Burkina Faso in 2019, released its first swarm of genetically modified male mosquitoes in the hamlet of Bana, a tiny settlement of around 1,000 people in the country's west. These mosquitoes were developed to limit the reproductive rate of malaria-carrying female mosquitoes, with the long-term objective of reducing the transmission of the illness that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year in Africa. Since its first release, the program has expanded its study to other locations, most recently unleashing new batches of mutated mosquitoes only days before the government's abrupt order to suspend operations. As reported by Bloomberg, campaigns in Africa accuse Target Malaria researchers of worsening the spread.
AUDA-NEPAD Delegation visits Target Malaria at the Uganda Virus Research Institute
35083Richard Linga and Christopher Maiso, Target Malaria, 2025-08-20 16:20:01.
Target Malaria Uganda was honored to host delegates from African member states at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. The delegates were taking part in a benchmarking visit during the East African Regional Engagement on Biosafety and Environmental Regulation for Malaria Elimination, organized by the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD). The delegates were welcomed by Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), who commended their interest in Uganda’s advancing research on genetically modified mosquitoes, and thanked AUDA-NEPAD for supporting regional dialogue on innovative malaria control strategies. In his speech, Dr. Johnson Wiltshire, Programme Coordinator at the AUDA-NEPAD and head of the delegation, emphasized the urgent need for Africa to adopt innovative health solutions to effectively address persistent public health challenges. He noted that for African member states to fully benefit from emerging technologies, such as gene drive, regulatory requirements must be harmonized across the region. He further highlighted the importance of ensuring quality, access, and sustainability in the implementation of such innovations.
Tanzania’s bold step toward malaria elimination
35079Guardian Correspondent, IPP Media, 2025-08-20 12:44:23.
It is both mind-boggling and frustrating that an insect with an average lifespan of just two weeks can cause so much sickness and even deaths. Today, on World Mosquito Day, 20th August, the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) honours Sir Ronald Ross, whose landmark discovery in 1897 confirmed that mosquitoes transmit malaria. His finding not only transformed medical science but also highlighted the profound impact mosquitoes have on public health. For more than a century, his discovery—made while serving with the Indian Medical Services—has continued to remind the world that defeating malaria requires a deep understanding of parasites and efficient mosquito vectors in order to make a real impact in preventing the disease. Globally, vector control has been instrumental in saving millions of lives, mainly through Long-lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS). These measures prevented more than 78 million malaria cases between 2000 and 2015.
The buzz stops here
35057Bill Gates, Gates Notes, 2025-08-19 20:44:24.
I've been working on malaria for over two decades. I’ve talked with researchers in labs and parents who’ve lost children to a mosquito bite. I’ve seen promising new tools and surprising setbacks. But I’ve rarely been as excited about a new innovation as I am about this one. In a lab in Tanzania, researchers are studying something incredible: a mosquito that can’t give you malaria. It looks and behaves like any other mosquito. It flies, bites, and breeds. But what it doesn’t do is transmit one of the deadliest diseases on the planet—which means it could save hundreds of thousands of lives a year. This mosquito was developed in 2023 by a team of African scientists at the Ifakara Health Institute in partnership with Imperial College London. It’s the first transgenic mosquito ever created on African soil—meaning that scientists have made a small, targeted change to its DNA. It was both a major scientific milestone and a major moment of African leadership in the global health space. The project is called Transmission Zero, and its goal is as ambitious as its name: to eliminate malaria not by killing mosquitoes, but by making them unable to transmit it to humans.
Releasing GM Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso is Dangerous
35009Irina Vekcha, Countercurrents, 2025-08-02 11:03:44.
The Target Malaria project claims to be able to eradicate malaria by using gene drive technology to eliminate Anopheles mosquitoes, the malaria vectors. There are several gene drive projects around the world, targeting different species (insects, mammals, fungi, etc.), using different types of gene drives, and having different stages of the technology readiness. The details of these projects are provided in the Table 2 of the Gene Drives report, produced by ENSSER, the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility. The Target Malaria project, using the CRISPR/Cas9 system for the Anopheles gambiae elimination, is the most advanced project. The project was conceived in Great Britain, at Imperial College London, in the laboratory led by Andrea Crisanti. The project experimental protocol is very complex: it comprises three phases, each phase focusing on a particular type (strain) of GM mosquitoes. Only the third phase is aiming to fight against malaria, and only this phase is based on the use of the gene drive technology. All the strains are produced by Crisanti’s team and must be imported to Burkina Faso for field trials. After importation, the mosquitoes are managed by the local Target Malaria team led by Abdoulaye Diabate; each phase should normally end with mosquito release by Diabate’s team. The project is moving forward rapidly, thanks to huge capital injections, coming primarily from the Bill Gates Foundation. The project is strongly supported by the NEPAD, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, an African Union agency. The NEPAD, which favors gene drives, has appointed ABNE, the African Biosafety Network of Expertise, to oversee Target Malaria experiment. The ABNE is funded by the Bill Gates Foundation, and the NEPAD – by the Open Philanthropy Project, one of Target Malaria’s funding sources. In 2019, within the framework of the first project phase, Target Malaria released 6,400 GM mosquitoes in the Bana village of the Burkina Faso, despite the Burkinabe civil society protests. The project is currently in its second phase, which began in March 2022, following the importation of the second-phase strain into Burkina Faso. Normally, before importing a strain for field trials, the Crisanti team conducts numerous tests to ensure the strain’s quality, and only the strain that meets all the criteria defined by the experimenter is accepted for importation. However, the project has encountered setbacks.
Suppression of sex-ratio drive in Drosophila subobscura
35233Sophie Lyth, Tom Gill, Andri Manser, et al., Evolution, 2025-07-30 15:46:21.
Selfish genetic elements enjoy an evolutionary advantage by enhancing their own transmission to offspring, and their genetic suppressors are favored when they re-establish fair inheritance patterns. Here, we study an X-linked sex ratio drive system (SR) in Drosophila subobscura, which kills Y-bearing sperm of SR males, resulting in the over-transmission of the SR chromosome and a strong female bias in their offspring. We surveyed D. subobscura populations in North Africa, which naturally harbor SR, and found that suppression occurs in ∼13.5% of wild-derived lines. We characterize this suppression phenotype through a series of crossing experiments, including multigenerational introgression of SR chromosomes into a suppressing genetic background. We show that introgression can restore normal offspring sex ratios or, in some cases, result in an excess of male offspring. This suppression appears to be a multilocus trait, involving autosomes and the Y chromosomes. Suppression of SR fails to ameliorate all costs of drive, with fully suppressed SR-carrying males having depressed fertility and low offspring egg hatch rates. Further examination of internal male reproductive organs using microscopy suggests that suppressed SR males also have abnormal testes. These factors may explain why the suppression fails to reach high frequencies, despite the strong advantage of suppressing SR.
The goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 is in jeopardy
34937African Media Agency, African Newspage, 2025-06-24 08:50:49.
Africa could see 554,000 additional malaria deaths due to climate change, unless urgent action is taken. The goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 is in jeopardy, as climate change, population growth, and funding shortfalls converge to reverse hard-won gains over the past decade. “Shifting temperature and rainfall patterns are expanding and altering malaria risk zones, which will continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially children under five,” says Dr. Patric Epopa, researcher at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) and Field Entomology Coordinator at Target Malaria Burkina Faso. According to a climate impact model developed by Boston Consulting Group and the Malaria Atlas Project to predict changes in extreme weather events and to estimate their impact on malaria deaths to the year 2049, the increase in extreme weather events is reshaping malaria risk. The findings indicate: Between 2030 and 2049, climate change is expected to cause 554,000 more malaria deaths than if today’s climate remained unchanged. This is despite some regions seeing reduced transmission rates. Extreme weather events will drive 92% of these additional deaths. Stepping up malaria control with current tools could reduce the additional deaths, but climate change may weaken their impact by up to 17%, making progress fragile. By 2050, climate change will make malaria eradication harder for 75% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population,equating to 1.3 billion people. “Extreme weather is one of the biggest drivers of malaria spikes,” says the researcher. “Displaced communities are often left unprotected without mosquito nets, indoor spraying, or access to early diagnosis and treatment.”
Importation of the non gene drive male bias mosquito to Uganda
34926Target Malaria, YouTube, 2025-06-23 14:55:08.
This video documents the importation of non gene drive male bias mosquitoes by Target Malaria’s team in Uganda. The video follows the journey from Entebbe Airport to the Arthropod Containment Level 2 (ACL2) insectary at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, highlighting key moments such as interviews with project staff and stakeholders—including regulatory officials and members of the community consultative group. It also captures the process of unpacking the eggs from the secure packaging and transferring them to the larval trays. Produced in both English and Luganda, this video is designed for project stakeholders, supporting presentations and other communication efforts to keep communities and partners informed about the project’s activities in Uganda.
Create legal path for gene drive mosquitoes, experts say
34919Samwel Doe Ouma, The Star, 2025-06-23 10:42:22.
As Africa continues to shoulder the global burden of malaria, scientists and policy experts say gene drive technology could offer a groundbreaking solution. But without clear regulatory frameworks and strong community engagement, its deployment could be delayed, risking further loss of life and economic productivity. During the Evidence for Development (EVI4DEV) Conference in Nairobi, hosted by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA), and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), experts called for urgent policy harmonisation and public dialogue to enable the safe rollout of gene drive technology. “Malaria is an African problem, we need to find our own tools to address malaria problems,” said Dr Barbara Glover from AUDA-NEPAD, South Africa. “Africa should be able to innovate new technologies and solutions for African problems.” Gene drive technology targets malaria-transmitting mosquitoes by altering their genetic makeup, specifically the Anopheles gambiae species, to pass on traits such as infertility, reducing mosquito populations over time. The approach, being developed under the Target Malaria consortium, has shown promise in laboratory settings but has not yet been tested in the field. “Gene drives systems promote the biased inheritance of specific genes from one generation to the next,” explained Dr Wiltshire Johnson of AUDA-NEPAD. “Gene drive is deployed when a causal pathway initiated by release of a gene drive system in target mosquito vector species, leading to its transmission to subsequent generations, its increase in frequency and spread in target mosquito populations, its simultaneous propagation of a linked genetic trait aimed at reducing vectorial capacity of plasmodium and reduced vectorial capacity for parasites in target mosquito populations resulting in decreased malaria incidence and prevalence.” Johnson emphasised the urgency of adopting innovative tools amid increasing resistance to existing malaria interventions such as insecticides and drug treatments. “Malaria still kills 600,000 people, causes reduction of 25 percent GDP in Africa countries,” he said. “Even with existing traditional Malaria control tools starting to fail or are showing signs of failure... the deployment and use of gene drive technology will help in solving the malaria problem.”
Gene Drive Mosquitoes: Can We End Malaria?
34930The Curious Scholarette, YouTube, 2025-06-19 14:56:01.
What if we could genetically modify mosquitoes to stop malaria in its tracks? In this episode of The Curious Scholarette, we explore the groundbreaking world of gene-drive technology — a powerful tool that could eliminate malaria-carrying mosquitoes by altering their DNA. But with great power comes great ethical debate. 🔬 In this video, we break down: What gene drives are and how they work How scientists are using CRISPR to disrupt mosquito reproduction or malaria transmission Evidence from field trials and lab experiments The potential risks: ecological disruption, irreversible changes, and bioethical concerns Perspectives from global health experts, bioethicists, and community leaders 📍 Why it matters: Malaria kills over 600,000 people each year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Could gene-drive mosquitoes be the silver bullet? Or are we playing with fire? 🧪 Sources Cited: WHO Malaria Report
Status of gene drive research in Africa; Ifakara Health Institute
34941African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, YouTube, 2025-06-16 08:56:50.
The African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium is an agreement established by not-for-profit member organizations based in Africa with a vision to build an informed local leadership to support the requirements for development, decision-making and on the utility of genetic biocontrol technologies for animal, public health, and conservation in Africa. To fulfil this vision the Consortium has established a Forum for Institutional Committees in Africa (IBC - Africa Forum) to provide a platform for interaction among African experts and institutions to enhance opportunities for technical capacity strengthening, knowledge exchange and deliberation about the challenges and opportunities of genetic biocontrol technologies for the public good, which will amplify African influence on their development and provide critical input for decision-making by product developers, policy makers, and other stakeholders. An Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is a committee created in an Institution in accordance with the Biosafety law or regulation in a Country. The IBC reviews, approves and oversees research involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), recombinant or synthetic DNA/RNA and other biohazards. The IBC assists the Principal Investigator, supervisors, funders, and the Biosafety Regulators with obtaining proper authorization for their studies. The Committee also approves procedures for procurement, use, storage, transportation, and disposal of bio-hazardous material.
Strengthening gene drive research in Africa through engagement, regulation, and regional cooperation
34909Dickson W. Lwetoijera, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2025-06-15 18:59:18.
On the sidelines of this year’s World Health Assembly, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel exploring the role of genomics in public health. The event, supported by the Science Summit, brought together researchers, regulators, and policymakers to examine how genomic tools can support stronger, more equitable health systems. I spoke alongside Prof. Georges Christophides of Imperial College London and Dr. Brian B. Tarimo of the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI). Together, we reflected on how gene drive technologies could strengthen the fight against malaria in Tanzania and the broader East African region, exploring progress made in gene drive research, and reflecting on what it will take to move forward. Prof. Christophides opened with a stark reminder of challenges faced in the fight against malaria: in 2023, Tanzania recorded over 8,000,000 cases and just under 25,000 malaria deaths, with 95% of the population at risk. With challenges such as insecticide resistance weakening the impact of current tools like treated nets and indoor residual spraying, the need for new interventions is necessary and unavoidable. Gene drive technologies offer one such possibility, but only if the right systems are in place to support their development and implementation. Prof. Christophides stressed the importance of strengthening frameworks that enable progress while maintaining safety and transparency. He also highlighted the need for long-term institutional partnerships, where African agencies are not just consulted, but lead the way. Dr. Tarimo focused on the importance of community engagement, a key aspect of the research. At Transmission Zero, we are working with district-level teams in areas that may host future field trials of gene drive technologies to ensure that communities are informed, involved, and heard. Engaging with local communities means recognizing that their values and concerns must shape the direction of our work from the outset. Without that trust, no technology, no matter how promising, can succeed.
Assessing the population genetic structure and demographic history of Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis at island and mainland populations in Uganda: Implications for testing novel malaria vector control approaches
34868Rita Mwima, Tin-Yu J. Hui, Edward Lukyamuzi, et al, bioRxiv, 2025-05-26 21:26:56.
This study collected 2918 Anopheles gambiae and 173 Anopheles. arabiensis across six populations from both the islands on Lake Victoria and mainland Uganda for amplicon sequencing. Large pairwise FST values were observed between the two species, indicating their divergence. We observed low but often significant FST values between the 6 An. gambiae populations, while between the An. arabiensis mainland populations, FST values were not significant. Principal Component Analysis also revealed strong genetic structure between the two species but did not provide a clear picture between populations within each species. We also found that mainland An. gambiae populations had higher within population genetic diversity than the islands’, while An. arabiensis had the lowest nucleotide diversity. Tajima’s D values were all negative, suggesting a recent population expansion. The islands An. gambiae populations had very low contemporary effective population sizes in the tens and hundreds, as estimated from linkage disequilibrium, while the mainland population sizes were consistently higher, in the thousands.
The state of regulatory and governance frameworks for gene drives outside of Africa
34865African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, YouTube, 2025-05-26 21:12:33.
Regional and global perspectives on gene drive regulation. Discussion on the state of regulatory and governance frameworks for gene drives outside of Africa, covering regional priorities and challenges.
Global and regional updates on gene drive governance; AUDA-NEPAD update on regional work
34860African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, YouTube, 2025-05-26 21:04:00.
AUDA-NEPAD update on regional work. Presentation on AUDA-NEPAD’s initiatives and progress in governance and capacity-building efforts related to synthetic biology, particularly on gene drives.
Advances in Sterile Insect Technique Driven by Sugarcane Pest Management in South Africa
34852Lawrence N. Malinga, Ph.D., and Samara Singh, Entomology Today, 2025-05-26 20:21:30.
Eldana saccharina, also known as the African sugarcane stalk borer, is an insect pest indigenous to Africa that targets gramineous crops such as sugarcane, maize (corn), sorghum, and millet in several countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and others. In South Africa, E. saccharina is the most damaging pest of sugarcane. The larvae feed internally on plant tissue, leading to a significant reduction in sugarcane yield. In South Africa, this damage amounts to over $60 million in annual revenue losses. In 1939, the first severe outbreak of this pest was recorded on sugarcane in South Africa. Since then, E. saccharina has spread throughout the sugarcane-growing areas of South Africa, affecting both coastal and inland regions (see map). Since the 1970s, the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) has been actively involved in conducting research to control this pest. Over the years, attempts have been made to manage E. saccharina using a variety of control tactics, including insecticides, varietal resistance, biological control, and habitat management. A more recent control strategy is the sterile insect technique (SIT), which is currently in the proof-of-concept phase at SASRI.
Gene drive could reshape the malaria fight and young people must be at the centre
34803Dr. Phillip Chigiya, African Leaders Malaria Alliance, 2025-04-25 12:04:22.
The only time I was ever admitted overnight in hospital was when I was five years old. I had malaria. I still remember the strange chill of the sheets, the IV line taped to my small hand, and my mother at my bedside, watching me breathe. That moment has never left me. Since then, I have moved from patient to practitioner. I have worked in clinics and hospitals across Africa, and malaria has never been far away. I have diagnosed it in children too young to speak, in teenagers missing school, and in pregnant women arriving in labour wards with dangerously low haemoglobin. Sometimes treatment is routine. Sometimes it is a race against time. It is easy to be swept up by bold declarations, especially on World Malaria Day. But we must be honest. The progress we once celebrated is stalling. In 2023, there were over 263 million new malaria cases and an estimated 597,000 deaths, most of them in Africa. One child dies every minute. Behind every number is a name, a family, and a future lost too soon.
Uganda grapples with malaria burden amidst promising innovations
34795Innocent Lawrence Okima, The Independent, 2025-04-23 10:42:44.
According to the report, Uganda, with a population of close to fifty million people, accounts for 5% of the world’s malaria cases and 3% of malaria-related deaths. Astonishingly, according to page 151 of the report, Uganda leads the East and Southern African countries with 23% of malaria cases and high transmission rates, beating even Mozambique, which comes in second at 19%. It’s not exactly the kind of competition anyone wants to win. Malaria’s economic toll is just as staggering. Families lose loved ones, and resources that could have contributed to building roads, schools, create jobs are diverted to fight malaria. Children – the main victims of malaria – lose access to education and young children often die (80% of malaria deaths are children under five). Pregnant women are at high risk of losing their babies and their lives because malaria in pregnancy puts them in grave danger. Uganda’s government, together with partners like WHO, has declared a fight against malaria. This includes distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), spraying homes with indoor residual insecticides (IRS), and ensuring early diagnosis through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Treatment relies heavily on artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which remain a mainstay in the battle against the disease. While these measures have shown results—malaria prevalence has declined slightly over the last decade—progress is hampered by challenges like insecticide resistance, inadequate healthcare in remote areas, and insufficient funding. Not to mention the eternal struggle of getting children to sleep under the mosquito net and fishermen not to use it as one of their equipment to trap silverfish locally known as “Mukene”. Amid these challenges, hope emerges in the form of a genetic technology called “gene drive”, currently under development, and championed by Target Malaria at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe. This cutting-edge approach involves genetic modifications to the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, the main malaria carrier in Uganda.
World Malaria Day: Renewing our commitment to end malaria in Africa
34791Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2025-04-23 10:14:29.
As the world marks World Malaria Day this week, we are reminded that malaria remains one of the oldest and deadliest diseases in human history. Despite decades of global effort, it continues to claim half a million lives each year. The overwhelming majority of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is estimated that one person dies of the disease every minute. This year’s World Malaria Day theme: Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite is a reminder that we must renew our commitment to end malaria and rethink our approach to fighting the disease. The malaria burden in Africa remains unacceptably high. The impact of the disease extends beyond health. Malaria strains healthcare systems, reduces productivity, and hinders economic development. In many African countries, malaria-related absenteeism and healthcare costs place a significant burden on families and communities. Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the fight against malaria. Control programs involving the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and artemisinin-based combination therapies have resulted in a decline in malaria infections and deaths. But several challenges now threaten these gains. Insecticide resistance is rising, making it harder to control mosquito populations with the tools we have relied on for decades. Antimalarial drug resistance is emerging in some regions, complicating treatment. Urban malaria is becoming a growing concern, in part due to the spread of species such as Anopheles stephensi, a mosquito native to parts of South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, which has been detected in several African countries. Climate change is shifting transmission dynamics, altering mosquito habitats and infection patterns, bringing malaria to new areas and intensifying the burden of the disease in regions where it was already present. By the 2030s, it is estimated that an additional 147 to 171 million additional Africans could be at risk of malaria.
Problem formulation for a small-scale field study of non-gene drive, genetically modified, male bias mosquitoes in Burkina Faso
34758Hayes, K. R., & Hosack, G. R., Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2025-04-10 09:17:32.
This article documents the problem formulation step of a risk assessment for a proposed small-scale field release in Burkina Faso of genetically modified (GM) An. coluzzii mosquitoes that carry a Paternal Male Bias (PMB) construct. These mosquitoes are part of the pathway developed by Target Malaria to provide a new cost-effective control strategy for malaria vectors in Africa. The problem formulation describes 7 potentially harmful outcomes that might occur through 19 pathways to harm and identifies 22 types of desk-based analysis, 6 laboratory tests, and 5 field observations that can be used to test the risk hypotheses associated with these pathways. The problem formulation forms the basis of a prerelease risk assessment that meets the standards stipulated under the Cartagena Protocol and guidance provided by the World Health Organization, the African Union Development Authority, and the European Food Safety Authority. The Problem Formulation reflects the concerns expressed about the proposed field release by relevant stakeholders, although stated concerns are not always specific enough to be unambiguously associated to a single pathway. The presentation of the pathways to harm emphasizes the types of evidence that supports the steps within each pathway, and so portrays the speculative nature of some pathways.
Bridging the gap: Effective communication strategies for genetic biocontrol technologies
34749Caroline Thuo, African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, 2025-04-04 10:39:01.
The 2nd Global Congress on Genetic Biocontrol Technologies took place from March 17-20, in Accra, Ghana. The Congress was jointly organized by the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). Held under the theme “Harnessing Genetic Biocontrol Potential Solutions in a Changing Climate”, the event brought together delegates from 19 countries across different continents. It united professionals from diverse disciplines, including scientists, policymakers, regulatory experts and science communicators. The first two days of the congress featured intensive pre-congress workshops and courses focusing on: -Regulatory frameworks and decision-making processes for emerging biotechnologies -Strategic communication of genetic biocontrol technologies -Biosafety and biosecurity protocols for high-containment facilities The pre-congress course on communicating genetic biocontrol technologies attracted mostly journalists and science communicators from the African region. Participants explored topics such as the value of message mapping, a structured technique for crafting coherent narratives grounded in robust scientific evidence. The course also highlighted the critical role of media relationships in effective science communication. Scientists attending the course were encouraged to identify and utilize appropriate media channels suited to specific messages. They also gained a better understanding of the importance of proactively organizing field visits, media briefings, and events to support accurate reporting of scientific advances, and of consistently sharing timely and reliable information to media representatives.
Experts: One Health approach to help combat zoonotic diseases in Africa
34728Milliam Murigi, People Daily, 2025-03-31 16:41:28.
If African countries are to successfully combat zoonotic diseases, human health, animal health, and environmental health must be treated as one interconnected system. This was revealed in Accra, Ghana, during the second global congress on new and emerging genetic biocontrol technologies. Speaking during the meeting, Misheck Mulumba, the congress president said that, there is no way Africa is going to win this fight if different departments keep seeing rise of zoonotic diseases as a problem for one department and not their mandate. “It is important that different practitioners in all the three departments to work together to combat these infections. These three departments should stop pointing fingers but should instead work together to solve the problems the continent has,” Mulumba said noting Africa must embrace One Health approach. One Health approach is a collaborative, multisectoral, and trans disciplinary strategy that recognizes the interconnection between human health, animal health, and the environment. It emphasises that diseases affecting humans often originate from animals and are influenced by environmental factors, making it essential for experts from different fields such as medicine, veterinary science, environmental science, and public health to work together to prevent and control health threats. With 75 per cent of emerging and reemerging diseases originating from animals, Mulumba notes, it’s clear that tackling these infections requires a collaborative approach. Apart from that, the continent needs to invest in rapid detection, response, and control mechanisms to curb disease outbreaks before they escalate into global health emergencies.
AUDA-NEPAD launches the 2nd edition APET report on gene drives for malaria control and elimination
34657Charles Mugoya, Target Malaria, 2025-03-25 09:09:33.
With support from the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Union published its 1st APET report in 2018 which noted that that, while the existing mosquito control interventions have significantly reduced the burden of malaria across Africa, complementary new interventions were very much needed to drive the residual burden towards zero and eventually achieve malaria elimination on the continent. African countries were urged to invest in the development and regulation of gene drive technology, whose greatest and most urgent application will be in malaria control and elimination. To this end, African Union (AU) held a Summit in Addis Ababa from 10 -15 February 2025 in which, AUDA-NEPAD took the opportunity to organize a side event to launch the 2nd APET report. The report provides very useful insights on genetically based vector control tools in general and gene drive in particular. The 2nd APET edition report comprises 9 sections that convey messages to update a diverse community of stakeholders on progress and current state of research and development efforts with recommendations for gene drive technology advancement.
Exploring the ecology of malaria mosquitoes in São Tomé and Príncipe
34636Lisa Chamberland, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2025-03-21 14:28:58.
As part of our work to develop new genetic approaches for malaria control, the University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) is studying mosquito movement and breeding patterns in São Tomé and Príncipe. In a study published last year, we investigated the dispersal dynamics of Anopheles coluzzii – the only malaria vector on this island nation. Our recent study examines how environmental factors influence A. coluzzii breeding sites and shape mosquito dispersal across São Tomé and Príncipe. Understanding movement and interactions between mosquito populations is key to designing malaria control strategies. The data collected will also offer key insights that will guide the design of potential field evaluations of the technology we are working to develop. To determine the most suitable habitats for A. coluzzii, we used computer modeling to analyze environmental conditions such as temperature, elevation, and human population density. Our results show that the northeastern regions of both São Tomé and Príncipe islands provide the most suitable conditions for A. coluzzii larval development, with lower elevations and higher human population densities likely contributing to greater habitat availability. Interestingly, our climate modeling suggests that the mosquito’s geographic distribution on the islands will remain largely unchanged under current climate projections, even without additional interventions.
Ghana committed to exploring gene drive to combat malaria – Minister
34638Ghana News Agency, 2025-03-20 14:31:41.
Ghana has expressed interest in exploring gene drive technology as a new approach to combatting malaria. The country is open to adopting technology that is cost-effective, efficient, harmless and has the potential to significantly reduce malaria transmission, especially in areas where traditional control methods have failed. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology gave the assurance in an interview with journalists after opening the Second Global Genetic Biocontrol Congress in Accra. Scientists, researchers, and stakeholders from 25 institutions drawn from 15 countries are participating in the conference on the theme: “Harnessing genetic biocontrol potential solutions in changing climate.” Describing Malaria as a “serious threat,” Dr. Muhammed said the burden of malaria on Africa’s economy was high as the continent spent millions of dollars on malaria control. He said Ghana would adopt emerging technologies to help support disease prevention including those that affect crops “as long as it does not affect our survival as human beings.” People who are against GMO have several cultural issues and social issues. But the question is, is it the way to go now?
Ghana hosts 2nd Global Congress on new, emerging genetic biocontrol technologies
34634Ama Kudom-Agyemang, EnviroNews Nigeria, 2025-03-13 14:22:11.
From Monday, March 17 to Thursday, March 20, 2025, Ghana is hosting a gathering of science, health and communication experts to deliberate on and contribute to innovative scientific exploits for Africa’s health sector. The over 150 African national and international professionals from scientific institutions, academia, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology researchers, development and clinical organisations as well as science communicators would be brainstorming on new and emerging genetic biocontrol technologies that can tackle vector-borne diseases such as malaria, by sharing experiences and lessons across diverse disciplines related to genetic biocontrol technologies. The four-day gathering is the 2nd Global Congress in Africa on new and emerging genetic biocontrol technologies. The 1st Global Congress was held in Nairobi, Kenya in August, 2023. Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium (The Consortium) are jointly organising this 2nd Congress on the theme: “Harnessing genetic biocontrol potential solutions in a changing climate.”
Gene drive modified mosquitoes offer new tool for malaria elimination efforts
34615Conrad Duncan, Imperial, 2025-03-13 11:59:36.
Transmission Zero, a research team from Imperial College London in partnership with the Ifakara Health Institute and the National Institute of Medical Research in Tanzania, has developed genetic technology which renders a mosquito unable to transmit the malaria parasite and has a gene drive that ensures that future generations are also resistant to the parasite. The technology could significantly reduce the malaria burden in high-risk countries, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year, especially among children – who are disproportionately at risk from the disease. The work of Transmission Zero has been highlighted in a new Global Development Hub STEM for Development Impact Memo authored by Professor George K. Christophides, Professor of Infectious Disease and Immunity at Imperial, Dr Nikolai Windbichler, Reader in Genetics at Imperial, and Dr Dickson Wilson Lwetoijera, Principal Research Scientist at Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania. Professor Christophides from Imperial’s Department of Life Sciences said: “The solutions we currently have for malaria are not enough – we need something new. “Our technology is equitable, it offers hope in the fight against malaria and doesn’t present economic or social barriers to malaria intervention access.”
2nd Edition Report: Gene Drives for Malaria Control and Elimination in Africa
34579African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies, APET Secretariat, 2025-03-12 16:43:52.
Malaria continues to impose a significant economic and public health burden on Africa. In 2021, the continent accounted for 95% of the global 247 million new malaria cases and 96% of the 619,000 malaria-related deaths. Notably, over three-quarters (77%) of these deaths occurred among children under the age of five. At present, ten countries—Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania—have been classified as High Burden, High Impact (HBHI) nations, collectively contributing to 68% of all malaria cases and 70% of malaria-related fatalities globally. Furthermore, approximately 1,031,000,000 individuals across Africa are estimated to be at risk of contracting malaria. Extensive studies have consistently demonstrated a strong correlation between economic development rates and the burden of malaria, underscoring malaria’s role as a critical impediment to economic progress. The direct economic costs of malaria are substantial, placing immense strain on the limited resources of the affected African nations. Countries severely burdened by malaria exhibit Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) that are up to five times lower than those of malaria-free nations. The annual economic growth loss in endemic countries is estimated at 1.3%, equating to as much as US$12 billion in lost productivity. Moreover, malaria contributes to between 5-8% of school absenteeism among African children and causes an additional 2.4 to 6.5 days of absenteeism per student. The costs associated with malaria prevention and treatment further highlight the economic challenge. The annual cost of protecting one individual against malaria ranges from US$1.18 to US$5.97 through vector control measures. Diagnosis costs have a median of US$6, while treatment costs for each case vary depending on severity, ranging from US$9 to US$89.93. As such, malaria remains the foremost public health priority in Africa, with the costs of treatment and disease prevention far exceeding the financial capacities of most African governments. A further pressing concern is the recent introduction and establishment of Anopheles stephensi, a species of mosquito that poses a significant threat to the Horn of Africa and beyond. This invasive species, which tends to bite outdoors, could exacerbate the existing malaria burden and undermine the gains made in malaria control over the past two decades. The global response to malaria control heavily relies on donor funding, which is currently only sufficient to meet half of the required global funding targets. This reliance on external financing is unsustainable and highly vulnerable to shifts in political priorities in donor countries. Approximately a quarter of the global malaria funding is directed to Africa for the provision of insecticide-treated nets, rapid diagnostic tests, and medicines, while national funding should cover the operating costs of the broader health sector. Existing malaria control measures, including the use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), and Larval Source Management (LSM), have demonstrated limited effectiveness, especially against the newly introduced invasive mosquito species. This underscores the necessity for the development and adoption of innovative mosquito control approaches, such as Attractive Targeted Sugar Bait (ATSB), Endocticides, Improved Housing, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), and Paratransgenesis. Research into these methods is ongoing, and their potential for improving malaria control strategies is considerable. To supplement existing malaria control efforts, innovative technologies like Gene Drive present promising long-term solutions to protect the most vulnerable populations and address the malaria burden in Africa. The African Union (AU) has recognised the potential of Gene Drive technology and has endorsed its development, with support from the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). This initiative aims to foster conducive environments for research, develop regulatory frameworks, and engage stakeholders across African Union Member States, ensuring a collaborative approach to the ongoing fight against malaria.
Uganda expands genetically modified mosquito survey in Mukono, Kalangala islands
34600David Ssekayinga, Monitor, 2025-02-05 10:38:42.
The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) has extended its research on the behaviour of genetically modified mosquitoes to more islands on Lake Victoria. The two islands where similar research will be conducted are Sselinya in Kalangala District and Koome in Mukono District. Gene drive mosquitoes are among the anti-malarial strategies the Ugandan government has embarked on since 2016 under the Africa Target Malaria Project, seeking to reduce fatalities resulting from the disease in the country. Scientists say they aim to develop sterile male mosquitoes that wouldn't be capable of fertilizing the female Anopheles mosquitoes which spread malaria and also intend to reduce the population of female malaria-spreading mosquitoes by having them lay fewer eggs compared to the 300 eggs that a natural female Anopheles mosquito lays. According to Krystal Birungi, the field entomologist coordinator for the Target Malaria Uganda Project, differing results from the first research in villages on the mainland and the smaller islands prompted them to explore results on the larger islands.
Kenya Set to Introduce GMO Maize After Public Consultation Period
34217Martin Olage, Mwakilishi, 2025-01-07 20:44:12.
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has completed a month-long public consultation regarding the potential market introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) maize, specifically known as BT Maize. This consultation, initiated in mid-December after an official notice on December 6, 2024, gathered feedback from Kenyan citizens as part of its due diligence process. This initiative follows a licensing request made by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). The organizations aim to bring BT Maize—developed by Bayer Company and licensed to the TELA Maize project—into the market. This genetically modified maize is engineered to resist pests such as stem borers and fall armyworms, potentially decreasing the reliance on chemical insecticides in agriculture. Historically, Kenya has cultivated genetically modified crops for non-food purposes, including BT Cotton. The NBA has been active in conducting field trials with various GM crops: these include water-efficient maize in Makueni, enhanced maize suited for African agricultural conditions in Kitale, and virus-resistant sweet potatoes and cassava in Kakamega and Thika. Current trials are also evaluating GM potatoes in Nakuru and Kiambu, along with the cultivation of purple gypsophilia flowers in Naivasha. Kalro and AATF advocate that BT Maize presents a vital solution for minimizing crop damage caused by pests. They stress that the maize contains specific genes sourced from Bacillus thuringiensis, effectively targeting particular lepidopteran pests.
Mitigating dengue transmission in Africa: the need for Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes’ rollout
34211Samson Ogunlade, Adeshina Adekunle, Emma McBryde, Frontiers, 12. 2025-01-07 08:57:15.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that poses a significant public health concern globally. The disease is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the range of clinical manifestations vary from flu-like symptoms to more serious conditions such as dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. The dengue virus (DENV) infects about 400 million people yearly, of which 50–100 million of those become symptomatic, with over 20,000 deaths. Dengue notifications are increasing in Africa. The continent's tropical and subtropical climatic conditions create a conducive breeding environment for mosquitoes and hence, contribute to the spread of the virus. While recent statistics show that there were 15.7 million reported dengue infections in 2010, recent studies show that dengue cases are on the rise in Africa. This situation presents an increasing threat to public health systems already under pressure from other infectious illnesses. Traditionally established vector control methods such as the use of insecticide, emptying or covering water-filled containers and eliminating mosquito breeding sites have had limited success in curbing the spread of dengue. This calls for experimental and innovative strategies to combat the disease effectively. One promising approach—the Wolbachia-based approach, involves the deployment of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into the wild mosquito population. This technique has shown great potential in reducing dengue transmission. While the Wolbachia-based technique has demonstrated highly positive results in mitigating DENV, it is not always successful—Wolbachia strategies may struggle in high temperature settings, because some mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia (such as wMel strain) are unable to transmit Wolbachia maternally to their offspring and establish themselves under high temperatures. Therefore, using thermally tolerant strains may be beneficial in establishing Wolbachia infections in mosquitoes especially in regions with high heat conditions. Although Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes have been rolled out in different countries such as Brazil, Colombia in South America; Indonesia, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia, India in South Asia; Northern Queensland in Australia; and the United States of America, there is arguably no deployment yet made in Africa.
Healthcare delivery in Africa still a big challenge, health experts warn
33880KBC News, 2024-12-10 16:59:08.
The adoption or harnessing of emerging technologies in the healthcare system in Africa to improve healthcare delivery remains low. It is reported that while the continent forms 18% of the global population, Africa accounts for 25% of the global diseases. Though there are already efforts by various member states to harness emerging technologies in healthcare, there are still barriers that need to be addressed to fully leverage the potential of emerging technologies to revolutionize healthcare systems across the continent. It is on this backdrop that regional economic communities (RECs) from East Africa, West African Health Organizations COMESA and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, gathered in Nairobi for a two-day forum to address challenges facing the countries in the region in the adoption of the emerging technologies in the health sector.
Assessing the Efficacy of Gene-Drive Technology in Reducing Malaria Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current Progress and Future Prospects
33876Bizimana Rukundo T., IAA Journal of Applied Sciences, 12(1):1-5. 2024-12-10 16:43:06.
Malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating innovative solutions to combat its transmission. This review examined the efficacy of gene-drive technology as a novel approach to reducing malaria transmission through genetic modifications of Anopheles mosquitoes. Utilizing a comprehensive literature review and analysis of experimental studies and pilot projects, we assessed the mechanisms of gene drives, including population suppression and replacement strategies. The findings indicated that gene-drive technology has the potential to significantly alter mosquito populations, thereby diminishing the burden of malaria. However, challenges such as ecological concerns, regulatory complexities, and public acceptance must be addressed for successful implementation. The integration of gene drives with existing malaria control measures, collaborative research efforts, and robust ethical governance is crucial for maximizing effectiveness and ensuring sustainable outcomes. Furthermore, monitoring and evaluation systems are essential for assessing the safety and efficacy of gene-drive initiatives. This review underscored the transformative potential of gene-drive technology in malaria prevention, advocating for continued dialogue among stakeholders to navigate the complexities associated with its application in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Exploring The Dynamics of Gene Drive Mosquitoes Within Wild Populations Using an Agent-Based Simulation
33614S. Wickramasooriya, I. Mahmood, et al., IEEE Xplore, 2024-11-12 13:33:12.
Gene drive technology is emerging as a potentially powerful tool in combating vector-borne diseases – notably malaria. This study introduces an agent-based model (ABM) focused on the deployment of genetically engineered mosquitoes with gene drive (GEM) in Príncipe Island, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa. Grounded in empirical data from laboratory and field studies, our model forecasts the dynamics of mosquito populations central to devising efficacious GEM release strategies. The core objective is to evaluate the time required for GEMs to constitute 90% of the mosquito population and to elucidate their dispersal throughout the island. This research is instrumental in understanding GEM potential in controlling malaria vectors.
Navigating biosafety regulatory frameworks for genetic engineering in Africa: a focus on genome editing and gene drive technologies
33383Tilahun Rabuma, Felix Moronta-Barrios, Wendy Craig, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12. 2024-11-04 16:05:02.
Genome editing and gene drive technologies are increasingly gaining attraction in Africa, with researchers exploring their potential applications in agriculture, health and the environment. Acknowledging that robust regulatory frameworks are crucial in facilitating the development and utilization of these technologies, informed decision-making is, however, being impeded by the fragmented information availability and readiness of regulatory authorities on the continent. This study investigates the regulatory frameworks governing genome editing and gene drive technologies in African countries, identifies common regulatory challenges and proposes actionable solutions. Primary data were collected through questionnaires and complemented by analyzing existing biosafety regulations from online databases and scientific literature. Our findings suggest that while a few African countries have recently updated their regulatory frameworks, many are still under discussion. Challenges to development and implementation include limited resources, expertise, awareness, and public resistance. The findings underscore the urgent need for further development in regulatory capacities. By shedding light on these challenges, our study could provide African regulators with valuable insights to guide the formulation of effective regulatory frameworks. Such frameworks are essential for harnessing the potential of genome editing and gene drive technologies while safeguarding human health and the environment in Africa.
Exploring The Dynamics of Gene Drive Mosquitoes Within Wild Populations Using an Agent-Based Simulation
34602S. Wickramasooriya, I. Mahmood, A. Calinescu, M. Wooldridge and G. Lanzaro, 2024 Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference, Washington, D.C.:1-14. 2024-10-29 10:38:49.
Gene drive technology is emerging as a potentially powerful tool in combating vector-borne diseases – notably malaria. This study introduces an agent-based model (ABM) focused on the deployment of genetically engineered mosquitoes with gene drive (GEM) in Príncipe Island, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa. Grounded in empirical data from laboratory and field studies, our model forecasts the dynamics of mosquito populations central to devising efficacious GEM release strategies. The core objective is to evaluate the time required for GEMs to constitute 90% of the mosquito population and to elucidate their dispersal throughout the island. This research is instrumental in understanding GEM potential in controlling malaria vectors.
Using genomics to find solutions to malaria
32714Morgan Morris, Nature Africa, 2024-10-22 17:47:10.
Joel Odero’s experiences of malaria is wide and deep. Growing up in a village in Kenya, he not only contracted the disease numerous times, but was all too familiar with the relentless daily regimen of spraying insecticides and checking malaria nets were not ripped. Decades later, as a research scientist with the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, he witnessed firsthand how, for many, that daily grind is still ongoing. As part of the institute’s teams that, between 2018 and 2022, spread out across the country to capture a range of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes for studying, he would collect samples from homes where people had to spray and check their nets every day. Odero is part of a generation of scientists trying to break the stranglehold of the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit the disease-causing parasite. Their weapon of choice is genomics. It’s a challenge taken up by organizations like Target Malaria, a not-for-profit international research consortium featuring teams in Africa, the US and Europe, and funded by, among others, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Open Philanthropy. There, researchers’ game plan is simple: reduce the population numbers of the mosquitoes, specifically those of three related species responsible for most malaria transmissions in Africa – Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis. To do so, they are looking to capitalize on a naturally occurring phenomenon, gene drive. Often described as “selfish genetic elements”, taking the form of bits of DNA code, genes are ‘driven’ when a gene that has a favorable effect becomes more prevalent in successive generations. Typically, with both humans and mosquitoes, offspring inherit two copies of any gene, one from each parent. As a result, there is a 50/50 chance of either of the two copies being passed on to later generations. Using gene drives, researchers are manipulating the bias that is introduced to that rate of inheritance so that a specific trait is nearly 100% guaranteed to be passed on. Gene-drive malaria research takes on many forms. Two of the most popular are known as ‘population replacement’ and ‘population suppression’. With population replacement, the aim is to modify the mosquitoes so that they are no longer vectors, aka transmitters, of the malaria parasite. With population suppression – which the work of Target Malaria falls under – the goal is to reduce the mosquito population. Target Malaria’s strategy is to sterilise and reduce the number of female mosquitoes. The females transmit the malaria-causing parasite known as Plasmodium falciparum to humans, and whose numbers typically determine the size of a mosquito population. The gene drive approach would be a game changer, says Target Malaria’s Abdoulaye Diabaté, head of medical entomology and parasitology at Burkina Faso’s Research Institute in Health Sciences in Bobo-Dioulasso. “It’s clear that the tools that we have today are not the ones that can take us to malaria elimination,” says Diabaté. It is the failure of these ageing tools, or the fear that they might fail, that is driving the gene-based approach to malaria research in Africa and elsewhere.
Russia’s Latest Target in Africa: U.S.-Funded Anti-Malaria Programs
32704Elian Peltier, The New York Times, 2024-10-22 15:00:57.
The scientists sifting through thousands of genetically modified mosquito larvae in a laboratory in Burkina Faso were trying to stop the spread of malaria, one of the biggest killers on the African continent. But in the pro-Russian propaganda telling of their work, the scientists, helped by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, were not protecting local people against malaria, they were infecting them. “Since these mosquitoes have arrived in Burkina, we’ve noticed an increase of malaria and dengue fever,” Egountchi Behanzin, a French-Togolese activist who often posts pro-Russian content, said in an interview. Mr. Behanzin could not cite any scientific evidence, and researchers say there are no grounds for such a claim. But his anti-Western messages, and his praise for Russia in Africa, are shared daily among his more than 600,000 followers on social media. His posts are seen as only one element in a recent pro-Russian disinformation operation that is targeting U.S.-funded health care programs in Africa. The attacks come at a time when ambitious initiatives and vaccines are being rolled out on a continent shaken by several epidemics, including a deadly outbreak of mpox. The apparent aim is to undermine public trust and bolster Russia’s steady attempt to weaken Western interests in Africa, according to U.S. and European officials.
The potential of gene drives in malaria vector species to control malaria in African environments
32702Hancock, P.A., North, A., Leach, A.W. et al., Nature Communications, 15. 2024-10-22 14:44:25.
Gene drives are a promising means of malaria control with the potential to cause sustained reductions in transmission. In real environments, however, their impacts will depend on local ecological and epidemiological factors. We develop a data-driven model to investigate the impacts of gene drives that causes vector population suppression. We simulate gene drive releases in sixteen ~ 12,000 km2 areas of west Africa that span variation in vector ecology and malaria prevalence, and estimate reductions in vector abundance, malaria prevalence and clinical cases. Average reductions in vector abundance ranged from 71.6–98.4% across areas, while impacts on malaria depended strongly on which vector species were targeted. When other new interventions including RTS,S vaccination and pyrethroid-PBO bednets were in place, at least 60% more clinical cases were averted when gene drives were added, demonstrating the benefits of integrated interventions. Our results show that different strategies for gene drive implementation may be required across different African settings.
Practical Application of a Relationship-Based Model to Engagement for Gene-Drive Vector Control Programs
32533Ana Kormos, Lodney Nazaré, Adionilde Aguiar dos Santos, and Gregory C. Lanzaro, The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 111:341-360. 2024-10-15 12:04:35.
Engagement is an important component in the advancement of gene-drive vector control research programs as developers look to transition the technology from the laboratory to the field. As research advances and engagement surrounding this novel technology is put into practice, knowledge can be gained from practical experiences and applications in the field. A relationship-based model (RBM) provides a framework for end-user development of engagement programs and strategies. The model places end users at the center of the engagement decision-making processes rather than as recipients of predetermined strategies, methods, and definitions. Successful RBM application for healthcare delivery has previously been demonstrated, and the University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) has applied this model to its gene-drive program in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. The model emphasizes the importance of local leadership in the planning, development, and implementation of all phases of project engagement. The primary aim of this paper is to translate the model from paper to practice and provide a transparent description, using practical examples, of the UCMI program implementation of RBM at its field site. End-user development of the UCMI engagement program provides a unique approach to the development of ethical, transparent, and effective engagement strategies for malaria control programs. This paper may also serve as a reference and example for projects looking to establish an engagement program model that integrates end-user groups in the decision-making processes surrounding engagement.
Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté’s frank conversation with Bill Gates
32512African Media Agency, 2024-10-08 09:27:11.
On October 2, 2024, Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté, a prominent figure in malaria research and Head of Medical Entomology at Burkina Faso’s Research Institute in Health Sciences, gained international attention by appearing in the Netflix documentary series "What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates." The episode, titled "Can We Outsmart Disease?", delves into the ongoing battle against malaria, which disproportionately affects Africa, accounting for 94% of cases and 95% of deaths globally. In his conversation with Gates, Diabaté highlights the critical link between malaria and poverty, arguing that had the disease claimed similar lives in wealthier nations, it would have prompted a more aggressive global response. He advocates for a greater role for African voices in developing innovative solutions to combat malaria, including emerging technologies like gene drive mechanisms aimed at reducing mosquito populations. Despite significant progress, recent reports indicate a worrying increase in malaria cases due to factors such as insecticide resistance and climate change. The documentary underscores the urgent need for sustained investment in malaria research and innovative approaches, a sentiment echoed by Gates, who notes the shocking disparity in funding for malaria compared to other health issues. As the series aims to raise awareness and inspire action, it poses a pressing question: Can we finally outsmart this persistent disease?
Operationalizing stakeholder engagement for gene drive research in malaria elimination in Africa – translating guidance into practice
32212Pare Toe L, Dicko B, Linga R, Barry N, et al., Malar J, 21:225. 2024-10-03 13:14:18.
Gene drive mosquitoes are increasingly considered a potential transformational tool for vector control of malaria mosquitoes. As part of efforts to promote responsible research in this field, a number of guidance documents have been published by the World Health Organization, National Academies and expert groups. While virtually all recent guidance documents on gene drive research stress the importance of stakeholder engagement activities, no specific guidelines on implementing them have been established. Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium developing a vector-control gene drive approach to eliminate malaria, has reflected on how its stakeholder engagement strategy translates engagement guidance documents into practice. The project analysed and addressed the tension between the context specificities and the international recommendations. The engagement strategy combines published recommendations for responsible gene drive research, information collected from the local context where the project operates and a set of principles guiding the choices made. This strategy was first developed during the early phases of the project’s research, years ahead of any activities with gene drive mosquitoes in those countries of operations. These earlier activities, and their related engagement, allow the project to develop and adapt an engagement strategy appropriate for potential gene drive research in its field site countries. This paper offers a description of a stakeholder engagement strategy operationalization based on (1) adaptation to stakeholder preferences, (2) inclusiveness and (3) empowerment and accountability. The authors hope to offer concrete examples to support other projects with the development and implementation of their engagement strategies with particular attention to the co-development principle.
Communicating the uncertainties associated with genetic biocontrol approaches: insights from communicators, science journalists and scientists in Africa
32538Tonui, W. K., Ogoyi, D., Thuo, C., Tareh, C., et al., Journal of Science Communication, 23. 2024-09-25 12:13:55.
Genetic biocontrol approaches, such as gene drive technology is rapidly gaining interest from scientists and public health professionals due to their potential to overcome many challenges of current malaria control tools and strategies. This is particularly the case in Africa where the burden of malaria is most significant. Uncertainty exists about whether these approaches will work, how effective they might be, who is controlling them, and potential unintended consequences for human health and the environment. Therefore, efforts to enhance the understanding of genetic engineering and biotechnology are needed, to ensure that accurate information about this technology is disseminated in the media by science communicators including the journalists and scientists. In this practice insight, we review the outcomes from workshops and courses hosted by the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium aimed at equipping communicators and journalists with skilful techniques to proficiently articulate the uncertainties associated with genetic biocontrol interventions to the African public. we discuss the gaps and provide insight on how communicators can address some of the basic challenges of developing effective communication and decision-making for genetic biocontrol approaches in Africa.
Scientists explore new solutions to fight insecticide resistance, emerging mosquito species
31587Milliam Murigi, People Daily, 2024-09-17 12:05:17.
Africa has long been the epicenter of malaria, battling the deadly disease with a combination of strategies, including insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying. However, the landscape of this fight is rapidly changing. Mosquitoes are increasingly developing resistance to insecticides, undermining these critical interventions. Additionally, new mosquito species, previously not found in certain regions, are now making their presence felt, posing new threats and challenges. But what does the emergence of this double tragedy mean to the continent and what actions are being taken? Dr Willy Kiprotich Tonui, EBS, the Chairman and Executive Director at Environmental Health Safety who also doubles up as the Founder and Head of the Secretariat at the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium says that the emergence of these challenges means that new solutions must be developed and that is why scientists have been working day and night to come up with new solutions. So far new compounds, DIF-1(+3), which has demonstrated significantly stronger growth inhibitory effects against Plasmodium falciparum have been synthesized, including strains resistant to chloroquine and artemisinin. This compound showed near-complete suppression of parasite growth in vivo tests, indicating its potential as a new treatment option in areas with high levels of drug resistance. “New insights into how malaria parasites invade host cells have also been revealed. This is useful in understanding mechanisms that can aid in developing targeted treatments and vaccines to prevent the parasite from establishing infection in the first place,” says Dr Tonui.
Is Kenya ready to turn to technology to finally defeat malaria?
31451Brygettes Ngana, Nation, 2024-09-04 21:31:11.
For decades, researchers have tested and refined dozens of methods to combat malaria, striving to outmaneuver the resilient mosquito. From deploying bed nets to developing indoor residual spraying, these strategies have formed the frontline defense against this persistent parasite. Over the years, tactics like sleeping under a treated mosquito net and destroying mosquito breeding areas have become ingrained in our daily lives. Yet, malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in Africa, claiming nearly 600,000 lives annually, the majority of whom are children under the age of five. The disease is transmitted by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, found in the female Anopheles mosquito, and thrive in the warm, tropical climates found across much of the continent. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that 249 million cases of malaria occurred in just 85 malaria-endemic countries in 2022. Nine out of 10 of these deaths occurred in Africa. Despite the development of new vaccines, and antimalarial drugs, progress in reducing malaria transmission, WHO says, has slowed. Even in some developed countries where it was once a distant memory, the disease is making a comeback.
A model-informed target product profile for population modification gene drives for malaria control
31339Agastya Mondal, Héctor M. Sánchez C., John M. Marshall, medRxiv, 2024-09-03 18:44:21.
As reductions in malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa stagnate, gene drive-modified mosquitoes represent one of the most promising novel tools for continued disease control. In order to advance from the laboratory to the field, gene drives will be assessed against target product profiles, planning tools that list minimum criteria products should satisfy as they progress through the development pipeline. Here, we use an eco-epidemiological model to investigate parameter values for population modification gene drives that satisfy two previously-discussed target outcomes: a 50% reduction in clinical malaria incidence for a duration (window-of-protection) of at least three years, and a time-to-impact of less than one year. We consider two African settings, Burkina Faso and Kenya, where gene drive mosquitoes are currently being researched, and consider three transmission intensities at each. For the gene drive product, we explore rates of homing and resistance allele generation, fitness costs associated with gene drive and non-functional resistance alleles, and the efficacy of the effector gene(s) at reducing mosquito-to-human transmission. We find that when the window-of-protection criterion is satisfied, the time-to-impact criterion also is. Target outcomes are most influenced by the fitness cost associated with the gene drive allele and effector gene efficacy. Resistance allele parameters are also highly influential on target outcomes, and determine how long the gene drive allele persists in the population after most available wild-type alleles have been cleaved. Low rates of functional resistance allele generation are preferred, while costly non-functional resistance alleles will allow the drive allele to outcompete them. Homing rates already achieved for Anopheles gene drives do not need to be improved upon. A conundrum exists whereby the most important product parameters for predicting field efficacy are those that can only be reliably measured in the field, which presents a challenge for assessment of product readiness.
Genetically modified mosquitoes to fight malaria
30493The Naked Scientists, 2024-06-04 17:15:48.
Genetically engineered mosquitoes are taking to the air in an experiment to attempt to curtail malaria in Djibouti. The tiny African nation all but eliminated malaria just over a decade ago. But rising population and urbanisation has seen disease cases skyrocketing again, making it an ideal venue to test the technology, which uses a genetic trick to kill off selectively female mosquitoes; this leaves the males - which don’t bite humans - unharmed to breed and pass on the trait to other members of the species.
Where gene drive fits into WHO’s new Global Malaria Programme operational strategy
30354Mouhamed Drabo, Target Malaria, 2024-05-21 19:35:24.
On the 23rd of April 2024, WHO published an updated operational strategy for its Global Malaria Programme for the years 2024-2030. The Global Malaria Programme was initially guided by a strategy intended to cover the years 2016-2030, which served as a framework and guide for efforts to reduce the global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% within that period. Since then, a stall in progress has indicated that a different, more intensive approach needs to be taken. WHO’s updated operational strategy, notes that ‘In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million new cases of malaria worldwide, compared to 231 million in 2015.’, indicating that current efforts towards malaria elimination are not effective enough, and that the current framework, which was last revised in 2021, required for a new update.
How expensive it is to be poor Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté inspires global action against malaria at TED2024
29894Realnews Magazine, 2024-05-07 16:49:13.
In a stirring address at TED2024, Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté, Head of Medical Entomology and Parasitology at the Research Institute in Health Sciences in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and Principal Investigator of Target Malaria Burkina Faso, shared his journey with malaria and his resolute commitment to eradicating it. Prof. Diabaté’s talk shed light on the devastating toll of malaria, particularly in Africa, and stressed the urgent need for transformative solutions. “Malaria is tightly linked to poverty and it is incredibly expensive to be poor,” Prof. Diabaté said as he reflected on his childhood battle with the disease. “Two hundred million cases worldwide end up sadly every year with approximately 600 000 deaths. While this is a statistic to many, to me there is a personal, tragic story. Most of these deaths happen in Africa where children and pregnant women pay the highest price.” Prof. Diabaté’s firsthand experience highlights the profound impact of malaria on individuals and families, motivating his tireless efforts to end malaria in his lifetime. Target Malaria is an international research consortium of scientists, stakeholder engagement teams, risk assessment specialists, and communication and regulatory experts from Africa, North America and Europe, dedicated to eradicating malaria.
How could genetic approaches be integrated in the malaria toolkit?
29889Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2024-05-07 16:29:20.
The Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research organized a symposium on the margins of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM Society)’s 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference held last week in Kigali, Rwanda. The event explored how novel genetic approaches could be integrated into the malaria toolkit and contribute to end malaria. I had the pleasure of participating in the Network’s symposium “Integrating genetic approaches in the malaria toolkit” as a panellist alongside Lucy Okell, Imperial College London and Isabelle Coche, Secretariat of the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research. The session was chaired by El Hadji Amadou Niang, Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA). Speakers discussed the potential of genetic approaches such as gene drive technologies to offer a sustainable, long term and cost-effective solution that could, in the context of integrated approaches to malaria control, contribute to the elimination of the disease. Presentations emphasized the need for collaboration, effective governance, multi-stakeholder engagement and strategic planning to support the effective integration of gene drive technologies into malaria control strategies.
African health ministers commit to concerted action to end malaria deaths
29556Felista Tarimo, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2024-04-25 17:39:16.
On March 6, health ministers from African countries with the highest burden of malaria met in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and signed a declaration committing to the fundamental principle “that no one should die from malaria.” The Declaration for Accelerated Malaria Mortality Reduction in Africa signals a unified commitment to achieving a future free from malaria deaths on the continent. Despite advances made in the fight against the disease over the last two decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region still accounts for over 90% of malaria cases and deaths worldwide. The 11 signatory countries to the document, which are classified as High burden High Impact (HBHI) countries — and include the United Republic of Tanzania, where I live and work — account alone for 70% of the global malaria burden. The declaration underscores the urgency of addressing several emerging and persistent challenges hindering progress in the fight against malaria, such as inadequate funding, growing biological threats — including insecticide and drug resistance — as well as low access to and insufficient quality of health services. It outlines a comprehensive plan built on four pillars: stronger political will, data-driven strategies, best practices in action, and multisectoral collaboration. Central to the Yaoundé Declaration is Point 6, which emphasizes the pivotal role of research and innovation in the quest to end malaria deaths. The fight against malaria requires constant adaptation, and this declaration acknowledges the importance of developing new tools and technologies specifically tailored to the high-burden African context. The focus on research and innovation aligns perfectly with our work at Transmission Zero. Our international research programme — that brings together collaborators from several institutions in Tanzania, the United Kingdom and Switzerland — is working to develop new genetic technologies which could reduce malaria transmission by disrupting mosquitoes’ ability to transmit the malaria parasite to humans. If proven safe and effective, this approach could complement existing tools to achieve the vision of a world free from malaria.
Genetically modified mosquitoes could one day end malaria
29553Alexis Akwagyiram, Semafor, 2024-04-25 17:31:43.
Abdoulaye Diabaté, a scientist from Burkina Faso, is at the vanguard of efforts to eliminate malaria by editing the genetic makeup of male mosquitoes and releasing them in the wild to prevent the reproduction of female mosquito species that transmit malaria. The technique is known as “gene drive” technology. Malaria kills more than 600,000 people every year, most of whom are children in Africa. Research by Diabaté, who heads medical entomology and parasitology at Burkina Faso’s Research Institute in Health Sciences, earned him the 2023 Falling Walls Prize for Science and Innovation Management. He spoke to Semafor Africa ahead of a Ted Talk on ending malaria. Gene drive offers great promises as a vector control tool. The fact that it is self-sustaining, meaning that a relatively small release of modified mosquitoes are able to spread within a population and induce suppression. It allows targeting a large area in a cost effective and self-sustaining manner, reaching areas that are difficult to control with conventional methods.
Group trains Nigerian journalists on “gene drives” controversies
29550Tosin Omoniyi, Premium Times, 2024-04-25 17:23:47.
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) held a training for Nigerian journalists on the controversies surrounding the ‘gene drives’ research organisations that allegedly target Africans as “guinea pigs.” The training, the organisers said, was aimed at equipping journalists to understand the issues and be able to report the controversies robustly. The Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, in his opening remarks, said in conceiving the training, the organisation realised that the media is key not only in keeping the public informed but also in “exposing and interrogating initiatives and innovations that are extraneous to Africans and African culture as part of its watchdog role”. Gene drive is a technology that allows a chosen set of genes to alter an animal’s biology in certain ways, such as making them produce sterile offspring. The inability to reproduce then sweeps through a population, upending the “laws of inheritance.” Specifically, the genes copy themselves exponentially from generation to generation, rapidly coming to dominate the whole population. Potentially, scientists argue that their careful use might save millions of lives by making, for instance, mosquitoes unable to transmit malaria or by eliminating the insects entirely. The possibility of a definitive solution to major infectious diseases makes a compelling case for such a technology.
Africa’s Champion Against Malaria, Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté on stage at TED2024
29112Nelly Gachanja, African Media Agency, 2024-04-16 21:07:37.
TED2024, a hallmark event celebrating 40 years of innovation, ingenuity, creativity, courage, and generosity, taking place in Vancouver, Canada from 15-19 April, will feature Africa’s esteemed, and leading champion against malaria, Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté as a speaker. In his Talk, titled “How to End Malaria”, Prof. Diabaté aims to catalyse transformative change in global health. Hailing from Burkina Faso, Prof. Diabaté is Head of Medical Entomology and Parasitology at the Research Institute in Health Sciences (Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé – IRSS), in Bobo-Dioulasso. His acclaimed research work as Principal Investigator of Target Malaria Burkina Faso has earned him global recognition, including prestigious speaking engagements at Harvard University, interviews by several prestigious international and national media, including the CNN, BBC, Netflix, The New York Times, the National TV channels of Burkina Faso. Prof. Diabaté was recently honoured as one of the 10 global winners of the esteemed Falling Walls Science and Innovation Prize 2023. This recognition underscores his pioneering efforts in eradicating malaria through innovative gene drive mosquito technology, which holds the promise of being a self-sustaining and cost-effective method to reduce the population of malaria mosquitoes – offering hope to millions worldwide.
Talking About Gene Drive in Uganda: The Need for Science Communication to Underpin Engagement
29082Hartley, S., Stelmach, A., Opesen, C., Openjuru, G. L., and Neema, S., Science Communication, 2024-04-04 09:15:22.
Uganda may host the world’s first field trials of gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control. Global North discourses pre-suppose African publics have access to information about gene drive and are ready to make decisions about its governance. We explore assumptions about the availability of this information in Uganda. We find a paucity of information available combined with a strong desire for information from lay publics. We discuss these findings in the context of Ugandan information infrastructures and political sensitivities to genetic technologies. If Ugandans are to decide about gene drive, they need independent information about the science to underpin engagement.
African researchers committed to ending malaria
29075African Media Agency, 2024-04-02 19:38:40.
The need to encourage more young African girls to pursue careers in science cannot be overemphasized.
Wolbachia strain wAlbB shows favourable characteristics for dengue control use in Aedes aegypti from Burkina Faso
29041Maria Vittoria Mancini, Shivan M. Murdochy, Etienne Bilgo, Thomas H. Ant, Daniel Gingell, Edounou Jacques Gnambani, Anna-Bella Failloux, Abdoulaye Diabate, Steven P. Sinkins, Environmental Microbiology, 26. 2024-03-19 16:46:34.
Dengue represents an increasing public health burden worldwide.
On EAC’s GMO disharmony and little-known GM mosquito research
29025Gitura Mwaura, The New Times, 2024-03-19 13:18:15.
A meeting in Dar es Salaam in November 2022 sought to chart the legal way forward for the Target Malaria and Transmission Zero Project, as the research initiative is called.
SPOTLIGHT: Gene Drives for Malaria Elimination in Africa
28916Ifakara Health Institute, YouTube, 2024-02-20 20:05:51.
This SPOTLIGHT Series features Dr. Marceline Finda, a distinguished Research Scientist at Ifakara Health Institute. The insightful 20-minute discussion centered around the topic: "Gene Drives for Malaria Elimination in Africa."
Opinion: A cautionary tale of experimenting with genetically modified mosquitoes in Uganda
28900Barbara Ntambirweki, The Independent, 2024-02-20 14:44:38.
The Uganda Virus Research Institute is pressing forward with gene drive technology which provides a way to rapidly, permanently, and genetically modify wild animals or plants. Gene drive organisms, are a genetically modified organism (GMO) designed to spread a genetic modification through entire populations of wild or farmed species, and are promoted as a ‘solution’ to pressing problems in the fields of public health, ecology and agriculture. The capacity of gene drives to spread and persist in the environment presents novel biosafety and socio-economic concerns for both people and biodiversity. Several research projects in Africa are advancing in their experiments to develop genetically modified ‘gene drive’ mosquitoes to release into the environment as a public health intervention to combat malaria and some are already releasing GMO mosquitoes similar to those touted by Oxitec. In Africa, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda have allowed experimentation towards gene drive in their countries where some of these are under the auspices of Target Malaria – a consortium of research institutions led by laboratories based at Imperial College in the United Kingdom funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In Uganda, Target Malaria has entered in partnership with the Uganda Virus Research Institute and has commenced entomological mosquito collections from field sites around Kalangala and Mukono Districts.
Scientists create first transgenic mosquito strain in Africa
28847CGTN Africa, 2024-01-28 13:15:53.
Scientists in Tanzania have created the first transgenic mosquito strain in Africa. This genetically modified strain aims to prevent malaria transmission.
Perspectives of African stakeholders on gene drives for malaria control and elimination: a multi-country survey
28750Finda, M.F., Juma, E.O., Kahamba, N.F. et al., Malaria Journal, 22:8384. 2023-12-21 15:40:51.
Gene drive modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) have the potential to address Africa’s persistent malaria problem, but are still in early stages of development and testing. Continuous engagement of African stakeholders is crucial for successful evaluation and implementation of these technologies. The aim of this multi-country study was, therefore, to explore the insights and recommendations of key stakeholders across Africa on the potential of GDMMs for malaria control and elimination in the continent. A concurrent mixed-methods study design was used, involving a structured survey administered to 180 stakeholders in 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by 18 in-depth discussions with selected groups and individuals. Stakeholders were drawn from academia, research and regulatory institutions, government ministries of health and environment, media and advocacy groups. Thematic content analysis was used to identify key topics from the in-depth discussions, and descriptive analysis was done to summarize information from the survey data. Despite high levels of awareness of GDMMs among the stakeholders (76.7%), there was a relatively low-level of understanding of their key attributes and potential for malaria control (28.3%). When more information about GDMMs was provided to the stakeholders, they readily discussed their insights and concerns, and offered several recommendations to ensure successful research and implementation of the technology. These included: (i) increasing relevant technical expertise within Africa, (ii) generating local evidence on safety, applicability, and effectiveness of GDMMs, and (iii) developing country-specific regulations for safe and effective governance of GDMMs. A majority of the respondents (92.9%) stated that they would support field trials or implementation of GDMMs in their respective countries. This study also identified significant misconceptions regarding the phase of GDMM testing in Africa, as several participants incorrectly asserted that GDMMs were already present in Africa, either within laboratories or released into the field. Incorporating views and recommendations of African stakeholders in the ongoing research and development of GDMMs is crucial for instilling stakeholder confidence on their potential application. These findings will enable improved planning for GDMMs in Africa as well as improved target product profiles for the technologies to maximize their potential for solving Africa’s enduring malaria challenge.
Communicating Creatively About Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
28748Lorraine Gibson, Target Malaria, 2023-12-21 15:27:14.
In 2018, the Target Malaria team at Imperial College London published a landmark paper in Nature Biotechnology. The study demonstrated how gene drive mosquitoes successfully suppressed a population of wild-type malaria mosquitoes, marking a significant milestone for gene drive technology as a tool for malaria elimination. In our communications team working across Burkina Faso, Ghana, Uganda and the UK, we are exploring different, creative ways to explain the technology and its progress to the general public. By continually expanding our toolkit of science communications tools and embracing innovative approaches, we hope to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and the general public, in particular communities most affected by malaria, fostering understanding and support for our mission to combat malaria.
African scientist could wipe out malaria by editing mosquito DNA
28731Nimi Princewill, CNN, 2023-12-19 13:03:40.
Malaria is a leading cause of death in Burkina Faso, where nearly all of the West African nation’s 22 million inhabitants, especially children, are at risk of the disease, according to the World Health Organization. Malaria killed nearly 19,000 people in Burkina Faso in 2021, the most recent data from the WHO regional office for Africa showed. The disease is also one of the main causes of death in the wider African region, which shoulders the world’s largest malaria burden. Abdoulaye Diabate faced a life-threatening bout of malaria when he was just five years old. Diabate narrowly survived the mosquito-borne disease, but cousins ages three and four were not as fortunate. Diabate, who now heads medical entomology and parasitology at Burkina Faso’s Research Institute in Health Sciences, is developing an innovative technique that could potentially wipe out malaria-transmitting mosquito species by altering their genes.
To End Malaria In Africa, a Scientist From Africa Invented Gene Drive Technology.
28728Salman Ahmad, CTN News, 2023-12-19 12:41:22.
Abdoulaye Diabate, a scientist from Africa, is currently working on a groundbreaking technology called ‘gene drive’ that has the potential to eradicate malaria or the mosquitoes that cause it from the continent. Diabate, who received the prestigious 2023 Falling Walls Prize for Science and Innovation Management, is developing an ingenious technique that can eliminate female mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria by modifying their genes. Using gene drive technology, the reproduction of female mosquitoes is hindered by releasing genetically modified male mosquitoes into the environment. This approach would result in a significant reduction in the number of female mosquitoes, thereby combating malaria throughout the continent.
Anopheles gambiae on remote islands in the Indian Ocean: origins and prospects for malaria elimination by genetic modification of extant populations
28597Ditter, R.E., Campos, M., Crepeau, M.W. et al., Scientific Reports, 13. 2023-11-29 16:40:50.
The mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s. is a primary malaria vector throughout sub-Saharan Africa including the islands of the Comoros archipelago (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mayotte and Mohéli). These islands are located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in eastern Africa. Previous studies have shown a relatively high degree of genetic isolation between the Comoros islands and mainland populations of A. gambiae, but the origin of the island populations remains unclear. Here, we analyzed phylogenetic relationships among island and mainland populations using complete mitochondrial genome sequences of individual A. gambiae specimens. This work augments earlier studies based on analysis of the nuclear genome. We investigated the source population of A. gambiae for each island, estimated the number of introductions, when they occurred and explored evidence for contemporary gene flow between island and mainland populations. These studies are relevant to understanding historical patterns in the dispersal of this important malaria vector and provide information critical to assessing their potential for the exploration of genetic-based vector control methods to eliminate this disease. Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype networks were constructed from mitogenome sequences of 258 A. gambiae from the four islands. In addition, 112 individuals from seven countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar were included to identify potential source populations. Our results suggest that introduction events of A. gambiae into the Comoros archipelago were rare and recent events and support earlier claims that gene flow between the mainland and these islands is limited. This study is concordant with earlier work suggesting the suitability of these oceanic islands as appropriate sites for conducting field trial releases of genetically engineered mosquitoes (GEMs).
Ghana publishes its guidelines on Genome Editing
28538Anonymous, BusinessGhana, 2023-11-28 11:06:04.
Ghana's National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has published its guidelines on Genome Editing and Gene Stacks with regards Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) joining Nigeria, Kenya, and Malawi, as the fourth country in Africa with the guidelines. Genome editing is an emerging and affordable biotechnology tool that has great promise to deliver high-yielding crop varieties, able to withstand various stresses such as droughts, floods, insect pests, or diseases and possessed quality traits for use as food, feed, or for processing. "Biotechnology is a fast-developing business with new trends of technologies and when the law was being passed, there was nothing like Genome editing, gene drive, or synthetic biotechnology, but we have them now."
Mosquito modification programme aiming to eliminate malaria receives US$15m
28402Hayley Dunning, Imperial College London, 2023-11-14 15:15:02.
Half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria, a disease caused by parasites that are transmitted from one person to another through bites from Anopheles mosquitoes. In 2021 alone, there were over 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths from malaria, mostly children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa. With current measures failing to halt disease transmission, new ways to control the spread of malaria are desperately needed. Transmission Zero is a global programme led by scientists at Imperial College London (Imperial) and the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) of Tanzania, in partnership with the Tanzanian National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), which aims to modify specific species of mosquitoes so that they are unable to transmit the disease.
What are gene drives?
28374Anonymous, MalariaGEN, 2023-11-09 09:43:47.
Among the new generation of technological tools being developed to combat malaria, there is a lot of buzz around gene drives. This is a method for genetically modifying malaria-spreading mosquitoes and ultimately reducing or replacing their populations. But how exactly do gene drives work? And how can genomic surveillance data produced by the MalariaGEN community help gene drive researchers achieve their goals safely and effectively?
Bill Gates Talks Gene Drives, mRNA, and U.S.$40m in Science Funding
28314N. Mlambo, allAfrica, 2023-10-31 08:32:46.
In 2003, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Grand Challenges initiative in order to find scientific solutions to these health challenges. Initially, the initiative focused on 14 scientific challenges including focusing on creating effective single-dose vaccines that can be used soon after birth, discovering drugs and delivery systems that minimise the likelihood of drug-resistant micro-organisms, creating therapies that can cure latent infection, and developing needle-free delivery systems. "We started Grand Challenges with two goals. In a narrow sense, we wanted to spur specific advances we thought could lead to breakthroughs. In 2003, we listed ... priorities like creating therapies that could cure latent TB infection - and supported researchers who had exciting ideas in those areas. In a broader sense, we hoped to inspire more brilliant scientists to share big ideas about transforming health in low-income countries. We hoped to create a scientific community that was supported to sustain R&D (Research and Development) for the benefit of billions of people who had been neglected," said co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates during his opening remarks at the Grand Challenges meeting held in Dakar, Senegal.
How Genetically Modified Mosquitos can end malaria in Africa – Dr. Santos
28165S. Akioye, The Star, 2023-10-23 12:15:51.
With over 200 million cases every year and nearly 700,000 deaths, Malaria is currently one of Africa’s most dreaded sicknesses. While there have been efforts at finding different drugs for treatment, scientists are working on an innovative solution using genetically modified mosquitoes to eradicate malaria spreading mosquitoes in Africa. In this interview with Dr. Michael Santos of GeneConvene Global Collaborative, SEUN AKIOYE finds out how it will work.
This Burkinabe researcher wants his groundbreaking work to wipe out malaria, altogether
28154B. Orucho and M. Ndengar, The African Mirror, 2023-10-10 11:49:04.
ABDOULAYE Diabaté and his team are betting on gene technology to protect children like his own from malaria. Along with a clutch of brand-new vaccines, the technology could help the world end malaria for good.
Genetically modified mosquitoes will be ready by 2033 – scientists
28096D. Sekayinga, MONITOR, 2023-10-10 07:43:26.
The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVR[) has announced that genetically modified mosquitoes will be ready within a decade. Gene-drive mosquitoes are among the anti-malarial strategies the government under the Africa Target Malaria project has embarked on since 2016, to reduce the number of malaria deaths in the country. ''If the non -Gene-drive (sterilised) mosquitoes respond positively at every stage. we shall possibly be able to have the Gene-drives 10 years from now," Dr Jonathan Kayondo, one of the researchers, made the revelation during an anti-malarial training for journalists in Kalangala District last week. Dr Kayondo said every level of research will help in information flow, especially in places where research is conducted like the island of Jaana in Bubeke Sub-county in Kalangala District and Nsazi Island in Koome Sub-county. Mukono District. The two islands have high malaria cases. He added that researchers are yet to receive some Ugandan mosquito species whose genes have beenengineered at a laboratory in the USA for trial lease. "Ne are currently looking at developing sterile male mosquitoes that wouldn't be capable offertilising the female anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria before introducing gene-drives to thecommunity," he said.
Situating the social sciences in responsible innovation in the global south: the case of gene drive mosquitoes
28148K. Ledingham, C. Opesen, S. Hartley and S. Neema, Journal of Responsible Innovation, 10:2264100. 2023-10-01 11:32:46.
There has been growing attention in recent years on the potential reconfiguration of responsible innovation (RI) to increase its relevance for global challenges in the Global South. This reconfiguration will require a broad and empowered role for social scientists. Yet RI has been preoccupied with public and stakeholder inclusion, rather than social science inclusion. We probe this gap through a case study of the social sciences in the development of gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control in Mali and Uganda. Our data reveals potential diverse roles and future research agendas for the social sciences. We outline some challenges facing the social sciences in this space and ways to promote and support them. Lastly, we argue that RI?s predilection for reflexive and critical social science obscures a richer repertoire of social science roles that are an imperative and fundamental part of efforts to address global challenges in the Global South.
Bukedi sub-region to receive new high-level malaria prevention technology
26950Watchdog Uganda, WATCHDOG, 2023-07-20 08:51:14.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni together with a group of scientists have agreed to start with Bukedi Sub-region as a pilot area for a new mosquito radiation sterilisation technology aimed at preventing malaria. “Let us start with the Bukedi Sub- region to pilot this method since the area has got a lot of water, flat area, and stagnant water. This will help us solve the problem of mosquitoes and have less patients,” President Museveni noted. Speaking during a meeting at State House, Entebbe yesterday, the President said if the study works out in Bukedi, the technology will then be spread to other areas around the country. “Sterilisation of the male mosquitoes or tsetse flies is something we have been talking about for a long time. But now, you have come, good, I support it, go ahead and have like a pilot effort which will result into a study and conclusion,” he appealed.
Regulation of gene drive technologies for malaria control & elimination
33083Ifakara Health Institute, 2023-05-16 13:15:08.
The video talks about the importance of ensuring effective and thoughtful community and stakeholder engagement throughout research, development and deployment of gene drives for malaria control.
Genetically modified mosquitoes … could CRISPR gene editing end malaria?
24315D. Wells, SelectScience, 2022-12-22 08:44:13.
Despite being a preventable and treatable disease, malaria is currently affecting the lives of more than 200 million people.1 This results in over half a million deaths per year, with 80% of this mortality occurring in children under the age of 5.2 In addition to the tragic social and humanitarian considerations, the economic losses to Africa attributed to malaria equate to around $12 billion a year.3 Hence, the public health burden of malaria is huge, and continued efforts in malaria control, elimination strategies, and case management are crucial to minimizing the devastation that malaria has on at-risk communities. In this article, we explore the innovative use of genetically modified mosquitoes as a means of fighting this devastating disease.
Scientist Recommends Gene Drive Strategies Of Pest Control To Increase Food Security
24062L. Agbo, allnews, 2022-11-28 16:46:37.
A Nigerian scientist, Dr. Rose Gidado has recommended that Nigerian policymakers and farmers adopt the technology of a gene drive-based pest management technique in order to increase bumper harvest and food security.In an interview with NAN on Monday in Abuja, Gidado, the Deputy Director at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the OFAB's Country Coordinator, made the statement.In order to attain food security, which would lead to national development, she claimed that Nigerian farmers needed to accept the use of gene drive technology for their seeds and food crops.“Gene drives are systems that warrant biased inheritance by improving the possibility of DNA sequence passing from one generation to the other via sexual reproduction and potentially throughout an entire population.“It is a modern biotechnology technique that alters the tendency of transmitting a specific allele from the natural 50 per cent probability by propagating a particular set of genes throughout a population,’’ Gidado said.
Should we use a genetic weapon against mosquitoes carrying malaria?
23988T. H. Saey, ScienceNewsExplores, 2022-11-17 08:58:08.
In a large laboratory cage, a male mosquito carries a genetic weapon that could launch the destruction of his species. That loss could also mean the end of the parasite that causes malaria. The weapon? A self-replicating bit of DNA known as a gene drive. It’s one of the most anticipated tools being developed to stop mosquitoes from spreading diseases like malaria to humans. It’s also one of the most controversial. The gene drive interferes with the insects’ ability to reproduce. In one small lab study, it wiped out captive populations of mosquitoes in just eight to 12 generations. A larger study in outdoor cages in Terni, Italy, worked too. Within as little as five to 10 years, this gene drive could be ready to test in the wild. Researchers are eyeing Africa for the first test release. There, malaria takes a huge toll. In 2020, it sickened close to 241 million people on the continent. And most of the globe’s 670,000 malaria deaths that year were in Africa. About eight in every 10 were children, the World Health Organization says. Many tools have been made to fight the disease. There are preventive drugs, insecticide-treated bed nets and even vaccines. These efforts are helping. But mosquitoes are developing resistance to insecticides. And some anti-malaria drugs may no longer work well. “To go toward zero [cases], we need to have something that is transformational,” says Fredros Okumu. By that, he means a completely new type of strategy. Okumu is a mosquito biologist. He directs science programs at Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, a country in East Africa. Gene drives might be the big change people are looking for. This technology was first devised in 2015. Researchers are still refining and testing it. Other types of genetically altered mosquitoes have been released in Brazil, the United States and elsewhere. But so far, those altered genes spread slowly among wild populations. Gene drives could potentially spread to nearly every member of a species quickly. In this way, they could forever alter the species. Or even wipe it out.
GMOs in Africa: Status, adoption and public acceptance
27490L. A. Gbadegesin, E. A. Ayeni, C. K. Tettey, V. A. Uyanga, O. O. Aluko, J. K. Ahiakpa, C. O. Okoye, J. I. Mbadianya, M. A. Adekoya, R. O. Aminu, F. P. Oyawole and P. Odufuwa, Food Control, 141:109193. 2022-11-01 13:46:04.
Globally, genetically modified (GM) crops contribute to food security by increasing crop yield, quality and shelf-life. The commercialisation and adoption of GM crops in many developed countries raised hope of improving food security and livelihood. Africa, a developing continent facing malnutrition, food crises and inadequate food production technologies has been slow to accept GM crops. The hesitancy to accept GM crops emanates from unfavourable policies shaped by public opinion, despite its potential for achieving the zero-hunger agenda. Impeding factors hampering the adoption of GM technology necessitate biosecurity regulations on GM crops to monitor the crop biosafety, environmental and health concerns. Herein, we reviewed GM crops status and adoption in Africa and possible constraints to their acceptance amidst some commercialised GM crops in African countries. Efforts aimed at improving GM adoption in Africa should include the provision of adequate monitoring and surveillance system, science-based policies, political will and a robust public education on GM technology.
Target Malaria’s scientists are working to rid Africa of an ancient plague
23783D. Matthews, Vox, 2022-10-20 07:12:04.
This could very well be the last century in human history when people die from malaria. If and when we do eradicate the disease, the team at Target Malaria will probably deserve a big share of the credit. Their plan to use gene drive technology to wipe out species of mosquitoes carrying the parasitic illness represents the most promising path to eradicating a disease that killed on the order of 150 million to 300 million people over the 20th century, and still kills hundreds of thousands each year. Malaria used to be broadly common across most of the populated world, covering much of North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia, in addition to its current locations in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. As the researchers Max Roser and Hannah Ritchie note, “poet Friedrich Schiller contracted the disease in Mannheim, Oliver Cromwell in Ireland, and Abraham Lincoln in Illinois.” Malaria no longer exists in those areas due to decades of public health measures like the drainage of mosquito breeding sites and use of pesticides like DDT, as well as economic development that gave residents resources to prevent and treat the disease.
Malaria Gene Drives: A Battle Of Wit Between The Government And Stakeholders
23650O. Onwumere, The Nigerian Voice, 2022-10-03 08:29:30.
Through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), guidelines for gene editing, primarily in agriculture, were approved by the Nigerian Federal Government in December 2020. As the first country in Africa, the government was praised for taking the momentous step of establishing guidelines for gene editing. The government sees science and technology as major drivers of agricultural productivity, as stated in the approved guidelines. This is due to the fact that the technology is guaranteed to be safe and won't harm the environment or human health. Scientists and non-governmental organizations have nonetheless refused to support the use of genetically engineered bacteria to eradicate malaria-carrying mosquitoes despite the government's actions. The reason was that a doctor from Nigeria who didn't want his name published said that gene-editing technology needs to be looked at carefully because there have been failed reports in some African countries, like Burkina Faso, where modified mosquitoes were released and people got bit by them
Malaria-free mosquito engineered by scientists
23697GNA, MODERN GHANA, 2022-10-03 07:54:35.
Scientists have genetically modified the main malaria-carrying species of mosquito in sub-SaharanAfrica to slow the growth of malaria-causing parasites in their gut, preventing transmission of thedisease to humans. When the Anopheles gambiae takes a blood meal, it produces two molecules called antimicrobialpeptides in its guts, according to the scientists. These peptides, which were originally isolated from honeybees and African clawed frogs, impair themalaria parasite's development. Now researchers from the Transmission Zero team at Imperial College London have come up with adesign that can be combined with existing “gene drive” technology to spread the modification anddrastically cut malaria transmission. Collaborators from the Institute for Disease Modelling at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,which funded the research, also developed a model that, for the first time, can assess the impact ofsuch modifications if used in a variety of African settings. They found that the modification developed by the Imperial team could be a powerful tool forbringing down cases of malaria even where transmission is high.
What do we mean by “Target Organism” in Target Malaria’s gene drive research?
23336J. B. Connolly, Target Malaria, 2022-07-27 08:46:32.
In the wild and in laboratory settings, sibling mosquito species can successfully mate to produce viable offspring, regardless of whether they are vectors or not. Importantly, females, but not males, of these offspring can be fertile. Nonetheless, the likelihood of finding such hybrid mosquitoes in field samples varies greatly between different combinations of species. According to some field studies, typically, only about 0.1% of mosquito collected in the wild could be An. gambiae s.s./An. coluzzii hybrids. In addition, some species that do not overlap geographically, and therefore would not come into direct contact, cannot produce hybrids in the field. This includes An. melas, which is found along the coast of West Africa, and An. bwambae, which is restricted to hot springs in the Toro District of Uganda. This means that the gene drive could eventually transfer to all sibling species of the complex, both by direct hybridisation between geographically-overlapping species and, indirectly, by transferring from one species to another overlapping ones like stepping-stones until the gene drive was transferred to all species of the complex, including to the likes of An. melas and An. bwambae
Population replacement gene drive characteristics for malaria elimination in a range of seasonal transmission settings: a modelling study
23307S. Leung, N. Windbichler, E. A. Wenger, C. A. Bever and P. Selvaraj, Malaria Journal, 21:226. 2022-07-26 07:49:07.
BACKGROUND: Gene drives are a genetic engineering method where a suite of genes is inherited at higher than Mendelian rates and has been proposed as a promising new vector control strategy to reinvigorate the fight against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Using an agent-based model of malaria transmission with vector genetics, the impacts of releasing population-replacement gene drive mosquitoes on malaria transmission are examined and the population replacement gene drive system parameters required to achieve local elimination within a spatially-resolved, seasonal Sahelian setting are quantified. The performance of two different gene drive systems-"classic" and "integral"-are evaluated. Various transmission regimes (low, moderate, and high-corresponding to annual entomological inoculation rates of 10, 30, and 80 infectious bites per person) and other simultaneous interventions, including deployment of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and passive healthcare-seeking, are also simulated. RESULTS: Local elimination probabilities decreased with pre-existing population target site resistance frequency, increased with transmission-blocking effectiveness of the introduced antiparasitic gene and drive efficiency, and were context dependent with respect to fitness costs associated with the introduced gene. Of the four parameters, transmission-blocking effectiveness may be the most important to focus on for improvements to future gene drive strains because a single release of classic gene drive mosquitoes is likely to locally eliminate malaria in low to moderate transmission settings only when transmission-blocking effectiveness is very high (above ~ 80-90%). However, simultaneously deploying ITNs and releasing integral rather than classic gene drive mosquitoes significantly boosts elimination probabilities, such that elimination remains highly likely in low to moderate transmission regimes down to transmission-blocking effectiveness values as low as ~ 50% and in high transmission regimes with transmission-blocking effectiveness values above ~ 80-90%. CONCLUSION: A single release of currently achievable population replacement gene drive mosquitoes, in combination with traditional forms of vector control, can likely locally eliminate malaria in low to moderate transmission regimes within the Sahel. In a high transmission regime, higher levels of transmission-blocking effectiveness than are currently available may be required.
Gene drives and Africa’s battle against malaria
23154Annonymous, Africa Verified, 2022-07-08 09:43:10.
As malaria cases rise, and the effectiveness of current methods begins to fall, the WHO’s target of reducing the global malaria burden by 90% by 2030 will not be met. It is critical for new and resilient treatment, prevention, and control methods to be developed and integrated into current strategies. Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium aiming to develop ‘cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission’ that would work alongside current anti-malaria efforts. They are pioneering research into genetically programmed mosquitoes, which when released into the wild to mate, reproduce offspring that either produce fewer female mosquitoes or are unable to transmit malaria parasites.
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Fight Malaria in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Uganda: What Legal Response?
23275O. J. L. Tung, Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 25:1-42. 2022-06-07 10:05:47.
Advanced applied research on genetically modified (hereafter GM) insects is being undertaken to control insect vectors of human diseases such as mosquitoes. GM insect technologies are being developed in countries where there is a legal framework for genetically modified mosquitoes (hereafter GMM), but the beneficiaries of such insect technologies to control insect-borne diseases are most likely to be in malaria-endemic countries where the regulation of GM insect technologies is inadequate. Although no commercial release of GMM has been conducted in Africa yet, there may be prospects for the use of GMM to control malaria in malaria-endemic countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Uganda. Nigeria has the highest rate of deaths related to malaria in Africa and will potentially be targeted by companies seeking to introduce GMM as a public health tool in African countries. Research is being carried out on GMM in Burkina Faso, Mali and Uganda in collaboration with foreign companies. Whereas the control of diseases is certainly needed and there are potential public health benefits for GM insect technologies to address mosquito control, there are environmental and health concerns, and there is also the potential of the misuse of such technologies. Consequently, the use of GMM requires prior robust domestic, regional and international regulation. While the Cartagena Protocol on Transboundary Movements of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereafter the Cartagena Protocol)and voluntary guidelines on the testing of GM mosquitoes are applicable with respect to GM insect technologies, there is a lack of international and regional guidance on the regulation of such technologies. Domestic legislation tends to focus on GM crops and is inadequate for regulating GMM. This paper discusses the legal response for the above Africancountries which may perhaps use GMM as a public health tool and makes recommendations for the necessary regulatory response
Gene Drives: The advanced science fiction technology used to fight malaria mosquitoes explained
22563Anonymous, NewsBeezer, 2022-05-23 08:42:27.
Scientists are using the most advanced form of genetic engineering to eradicate a population of malaria-carrying mosquitoes by rendering the females infertile. Scientists introduced a lab-tweaked gene (a gene created using Gene Drive) into an organism that automatically replicates itself and targets a specific natural gene to destroy it. The potential of the gene drive was explored back in 2003 by Austin Burt, a professor at Imperial College London. Burt studied “selfish genes” that can copy themselves into a specific target DNA sequence. As research continues to develop, Burt said this technology has great potential, for example it could be used to eliminate a population of malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
The sci-fi technology tackling malarial mosquitos
22560Anonymous, The Star, 2022-05-23 08:30:39.
Environmental campaigner Liz O'Neill doesn't mince her words about gene drives - the next generation of genetic modification (GM) technology. "It is extremely worrying," says the director of UK anti-GM pressure group, GM Freeze. "To release something that has been specifically created in a laboratory in order to outfight nature, and spread without exception within wild populations, is extraordinary arrogant. "And once the genie is out of the bottle, you cannot put it back in." The way gene drives work sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but they are already being used in laboratory tests. It is complicated stuff, but here is a simple explanation.
Importation of the non gene drive genetically modified male bias mosquito strain into Burkina Faso
22496A. Diabate, Target Malaria, 2022-05-11 07:37:11.
On March 16 and 21, the team at the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Target Malaria’s partner institution in Burkina Faso, received packages containing live genetically modified mosquito eggs from Italy. The National Biosafety Agency (ANB) officers were at the airport to inspect the packages. The eggs are of non gene drive genetically modified male bias mosquitoes. It is another strain of genetically modified mosquitoes, compared to the sterile male strain imported in 2016 and released in 2019. This male bias strain does not carry the gene drive technology. The mosquito is fertile and it is genetically modified to produce mainly male offspring (up to 95% in the laboratory). The male bias strain is not a vector control tool. The purpose of this phase is to understand this new fertile strain, develop capacity, train Target Malaria teams and engage with regulatory authorities and stakeholders.
Lessons learned from the introduction of genetically engineered crops: relevance to gene drive deployment in Africa
22491H. Quemada, Transgenic Res, 2022-05-11 07:27:12.
The application of gene drives to achieve public health goals, such as the suppression of Anopheles gambiae populations, or altering their ability to sustain Plasmodium spp. infections, has received much attention from researchers. If successful, this genetic tool can contribute greatly to the wellbeing of people in regions severely affected by malaria. However, engineered gene drives are a product of genetic engineering, and the experience to date, gained through the deployment of genetically engineered (GE) crops, is that GE technology has had difficulty receiving public acceptance in Africa, a key region for the deployment of gene drives. The history of GE crop deployment in this region provides good lessons for the deployment of gene drives as well
The fight against malaria
22445F. Ammache, Year 2049, 2022-05-06 08:51:20.
Malaria is a disease we’ve been dealing with for thousands of years. Traces of the malaria parasite have been found in the remains of Egyptian mummies. Hippocrates described the fevers caused by malaria in Ancient Greece. The mosquito-filled Pontine Marshes protected Ancient Rome from invaders. Back then, we thought the disease was caused by people breathing “bad air”, or “mal aria”. The relationship between mosquitoes and malaria was unknown. Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of malaria, was introduced by a new breed of mosquitoes around the 5th century. Some historians speculate that P. falciparum played a key role in the fall of the Roman Empire. It wasn’t until 1897 that we understood that mosquitoes transmitted malaria. Sir Ronald Ross, a British doctor based in India, found the malaria parasite in the blood of Anopheles mosquitoes which proved a hypothesis that was first put forward by his predecessor Alphonse Laveran.
The Financialisation of Malaria in Africa: Burkina Faso, rogue capital & GM/gene drive mosquitoes
22066S. Mentz-Lagrange and S. Swanepoel, African Centre for Biodiversity, 2022-04-28 07:02:28.
This paper seeks to understand the financialisation of malaria as a vehicle for rogue capital in a context of a weakened state (through capture, corruption and coups) and the power that limits effective interventions. It shows how malaria, along with other diseases, is increasingly financialised – financial markets, institutions, actors and motives play a pivotal role in disease response. Country and donor funds are invested into research and development non-profit organisations, for example, that partner with market actors (such as pharmaceutical companies) to bring the product to market. Patents are sought and royalties procured from the sale of the product to country governments. These royalties are then accumulated by the research and development company, using vehicles such as endowment funds, for example. It show cases Burkina Faso as a real-world example of how rogue capital can enter a country and experiment with patented products, with impunity and no fear of accountability. It also illustrates how both historical and modern factors create conducive conditions for philanthrocapitalists such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the companies they fund, to exploit Africa as a living laboratory. The outcomes of risky experimental research such as genetically modified (GM) and gene drive mosquitoes is not yet known. What is known is that it is Africans who bear the consequences – not the owners of the technologies foisted on the continent.
Genetically altered mosquitoes to close gaps in malaria fight
22248M. Murigi, People Daily, 2022-04-25 09:00:48.
In 2020, nearly 6.9 million cases of malaria and about 742 deaths were confirmed in Kenya according to the Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey (KMIS) 2020. Although the number of reported infections declined from 10.9 million in 2018, the disease is still one of the main health issues in the country despite being a largely preventable and treatable disease. Kenya is not the only country suffering from the burden of this life-threatening disease. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) latest world malaria report, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. This represents about 14 million more cases in 2020 compared to 2019, and 69,000 more deaths. The high number of malaria cases continues to be registered even though several efforts have been put in place towards malaria eradication. It is for this reason scientists and researchers are assessing the use of new tools to edit the genes of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes as they try to come up with a long-lasting solution towards control and elimination of this disease. “The war against malaria has been ongoing for decades. It has led to the development of several interventions strategies, such as antimalarial drugs, insecticide-treated nets, and vaccines among others. However, despite all the interventions, the disease has not been eradicated because there are increased cases of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, which pose a significant public health concern,” says Dr Willy Kiprotich Tonui, EBS, the Chairman and Executive Director at the Environmental Health Safety (EHS) Consultancy Limited who also doubles up as the Founder and Head of Secretariat to African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium.
UC Davis — Malaria Gene Drive Feasibility Analysis
21563Good Ventures, Good Ventures, 2022-03-31 12:24:36.
Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $10,248,967 over three years to UC Davis to support subsequent stages of a feasibility analysis of a potential test of gene drives for malaria control on the adjoining West African islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. The work, led by Dr. Greg Lanzaro and colleagues, will focus on a potential gene drive application that would reduce or inhibit the ability of mosquitoes to transmit the malarial parasite, without impacting the size of the mosquito population on the islands. As part of the preliminary feasibility analysis, which Open Philanthropy supported in February 2020, Dr. Lanzaro’s team developed working relationships with local communities, established an ethics advisory board, developed a communication plan, and conducted appropriate safety tests.
Squashing malaria could save as many lives as covid-19 has taken
21012Anonymous, The Economist, 2022-03-19 06:25:31.
When it comes to covid-19 vaccines, poor countries in Africa have been stuck at the back of the queue. However, the continent’s long wait for another immunological miracle appears to be drawing to a close. Later this year, the world’s first malaria vaccine is scheduled for a roll-out. Although the current version leaves much to be desired—it requires four doses, is hard to manufacture at scale and reduces severe infections by a mere 30%—better alternatives may be on the way. A jab developed by scientists at Oxford has shown 77% effectiveness. If clinical trials go well, they aim to apply for pre-qualification from the World Health Organisation in September. Production at a rate of up to 200m doses per year could follow swiftly.
Mark-release-recapture experiment in Burkina Faso demonstrates reduced fitness and dispersal of genetically-modified sterile malaria mosquitoes
20385F. A. Yao, A.-A. Millogo, P. S. Epopa, A. North, F. Noulin, K. Dao, M. Drabo, C. Guissou, S. Kekele, M. Namountougou, R. K. Ouedraogo, L. Pare, N. Barry, R. Sanou, H. Wandaogo, R. K. Dabire, A. McKemey, F. Tripet and A. Diabaté, Nature Communications, 13:796. 2022-02-10 09:11:33.
Every year, malaria kills approximately 405,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa, most of them children under the age of five years. In many countries, progress in malaria control has been threatened by the rapid spread of resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides. Novel genetic mosquito control approaches could play an important role in future integrated malaria control strategies. In July 2019, the Target Malaria consortium proceeded with the first release of hemizygous genetically-modified (GM) sterile and non-transgenic sibling males of the malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii in Burkina Faso. This study aimed to determine the potential fitness cost associated to the transgene and gather important information related to the dynamic of transgene-carrying mosquitoes, crucial for next development steps. Bayesian estimations confirmed that GM males had lower survival and were less mobile than their wild type (WT) siblings. The estimated male population size in Bana village, at the time of the release was 28,000 - 37,000. These results provide unique information about the fitness and behaviour of released GM males that will inform future releases of more effective strains of the A. gambiae complex.
Gene-drive mosquitoes, a prospect for future malaria control
21770S. A. Monawwer, A. O. I. Alzubaidi, F. Yasmin, S. M. Q. Haimour, S. M. I. Shay and I. Ullah, Pan African Medical Journal, 41:2-6. 2022-02-08 07:58:25.
Despite major developments in malaria control over the past two decades, the disease continues to scourge the human population across the globe. Rising concerns such as insecticide resistance amongst vector mosquitoes are a cause of huge fear amongst healthcare providers and policymakers. Amidst such dire circumstances, a recent development may form the blueprint for future malaria control as for the first time ever researchers were able to decimate an entire mosquito population using gene-drive technology within a span of one year in a multi-generation, ecologically challenging study. Despite some concerns, the technology displayed a high potential of becoming a powerful tool in malaria control.
Preparing an Insectary in Burkina Faso to Support Research in Genetic Technologies for Malaria Control
20042C. Guissou, M. M. Quinlan, R. Sanou, R. K. Ouédraogo, M. Namountougou and A. Diabaté, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2022-01-06 09:53:59.
The Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS) of Burkina Faso, West Africa, was the first African institution to import transgenic mosquitoes for research purposes. A shift from the culture of mosquito research to regulated biotechnology research and considerable management capacity is needed to set up and run the first insectary for transgenic insects in a country that applied and adapted the existing biosafety framework, first developed for genetically modified (GM) crops, to this new area of research. The additional demands arise from the separate regulatory framework for biotechnology, referencing the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the novelty of the research strain, making public understanding and acceptance early in the research pathway important. The IRSS team carried out extensive preparations following recommendations for containment of GM arthropods and invested efforts in local community engagement and training with scientific colleagues throughout the region. Record keeping beyond routine practice was established to maintain evidence related to regulatory requirements and risk assumptions. The National Biosafety Agency of Burkina Faso, Agence Nationale de Biosécurité (ANB), granted the permits for import of the self-limiting transgenic mosquito strain, which took place in November 2016, and for conducting studies in the IRSS facility in Bobo-Dioulasso. Compliance with permit terms and conditions of the permits and study protocols continued until the conclusion of studies, when the transgenic colonies were terminated. All this required close coordination between management and the insectary teams, as well as others. This article outlines the experiences of the IRSS to support others undertaking such studies. The IRSS is contributing to the ongoing development of genetic technologies for malaria control, as a partner of Target Malaria (https://targetmalaria.org). The ultimate objective of the innovation is to reduce malaria transmission by using GM mosquitoes of the same species released to reduce the disease-vectoring native populations of Anopheles gambiae s.l.
Information Sharing in Senegal on the Gene Drive Technology as a potential Complementary Tool for Malaria Vector Control
19902AUDA-NEPAD, AUDA-NEPAD, 2022-01-04 08:23:49.
AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with the National Biosafety Authority (Autorité Nationale de Biosécurité (ANB) in Senegal organized an Information sharing meeting on the gene drive technology as a complementary tool for malaria vector control, from 22-23 December 2021, in Somone, Senegal. The key objective of the meeting was to discuss the opportunities offered by gene drive technology for malaria control, based on the current state of art of knowledge and experiences from countries that are testing this approach. Sixty people, including key stakeholders from relevant institutions in Senegal and experts from Burkina Faso and Mali took part in the meeting. In his opening remarks, Mr. Ousseynou Kassé, Executive Director of ANB thanked AUDA-NEPAD for the support provided in the organization of this meeting. He also thanked the experts from Burkina Faso and Mali who came to share their experiences on the subject. “We started the discussions on the Gene Drive approach some years ago at the COP-MOP meeting held in Mexico and we continued it in the past years in the sub-region. Recently we were in Accra twice to discuss the same topic ahead of the next COP-MOP meeting”, he said. Mr. Yero Dé, Chairperson of the Orientation Council of ANB, highlighted that the meeting seeks to improve stakeholders’ understanding of the gene drive technology as a novel malaria control approach. “We need to consider adopting this new approach through an open discussion on how this technology could be used in the health sector and in particular in malaria control and elimination. Malaria mortality rate is very high in most of our countries and the efforts deployed so far to control the disease face important challenges, including the resistance of the vector to the current treatments”, he further stated.
Gene Drives For Malaria Control And Elimination
19693Annonymous, Health Tech, 2021-12-16 19:01:30.
There is notable ongoing research and prioritization of gene drive technology in Africa for Malaria control and elimination. Currently, there is ongoing gene drive mosquito research in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Uganda led by the Target Malaria consortium. While laboratory research has demonstrated that gene drive techniques are effective in altering the Anopheles mosquito populations so that they can no longer transmit Malaria parasites and crashing entire mosquito populations, this research still has a long way to go in testing the effectiveness of gene drive mosquitoes in controlling Malaria. Initiated in 2018, Target Malaria’s work in Uganda is led by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). The work in Uganda is still in early stages, focusing on entomological mosquito collections from field sites on islands within Lake Victoria and mainland sites. In Burkina Faso, Target Malaria’s initiated exploratory gene drive research in in 2012, led by the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS) in Bobo-Dioulasso. In 2019, the team released genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes in Bana village. The mosquitoes were genetically-modified to be sterile, which means they died without any offspring. These were not gene drive mosquitoes, and their release was not to test these as a vector control tool.
Scientists eye gene drive technology to combat malaria
19496S. Buguzi, Sci Dev Net, 2021-12-03 16:55:44.
Scientists are hoping that adoption of gene drive technology could reduce mosquito populations as they call for new innovations in the fight against malaria, a fatal disease widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) says the Africa region accounted for around 94 per cent of all global malaria cases and deaths in 2019. Over two-thirds of deaths were among children under the age of five. Gene drive technology — genetic engineering that modifies malaria mosquitoes so they can pass their genes on to large mosquito populations — could potentially contribute to malaria elimination in Africa, according to Krystal Birungi, a field entomology coordinator at the not-for-profit research consortium Target Malaria, Uganda. “There is a sense in which our best tools today are also our oldest, which implies that innovation needs to be scaled up.” Fredros Okumu, entomologist and director of science, Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania “It is a cost-effective way to cut down malaria vectors, and is simple to implement because the mosquitoes themselves do the work,” said Birungi during a Roll Back Malaria Partnership virtual boot camp on malaria control innovation on 15 November. Although the technology is not on the market, and is yet to gain public acceptance, if rolled out it could complement existing malaria interventions such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spray, helping reduce malaria cases, according to Birungi.
Area-wide management of mediterranean fruit fly with the sterile insect technique in South Africa: New production and management techniques pay dividends
19358Venter, J. H., Baard, C. W. L., and Barnes, B. N., AREA-WIDE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: Development and Field Application, 2021-11-29 16:27:01.
A mass-rearing facility to produce sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), for a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programme in the Hex River Valley in the Western Cape Province started in the late 1990s. The programme was initially underfunded and could only produce about 5 million sterile male flies per week. The resultant aerial release rate of 500 sterile males/ha/week reduced wild Mediterranean fruit fly populations substantially, but not to sufficiently low levels. Due to financial considerations, in 2003 aerial releases were replaced with ground releases targeting all gardens, other hotspots and neglected host plants. It was clear that with more funding, fruit fly mass-rearing facility and field operations could be improved, better quality control could be implemented, and more and better quality male sterile flies could be produced and released. Increased government support in 2001 resulted in a larger mass-rearing facility, and further improvements included the implementation of a quality control management system and the introduction of a new genetic sexing strain (VIENNA 8). The resultant increase in the production of sterile Mediterranean fruit flies of better quality enabled the SIT programme to be systematically introduced to additional fruit production areas. The Mediterranean fruit fly SIT programme was privatised in 2003 and is now operated by FruitFly Africa (Pty) Ltd. In 2009 a new approach to funding was adopted with a renewable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the deciduous fruit and table grape industry. Under the MoU, the DAFF provides 50% of the necessary funding, while 50% is collected from growers through statutory levies. In 2010 a new state of the art mass-rearing facility became operational and subsequent improvements in production processes and facility maintenance resulted in improved fruit fly production and quality. By 2016 sterile male production had increased to 56 million flies per week. After 12 years of ground releases of sterile Mediterranean fruit flies, aerial releases were resumed in three main production areas, and, at the time of writing, include approximately 15 000 ha of commercial deciduous fruit and table grapes. As a result of this well-funded area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme, average wild Mediterranean fruit fly populations in the SIT areas have decreased by as much as 73%. The South African Mediterranean fruit fly SIT programme now aims to manage some of the fruit production areas as areas of low pest prevalence. Increased funding and a stable income stream also enabled FruitFly Africa to apply early detection and rapid response programmes for invasive pests such as Bactrocera dorsalis in relevant areas.
The suppression of the False Codling Moth in South Africa using an AW-IPM approach with a SIT component
25890N. Boersma, AREA-WIDE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: Development and Field Application, 2021-11-29 10:26:27.
The false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is native to subSaharan Africa, where it infests various commercial, and wild, fruit-bearing plants. This major pest is not present in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and therefore has phytosanitary implications, which impose severe limitations on potential South African exports. Consequently, this pest represents a severe threat to the fruit industry of South Africa, in terms of socio-economic impacts on both fruit production and job security. Although the pest can be managed to some extent with insecticides, mating disruption, and orchard sanitation, a long-term environment-friendly solution was needed. This became more evident as T. leucotreta developed resistance to available insecticides, while stricter quarantine measures were enforced by importers of African citrus. In 2002, research commenced on an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme in conjunction with the development of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for the false codling moth. Commercial sterile insect releases started in the 2007-2008 season over 1500 ha of citrus orchards in Citrusdal, Western Cape Province, but by 2017-2018 had gradually expanded to almost 19 000 ha in three different citrus producing regions of South Africa. The programme is currently owned by the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) that have contributed to the steady growth of the SIT programme in the citrus industry. Over the past ten years the status of T. leucotreta as a pest threat was systematically reduced in areas where the SIT was practiced on an area-wide basis, compared to non-release areas.
Small-scale release of non-gene drive mosquitoes in Burkina Faso: from engagement implementation to assessment, a learning journey
18910L. Pare Toe, N. Barry, A. D. Ky, S. Kekele, W. Meda, K. Bayala, M. Drabo, D. Thizy and A. Diabate, Malaria Journal, 20:395. 2021-10-11 14:50:37.
This study provides a review of engagement activities relevant to field trials on non-gene drive genetically-modified mosquitoes as well as an assessment framework-using both qualitative and quantitative studies as well as an audit procedure. The latter was implemented to evaluate whether the release activities could proceed with the appropriate level of agreement from the community. RESULTS: This paper shows the importance of this first phase of work to innovate and learn about engagement processes for responsible research in the field of genetic approaches for malaria vector control. The function of these assessments is crucial for the learning agenda. The assessments demonstrated ways to increase understanding and ensure effective progress with field studies and, therefore, the pathway for responsible research.
Spatial modelling for population replacement of mosquito vectors at continental scale
18861N. J. Beeton, A. Wilkins, A. Ickowicz, K. R. Hayes and G. R. Hosack, bioRxiv, 2021.10.06.463299. 2021-10-06 18:41:08.
We explore transmission of the gene drive between the subspecies, different hybridisation mechanisms, the effects of both local dispersal and potential wind-aided migration to the spread, and the development of resistance to the gene drive. We find that given best current available knowledge on the subspecies’ life histories, an introduced gene drive system with typical characteristics can plausibly spread from even distant offshore islands to the African mainland with the aid of wind-driven migration, with resistance taking over within a decade. Our model demonstrates a range of realistic dynamics including the effect of prevailing wind on spread and spatio-temporally varying carrying capacities for subspecies. We thus show both the plausibility and importance of accounting for a wide range of mechanisms from regional to continental scales
Stakeholders call for adoption of emerging technologies to fight Malaria
18869C. Muchira, KBC, 2021-10-05 19:08:06.
Health stakeholders are calling for adoption of innovative and emerging technologies such as gene drive to change the focus of the war on malaria from just controlling its spread to actual elimination. The African Institute for Development Policy and other stakeholders have urged the government to allocate adequate resources to boost initiatives by institutions in fighting malaria and improve health.According to a 2020 World Health Organization report, in 2019, 229 million people were infected with Malaria in 87 malaria endemic countries. The African Region recorded an estimated 215 million cases in 2019 which accounted for about 94% of cases including Nigeria (27%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), Mozambique (4%) and Niger (3%) accounted for about 51% of all cases globally. Although milestones have been made, the persisting high rates of illnesses and deaths have called for concerted efforts towards malaria elimination.
Life Table of Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in Mauritius
19008R. D. Bhoyroo, S. Facknath and P. Sookar, African Entomology, 29:361-369. 2021-09-28 15:26:50.
Fruit flies (Tephritidae) have been reported to be a serious pest worldwide. In Mauritius, the major fruit fly species of economic and quarantine importance in agricultural production are Bactrocera zonata (Saunders), Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) and Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). In line with the government's policy for sustainable and organic agriculture under the challenge of climate change, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is being investigated as an alternative to chemical control. For successful cost-effective SIT programme island-wide, the production of competitive and sterile individuals for release is a key requirement. The aim of this study was to investigate the life cycle parameters of B. zonata to evaluate the feasibility of optimum mass rearing of this species. It was observed that B. zonata has a pre-oviposition period of 8 days, an oviposition duration of 51 days, the number of eggs per female along the complete oviposition period was 705 eggs and the peak egg hatchability varied from 88.5 to 91.5 %. The study showed that egg collection could be started as from day 13. The findings demonstrated that 5 weeks of egg collection is optimal for a rearing facility of B. zonata and production cages should be discarded on day 41. It was found that B. zonata has a net reproductive rate of 300.04 females and a mean generation time of 28.73 days. Given a positive Ro and a short T, it can be concluded that mass rearing of B. zonata is economically viable. Within a short period a laboratory population of this species for mass rearing can be established.
Genetically changed mosquitoes could transform Africa’s long fight against malaria
18258L. Singh, ForumIAS, 2021-08-30 13:13:44.
In nature, there’s a phenomenon called gene drive which operates in the process of reproduction. This is when a genetic element is able to increase the chance that it will be inherited by offspring. The general underlying principle of all gene drives is an organism that will produce offspring similar to themselves. Some characteristics are randomly passed on from parents to the next generation. However, gene drive forces a different type of inheritance that ensures a specific characteristic is always present in the next generation. Scientists engineer gene drive using various molecular tools. Gene drive is not just a human invention; some occur naturally in insects. Unlike traditional genetic modification, gene drives enable extremely rapid spread of the desired characteristics.
Africa must not rest until Malaria rests: What is the role of emerging technologies?
18165R. Oronje, AFIDEP, 2021-08-20 14:42:16.
As we mark the World Mosquito Day today, it is a sad reminder that Malaria still kills hundreds of thousands of people every year, majority of these people in Africa. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Malaria killed 409,000 people in 2019, and 94% of these deaths were in Africa. For those who survive the disease, they have many horrifying tales to tell because many get Malaria every so often, especially for those living in Malaria endemic regions. I have many horrifying tales of my experience with Malaria because I grew up in the Malaria-endemic region of Western Kenya. One of these tales is when I passed out in school when I was in Primary-4 because I had refused to take the very bitter Quinine tablets. My Mum was called to take me to hospital and by the time she arrived, I was in “hallucination mode” because all I remember is seeing two Mums lifting me up; and the next time I woke up, I was in a nearby health facility. My parents still live in this region, which means I visit them often and so every time I visit Western Kenya without taking prophylaxis, I can be sure I will come back with Malaria. But this blog is not about my horrifying Malaria tales, so I will not delve much more into that. Although many people in sub-Saharan Africa have suffered from Malaria, many are not aware of ongoing efforts to develop and test new tools with potential to eliminate Malaria. In a recent study by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) on the “Landscape and Political Economy Analysis of Emerging Health Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa”, we found that apart from the researchers developing these new tools and their funding agencies, other stakeholders including journalists, civil society actors, and policymakers know little, if anything, about the ongoing research on emerging health technologies, including those technologies being developed with potential to eliminate Malaria.
Scientists eradicate malaria-transmitting mosquitos using genetic engineering which make females infertile in new study which takes one step closer to wiping out the disease worldwide.
18078C. Ciaccia, Daily Mail, 2021-07-30 17:09:51.
Malaria kills nearly 500,000 people globally every year, but scientists have now figured out a way to use CRISPR gene-editing technology to make female mosquitoes infertile, described as a 'game-changer' for ending the deadly disease. Researchers from Imperial College London, Genomics Genetics and Biology, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine were able to use a gene drive for the first time to not only show that blocking female reproduction worked in a lab setting, but natural-like setting as well. The researchers targeted the mosquito species Anopheles gambiae, which is responsible for the majority of malaria transmissions in sub-Saharan Africa. The gene-drives targets the gene known as 'doublesex' in these mosquitoes.
GM mosquitoes to fight malaria
17818I. Khisa, The INDEPENDENT, 2021-07-19 14:40:06.
Scientists at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) plans to undertake a research on genetically engineered mosquitoes to tackle malaria. Dr. Jonathan Kayondo, the principal investigator Target Malaria Uganda and Senior Research Officer at UVRI had an email interview with The Independent’s Isaac Khisa about the research and here are the excerpts: n Uganda, Target Malaria’s research is still in early stages, currently at facility readiness. The Uganda Virus Research Institute became a primary Target Malaria project site in 2016. We have been laying the research groundwork by setting up the necessary infrastructure and building capacity of the teams. We constructed a new Arthropod Containment Level 2 (ACL2) insectary to facilitate future studies on development and evaluation of genetically modified mosquitoes following international containment guidelines and best practices. It was inaugurated in July 2019. Our teams are currently testing the facility for functionality by studying the local wild mosquitoes under containment and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) as part of the capacity building efforts. We are also busy developing stakeholder engagement strategies and preparing to apply for regulatory approval for the next stage of our research.
‘Nigeria has capacity for safe application of modern biotechnology’
17298M. Adewale, The Guardian, 2021-06-09 11:00:41.
Director-general of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba, has declared that Nigeria has the capacity to deploy safe biotechnology products for agricultural development and environmental safety. Ebegba, who gave the assurance at the opening of a two-day retreat on agricultural biotechnology for media practitioners and extension workers yesterday in Kano, explained that Nigeria possessed the institutional capacity and policy framework to ensure the application of modern technology, especially on agricultural production with the potential to accelerate food security and reduce import dependency. He stressed that the establishment of the NBDA, which necessitated the development of national policy on biotechnology in 2001 and the enactment of the agency, mandated to ensure the safety of modern biotechnology products, has positioned the country with the knowledge to deploy Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) products. Ebegba stressed that part of the core responsibility of NBDA was to ensure the regulation of biotechnology and the safety of GMO products for human health and the environment.
The origin of island populations of the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles coluzzii
17287M. Campos, M. Hanemaaijer, H. Gripkey, T. C. Collier, Y. S. Lee, A. J. Cornel, J. Pinto, D. Ayala, H. Rompao and G. C. Lanzaro, Communications Biology, 4:9. 2021-05-26 10:26:11.
Anopheles coluzzii is a major malaria vector throughout its distribution in west-central Africa. Here we present a whole-genome study of 142 specimens from nine countries in continental Africa and three islands in the Gulf of Guinea. This sample set covers a large part of this species' geographic range. Our population genomic analyses included a description of the structure of mainland populations, island populations, and connectivity between them. Three genetic clusters are identified among mainland populations and genetic distances (F-ST) fits an isolation-by-distance model. Genomic analyses are applied to estimate the demographic history and ancestry for each island. Taken together with the unique biogeography and history of human occupation for each island, they present a coherent explanation underlying levels of genetic isolation between mainland and island populations. We discuss the relationship of our findings to the suitability of Sao Tome and Principe islands as candidate sites for potential field trials of genetic-based malaria control strategies. Campos, Lanzaro and colleagues use whole-genome sequencing and population genomic analyses to infer connectivity between mainland and island mosquito populations in West Africa. The unique biogeographic history for each island population is reported, and the findings highlight potential candidate sites for genetic-based malaria control strategies.
Burkina Faso Testing Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Curb Malaria
17082H. Wilkins, Voice of America, 2021-05-20 15:06:44.
The mosquito-borne disease malaria kills more than 400,000 people each year, the vast majority in Africa. Target Malaria, an international group of scientists, is working in Burkina Faso on a genetic solution. Abdoulaye Diabate, with the West African country’s Research Institute for Science and Health, said the objective of Target Malaria is to develop a genetic control tool specifically applied to mosquitoes to be able to drastically reduce or eliminate the density of mosquitoes. The scientists are genetically modifying mosquitoes so their offspring will be only male, and any females they mate with after release will also produce just males. Since only female mosquitoes spread malaria, the disease should drop off quickly along with their population. In village of Bana, where the genetically modified mosquitoes were first tested in 2019, locals were initially worried about the experiment. Kiesiara Sanou, a Bana village elder, said that at the beginning, people thought the survey would release mosquitoes in the village that could cause more diseases. But since working with Target Malaria, they’ve come to understand exactly what the purpose is and now even help them with tasks like collecting the mosquitoes. Genetically modified mosquitoes are just one malaria solution that has been tested in Burkina Faso. The country also pioneered pesticide-infused mosquito nets.
Selection of Sites for Field Trials of Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes with Gene Drive
16932G. C. Lanzaro, M. Campos, M. Crepeau, A. Cornel, A. Estrada, H. Gripkey, Z. Haddad, A. Kormos, S. Palomares and W. Sharpee, bioRxiv, 2021.04.28.441877. 2021-04-28 15:53:05.
Novel malaria control strategies using genetically engineered mosquitoes (GEMs) are on the horizon. Population modification is one approach wherein mosquitoes are engineered with genes rendering them refractory to the malaria parasite coupled with a low-threshold, Cas9-based gene drive. When released into a wild vector population, GEMs preferentially transmit these beneficial genes to their offspring, ultimately modifying a vector population into a non-vector one. Deploying this technology awaits evaluation including ecologically contained field trials. Here, we consider a process for site selection, the first critical step in designing a trial. Our goal is to identify a site that maximizes prospects for success, minimizes risk, and serves as a fair, valid, and convincing test of efficacy and impacts of a GEM product intended for large-scale deployment in Africa. We base site selection on geographical, geological, and biological, rather than social or legal, criteria. We recognize the latter as critically important but not preeminent. We propose physical islands as being the best candidates for a GEM field trial and present an evaluation of 22 African islands. We consider geographic and genetic isolation, biological complexity, island size, topography, and identify two island groups that satisfy key criteria for ideal GEM field trial sites.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
“Maskandi experience”: exploring the use of a cultural song for community engagement in preparation for a pilot Sterile Insect Technique release programme for malaria vector control in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa 2019
17029P. N. Manana, S. Jewett, J. Zikhali, D. Dlamini, N. Mabaso, Z. Mlambo, R. Ngobese and G. Munhenga, Malaria Journal, 20:11. 2021-04-28 11:06:19.
Background An assessment of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) as a complementary malaria vector control tool, is at an advanced stage in South Africa. The technique involves the release of laboratory-reared sterilized male mosquitoes of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis, raising social, ethical and regulatory concerns. Therefore, its implementation largely depends on community participation and acceptance. Against this background, it is critical that robust and effective community strategies are developed. This study describes the development of a cultural song to engage the community and increase awareness on SIT and malaria control in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods An exploratory concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted to get opinions about the effectiveness of a cultural song developed to engage communities and increase acceptability of the SIT technology. Two self-administered surveys (expert and community) were conducted. Additionally, more in depth opinions of the song and its effectiveness in conveying the intended information were investigated through three community dialogue sessions with community members in the study area. Results A total of 40 experts and 54 community members participated in the survey. Four themes were identified in relation to the appropriateness and effectiveness of the song, with a fifth theme focused on recommendations for adaptations. Overall, the song was well received with the audience finding it entertaining and informative. Responses to unstructured questions posed after the song showed an increase in the knowledge on malaria transmission and SIT technology. In particular, the explanation that male mosquitoes do not bite allayed anxiety and fears about the SIT technology. Conclusion The song was deemed both culturally appropriate and informative in engaging community members about the SIT technology. It proved useful in promoting health messages and conveying SIT technology as a complementary malaria vector control tool. With minor adaptations, the song has potential as an area-wide community engagement tool in areas targeted for sterile male releases.
Estimates of the population size and dispersal range of Anopheles arabiensis in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: implications for a planned pilot programme to release sterile male mosquitoes
17062M. L. Kaiser, O. R. Wood, D. Damiens, B. D. Brooke, L. L. Koekemoer and G. Munhenga, Parasites and Vectors, 14:18. 2021-04-19 13:57:18.
The Anopheles gambiae complex and An. funestus group species made up the majority of wild collections along with other anophelines. The An. arabiensis population size was estimated to be between 550 and 9500 males per hectare depending on time of year, weather conditions and method used. Average dispersal distance of marked males ranged from 58 to 86 m. Marked males were found in swarms with wild males, indicating that laboratory-reared males are able to locate and participate in mating swarms. Conclusions It was logistically feasible to conduct mark-release-recapture studies at the current scale. The population size estimates obtained may provide a guideline for the initial number of males to use for a pending SIT pilot trial. It is promising for future SIT trials that laboratory-reared marked males participated in natural swarms, appearing at the right place at the right time.
Commercial Release of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Interface Between Biosafety Regulatory Systems and Varietal Release Systems
27487O. Akinbo, S. Obukosia, J. Ouedraogo, W. Sinebo, M. Savadogo, S. Timpo, R. Mbabazi, K. Maredia, D. Makinde and A. Ambali, Frontier in Plant Sciences, 12. 2021-03-21 13:38:05.
African countries face key challenges in the deployment of GM crops due to incongruities in the processes for effective and efficient commercial release while simultaneously ensuring food and environmental safety. Against the backdrop of the preceding scenario, and for the effective and efficient commercial release of GM crops for cultivation by farmers, while simultaneously ensuring food and environmental safety, there is a need for the close collaboration of and the interplay between the biosafety competent authorities and the variety release authorities. The commercial release of genetically modified (GM) crops for cultivation requires the approval of biosafety regulatory packages. The evaluation and approval of lead events fall under the jurisdiction of competent national authorities for biosafety (which may be ministries, autonomous authorities, or agencies). The evaluation of lead events fundamentally comprises a review of environmental, food, and feed safety data as provided for in the Biosafety Acts, implementing regulations, and, in some cases, the involvement of other relevant legal instruments. Although the lead GM event may be commercially released for farmers to cultivate, it is often introgressed into locally adapted and farmer preferred non-GM cultivars that are already released and grown by the farmers. The introduction of new biotechnology products to farmers is a process that includes comprehensive testing in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field over some time. The process provides answers to questions about the safety of the products before being introduced into the environment and marketplace. This is the first step in regulatory approvals. The output of the research and development phase of the product development cycle is the identification of a safe and best performing event for advancement to regulatory testing, likely commercialization, and general release. The process of the commercial release of new crop varieties in countries with established formal seed systems is guided by well-defined procedures and approval systems and regulated by the Seed Acts and implemented regulations. In countries with seed laws, no crop varieties are approved for commercial cultivation prior to the fulfillment of the national performance trials and the distinctness, uniformity, and stability tests, as well as prior to the approval by the National Variety Release Committee. This review outlines key challenges faced by African countries in the deployment of GM crops and cites lessons learned as well as best practices from countries that have successfully commercialized genetically engineered crops.
Ugandan stakeholder hopes and concerns about gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control: new directions for gene drive risk governance
16600S. Hartley, R. D. J. Smith, A. Kokotovich, C. Opesen, T. Habtewold, K. Ledingham, B. Raymond and C. B. Rwabukwali, Malaria Journal, 20:149. 2021-03-16 18:12:21.
The African Union’s High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies identified gene drive mosquitoes as a priority technology for malaria elimination. The first field trials are expected in 5–10 years in Uganda, Mali or Burkina Faso. In preparation, regional and international actors are developing risk governance guidelines which will delineate the framework for identifying and evaluating risks. Scientists and bioethicists have called for African stakeholder involvement in these developments, arguing the knowledge and perspectives of those people living in malaria-afflicted countries is currently missing. However, few African stakeholders have been involved to date, leaving a knowledge gap about the local social-cultural as well as ecological context in which gene drive mosquitoes will be tested and deployed. This study investigates and analyses Ugandan stakeholders’ hopes and concerns about gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control and explores the new directions needed for risk governance.
Hybrid mosquitoes? Evidence from rural Tanzania on how local communities conceptualize and respond to modified mosquitoes as a tool for malaria control
16567M. F. Finda, F. O. Okumu, E. Minja, R. Njalambaha, W. Mponzi, B. B. Tarimo, P. Chaki, J. Lezaun, A. H. Kelly and N. Christofides, Malaria Journal, 20:134. 2021-03-06 14:11:52.
Different forms of mosquito modifications are being considered as potential high-impact and low-cost tools for future malaria control in Africa. Although still under evaluation, the eventual success of these technologies will require high-level public acceptance. Understanding prevailing community perceptions of mosquito modification is, therefore, crucial for effective design and implementation of these interventions. This study investigated community perceptions regarding genetically-modified mosquitoes (GMMs) and their potential for malaria control in Tanzanian villages where no research or campaign for such technologies has yet been undertaken.
In Uganda, genetically modified mosquitoes bring hope and fear
16550Anonymous, africanews, 2021-03-05 19:32:29.
Scientists here are investigating whether populations of the malaria-carrying insects can be reduced by genetic modification. They're looking at the viability of releasing large numbers of genetically modified mosquitos into the wild to influence future generations. The study is being led by scientists here at the institute in Kampala with researchers from the Target Malaria group. Dr. Jonathan Kayondo is the principal investigator managing the project. He says the disease can be deadly for children, especially those under five-years-old. "The aim here is to develop a new vector control tool for the suppression of malaria transmission," says Dr. Jonathan Kayondo.
Modeling impact and cost-effectiveness of gene drives for malaria elimination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
16477N. Metchanun, C. Borgemeister, G. Amzati, J. von Braun, M. Nikolov, P. Selvaraj and J. Gerardin, medRxiv, 2020.06.29.20142760. 2021-02-22 13:51:04.
Using a spatially explicit, agent-based model of malaria transmission in eight representative provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we predict the impact and cost-effectiveness of integrating driving-Y gene drive mosquitoes in malaria elimination strategies that include existing interventions such as insecticide-treated nets and case management of symptomatic malaria. Gene drive mosquitoes could eliminate malaria and were the most cost-effective intervention overall if the drive component was highly effective with at least 95% X-shredding and associated cost of deployment below 7.17 $int per person per year. Suppression gene drive could be a cost-effective supplemental intervention for malaria elimination, but tight constraints on drive effectiveness and cost ceilings may limit its feasibility.
Experts oppose plan to breed mosquitoes
16279T. Abet, Daily Monitor, 2021-02-01 17:11:29.
Environmentalists have opposed the plan to breed and release genetically modified mosquitoes in the country to curb malaria prevalence. They say the act presents substantial human and environmental health risks. Their objection follows last week’s announcement by scientists at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) that they have embarked on a series of activities aimed at breeding and releasing genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) that could curb malaria transmission.
Genetically modified mosquitoes to curb malaria
16221T. Abet, Daily Monitor, 2021-01-29 16:20:15.
Scientists at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) have started breeding mosquitoes with the aim of modifying their genetic materials and releasing them to the environment to curb malaria transmission. The genetically modified mosquitoes, according to the scientists, do not transmit malaria parasites when they bite. Dr Jonathan Kayondo, the project lead coordinator at the UVRI, said when the modified male mosquito mates with common mosquitoes, the female off springs are infertile. This, he explained will significantly suppress the population or eliminate mosquitoes thereby stopping malaria transmission and deaths.
New genetically modified mosquitoes to help fight malaria
16216D. Zirimala, Capital Radio FM, 2021-01-29 16:11:15.
According to Dr. Jonathan Kayondo, the principal investigator of the Target Malaria project, the genetically modified mosquitoes do not transmit malaria parasites when they bite. These are made infertile so that when they cross breed with the female anopheles mosquito, they are not able to reproduce. He says with this new research project, they are complimenting the already existing malaria control methods such as insecticides treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying and drugs but there is need to get additional tools to help eradicate the disease.
Technical Support to Burkina Faso on Gene Drive Stage 2 Dossier Review
15557AUDA-NEPAD, AUDA-NEPAD, 2020-12-17 14:58:32.
AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with the National Biosafety Agency (ANB) in Burkina Faso organised a training workshop to support to the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) on stage 2 dossier review, on December 3 – 5, 2020, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. In addition to the NBC members, and based on recommendations from previous in-country consultations, the meeting audience was extended to include researchers, faculty members and PhD students. The meeting brought together 25 participants. Amongst the countries piloting the gene drive research in the continent, Burkina Faso has successfully completed the activities in stage 1 of the process nd is now contemplating to commence stage 2. An application has been prepared and submitted to the national regulatory agency, following a successful pre-review by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
Burkina Faso Stakeholders consultations on Gene Drive Technology for integrated vector management towards malaria elimination
15384AUDA-NEPAD, AUDA-NEPAD, 2020-12-08 15:09:47.
Under its flagship Integrated Vector Management (IVM) Programme, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with the National biosafety agency (ANB) of Burkina Faso organized an information sharing workshop on the applications of "Gene Drive" technology and facilitated discussions for the establishment of a consultative group on integrated vector management in Burkina Faso. The meeting was held from November 30th to December 1st, in Ouagadougou and brought together healthcare, environmental and biosafety regulators and other decision makers from different relevant institutions in the country.
ARRIGE 2020 Meeting | The promise of CRISPR and gene drive systems to end malaria in Africa
15145E. Gomez-Diaz, ARRIGE org, 2020-11-16 17:08:32.
Presentation by Elena Gómez Díaz (IPBLN-CSIC, Granada, Spain) at the ARRIGE 2020 meeting on "The promise of CRISPR and gene drive systems to end malaria in Africa". Discussion is included at the end of the Ruud de Maagd presentation.https://youtu.be/te3MJ8EZoes
Gene drive blocks malaria transmission in mosquitoes
15035labonline, labonline, 2020-11-09 15:46:59.
Employing a strategy known as ‘population modification’, which involves using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene drive system to introduce genes preventing parasite transmission into mosquito chromosomes, University of California (UC) researchers have made a major advance in the use of genetic technologies to control the transmission of malaria parasites. Their work has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Expert advises farmers to adopt gene drive-based pest control technology
15029S. Thompson, naija247news, 2020-11-09 15:36:25.
Dr Rose Gidado, County Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology(OFAB), has advised farmers to adopt the gene drive-based pest control technology. Gidado, also Deputy Director, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said the adoption would significantly help to restore Nigeria’s food crop industry. According to her, Nigerian agricultural system is dominated by the application of synthetic pesticides which have resulted in environmental pollution. Gidado said that it had contributed greatly to climate change, with lethal consequences like increased pest attack, decreased crop yield and extreme heat stress in plants. The scientist said the application of gene drive in Nigeria’s agricultural system, would help greatly in the control of deadly insect pests which cause damages to crops and reduction in food production.
A gene-drive rescue system for the modification of malaria mosquito populations
14901A. Adolfi, Nature Research Bioengineering Community, 2020-11-03 18:48:29.
Mosquito populations can now be reliably modified using 1) antimalarial molecules that block parasite development and 2) a CRISPR-based gene drive system that mediates their rapid spreading across the vector population.
UC researchers pioneer more effective method of blocking malaria transmission in mosquitoes
14898UCI, UCI News, 2020-11-03 14:11:01.
University of California, Irvine postdoctoral researcher Adriana Adolfi, in collaboration with colleagues at UCI, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, followed up on the group’s pioneering effort to develop CRISPR-based gene drive systems for making mosquito vectors resistant to transmitting malaria parasites by increasing gene drive effectiveness in female mosquito progeny.The second-generation gene drive system described in this paper can be applied to any of the several thousand genes that are essential for insects to survive or reproduce,” said UC San Diego Distinguished Professor Ethan Bier, a co-author of the study and science director at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society. “While it was developed in fruit flies, this system is readily transportable to a broad selection of insect species that serve as vectors for devastating disorders such as Chagas disease, sleeping disease, leishmaniasis and arboviral diseases.”
Is Gene Editing the Answer to Eradicating Malaria in Africa?
14885Staff, ASH Clinical News, 2020-11-01 16:00:02.
Researchers are looking at a new technique to eradicate malaria: Engineering mosquitoes with a “gene drive” – a gene that when inserted into mosquitoes (or other organisms) will be passed on to nearly 100% of the offspring in the next generation, rather than just half the offspring – that rapidly spreads a mutation that removes the insects’ ability to spread the malaria-causing parasite.
Inauguration and first meeting of WA-IVM Technical Working Groups
14872AUDA-NEPAD, AUDA-NEPAD News, 2020-10-27 19:37:33.
African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment in Cote d’Ivoire, organized the inaugural meeting of WA-IVM Technical Working Groups (TWGs) from 24 – 26 April, 2019, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Dr. ABLE, Inspector General of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, representing the Minister, co-chaired the opening ceremony with Mr LAVRY, Technical Advisor of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Do Africans Want Genetically Modified Mosquitoes?
14591U. Effiong, The Pursuit, 2020-09-30 13:38:38.
The recent publication by fellow Nigerian scientists—Patricia Okorie and colleagues—originally drew my attention to the issue of GMMs.
Modelling the suppression of a malaria vector using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene drive to reduce female fertility
13724A. R. North, A. Burt and H. C. J. Godfray, BMC Biology, 18:98. 2020-08-11 12:23:41.
Gene drives based on CRISPR-Cas9 technology are increasingly being considered as tools for reducing the capacity of mosquito populations to transmit malaria, and one of the most promising options is driving endonuclease genes that reduce the fertility of female mosquitoes. Here, we use simulation modelling to understand the factors affecting the spread of this type of gene drive over a one million-square kilometre area of West Africa containing substantial environmental and social heterogeneity.
Fighting malaria with genetically modified mosquitoes
13609E. Nakkazi, BMJ, 370:m2172. 2020-08-04 12:53:14.
Could a bold project to genetically engineer mosquitoes curb the scourge of malaria in Africa? Finding out will require careful science—and public acceptance, writes Esther Nakkazi
Efficient population modification gene-drive rescue system in the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi
13593A. Adolfi, V. M. Gantz, N. Jasinskiene, H.-F. Lee, K. Hwang, E. A. Bulger, A. Ramaiah, J. B. Bennett, G. Terradas, J. J. Emerson, J. M. Marshall, E. Bier and A. A. James, bioRxiv, 2020.08.02.233056. 2020-08-02 12:59:26.
We developed the first recoded gene-drive rescue system for population modification in the malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, that relieves the load in females caused by integration of the drive into the kynurenine hydroxylase gene by rescuing its function. Non-functional resistant alleles are eliminated via a dominantly-acting maternal effect combined with slower-acting standard negative selection, and a functional resistant allele does not prevent drive invasion.
Après les OGM, la nouvelle technique du forçage génétique inquiète écologistes et scientifiques
13595H. Leussier, Reporterre, 2020-07-28 13:04:33.
Les organismes issus du forçage génétique peuvent transmettre, sans autre intervention humaine, des gènes modifiés à tous leurs descendants. Cette technique permettrait d’éradiquer des espèces nuisibles, comme certains moustiques vecteurs de la malaria. Mais des associations, des scientifiques et des responsables politiques, inquiets de potentiels effets dévastateurs, réclament un moratoire international.
CSOs raise alarm over genetically-engineered mosquitoes in Nigeria
13179A. Oboh, Vanguard, 2020-07-11 17:41:57.
No fewer than 75 civil society organisations, CSOs, across the world have raised the alarm over moves to release genetically-modified mosquitoes in Nigeria, noting that the country was about to be used as a guinea pig for the project, which will endanger humans, biodiversity and to ecosystem balance. The CSOs noted that the shortcoming of transgenic mosquitoes was evident from the experiments done in Brazil and in Burkina Faso.
Groups warn against release of genetically-engineered mosquitoes in Nigeria
13172C. Onyesi, Daily Post, 2020-07-07 14:52:15.
C. Onyesi (2020). Daily Post. Over 75 Civil Society Organizations from Nigeria, Africa and the world have condemned moves to open the way for the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Nigeria.
Malaria: Over 75 CSOs raise alarm over plans to release nautically engineered mosquitoes
13174News Agency of Nigeria, WorldStage, 2020-07-06 14:56:01.
Mre than 75 Environmental Civil Society Organisations from Nigeria, Africa and other countries have condemned moves to open way for release of genetically modified mosquitoes to control malaria infection. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that at a virtual meeting of the West African Integrated Vector Management Programme, on June 6, Mr Rufus Ebegba, Vice Chairman of the Programme said: “There is the need to accelerate the development of regulatory pathways for genetically based vector control methods such as transgenic mosquitoes.”
Nigerian government restates commitment to safety in applying modern biotechnology
13164Agencies, today ng, 2020-06-30 14:41:51.
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has reiterated its commitment to ensure the safety of the public while applying modern biotechnology to boost food security and economic development of citizens. Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General, NBMA, gave the assurance at a meeting to review the National Guidelines of the Regulation of Gene Editing, on Tuesday in Abuja. Ebegba said the NBMA was amended in 2019, to include the application of gene drive, gene editing and synthetic biology and biosecurity which says: ”No person, institution or body shall carry out gene drive, gene editing and synthetic biology except with the approval of the agency,”.
Role of gene drives in malaria elimination strategy: modeling impact and cost-effectiveness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
12729N. Metchanun, C. Borgemeister, J. von Braun, M. Nikolov, P. Selvaraj and J. Gerardin, medRxiv, 2020-06-29 13:15:39.
The tremendous burden of malaria has led to renewed efforts on malaria elimination and the development of novel tools for application where existing tools fall short. Gene drive mosquitoes, where transgenes and their associated phenotypes are efficiently propagated to future generations, are under development to suppress vector populations or render vectors incapable of malaria transmission. However, the role of gene drives in an integrated elimination strategy is underexplored. Using a spatially explicit agent-based model of malaria transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we describe the impact of integrating a population suppression driving-Y gene drive into malaria elimination strategies. We find that as long as the driving-Y construct is extremely effective, releases of gene drive mosquitoes can eliminate malaria, and we identify a cost ceiling for gene drive to be cost-effective relative to existing tools. Vector control via gene drive is worth considering as a supplemental intervention when the construct parameters and costs are suitable.
Who is afraid of genetically modified mosquitoes?
12738G. Odogwu, The PUNCH, 2020-06-25 13:27:54.
Genetically Modified Organisms have raised concerns in our clime, the same way they have in other countries of the world – where a clear line is drawn between the pro and the anti-GMO citizens. Nonetheless, this modern biotechnological technique is still at its infancy here. As of the moment, we can only boast of the development of the PBR cowpea as the only genetically modified food crop to be approved by the Nigerian government.
Motivations and expectations driving community participation in entomological research projects: Target Malaria as a case study in Bana, Western Burkina Faso
12435N. Barry, P. Toé, L. Pare Toe, J. Lezaun, M. Drabo, R. K. Dabiré and A. Diabate, Malaria Journal, 19:199. 2020-06-05 20:15:19.
Most field entomology research projects require active participation by local community members. Since 2012, Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium, has been working with residents in the village of Bana, in Western Burkina Faso, in various studies involving mosquito collections, releases and recaptures. The long-term goal of this work is to develop innovative solutions to combat malaria in Africa with the help of mosquito modification technologies. Since the start of the project, Bana residents have played an important role in research activities, yet the motivations and expectations that drive their participation remain under-investigated. This study examines the factors that motivate some members of the local community to contribute to the implementation of Target Malaria’s activities, and, more broadly, explores the reasons that animate citizen participation in entomological research work in malaria-endemic regions.
Position Paper on Integrated Vector Management: Strengthening AU Members’ Regulatory Capacities for Responsible Research Towards Elimination of Malaria in Africa
12743African Union Development Agency - NEPAD, AUDA-NEPAD, 2020-06-01 13:48:16.
Africa continues to bear a heavy brunt of the malaria which is a disease transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. Thousands of lives, mostly of young children, are lost every year; which undermines efforts deployed at various levels for increased life expectancy and improved wellbeing for the socio-economic transformation of the continent. Accelerated changes and complementary tools are urgently needed to ensure effective elimination of malaria on the continent. Genetic engineering has been identified as one of such promising tools when applied to mosquito populations to reduce the transmission of the malaria parasite. The African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), based on recommendations from the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET), continues to provide African Union Members States with the necessary support to ensure that research on and development of new genetically-based vector control tools are conducted in a responsible manner and in full compliance with safety requirements for human health and the environment for the benefit of African communities.
Gene editing and the war against malaria
11226E. Bier and E. Sobber, American Scientist, 102:162. 2020-04-16 15:34:38.
Malaria is a devastating disease transmitted from person to person by mosquitoes. It kills more than 400,000 people per year, more than half of those deaths being children 5 years old or younger. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a new gene-editing technology that acts like a pair of molecular scissors: It is used to “cut and paste” DNA sequences to alter gene function. In “Gene Editing and the War Against Malaria” (pages 162–169), Ethan Bier and Elliott Sober describe how biologists can now alter genes in a malaria-transmitting mosquito population by engineering a CRISPR gene drive, which mimics a natural evolutionary process. With this tool, a new gene can be inserted into the genome so that the alteration is rapidly passed down to successive sexually reproducing generations. Two gene-drive strategies have been found feasible: The first drives a local malaria-transmitting population to extinction; the second renders mosquitoes unable to transmit malaria, which breaks the malaria transmission cycle.
Understanding the Science of Gene Drive and the Potential for an Improved Crop Pest Control System in Nigeria
14882A. Isah and R. S. M. Gidado, OFAB Nigeria, 2020-02-26 15:52:39.
Several studies have shown that the Cas9-mediated gene drive technology is cheaper and will be easily affordable by the efficient Nigerian scientists to explore. The application of the gene drive technologies have many more controls over several other devastating insects in Nigeria and may be very necessary to adopt it to rescue our ailing food crop industry from the attack by destructive insect pest of crops.
Vector genetics, insecticide resistance and gene drives: an agent-based modeling approach to evaluate malaria transmission and elimination
7941P. Selvaraj, E. A. Wenger, D. Bridenbecker, N. Windbichler, J. R. Russell, J. Gerardin, C. A. Bever and M. Nikolov, bioRxiv, 2020.01.27.920421. 2020-02-06 20:32:18.
Vector control has been a key component in the fight against malaria for decades, and chemical insecticides are critical to the success of vector control programs worldwide. However, increasing resistance to insecticides threatens to undermine these efforts. Understanding the evolution and propagation of resistance is thus imperative to mitigating loss of intervention effectiveness. Additionally, accelerated research and development of new tools that can be deployed alongside existing vector control strategies is key to eradicating malaria in the near future. Methods such as gene drives that aim to genetically modify large mosquito populations in the wild to either render them refractory to malaria or impair their reproduction may prove invaluable tools. Mathematical models of gene flow in populations can offer invaluable insight into the behavior and potential impact of gene drives as well as the spread of insecticide resistance in the wild. Here, we present the first multi-locus, agent-based model of vector genetics that accounts for mutations and many-to-many mappings of genotypes to phenotypes to investigate gene flow and the propagation of gene drives in Anopheline populations. This model is embedded within a large scale individual-based model of malaria transmission representative of a high burden, high transmission setting characteristic of the Sahel. Results are presented for the selection of insecticide-resistant vectors and the spread of resistance through repeated deployment of insecticide treated nets (ITNs), in addition to scenarios where gene drives act in concert with existing vector control tools such as ITNs. The roles of seasonality, spatial distribution of vector habitat and feed sites, and existing vector control in propagating alleles that confer phenotypic traits via gene drives that result in reduced transmission are explored. The ability to model a spectrum of vector species with different genotypes and phenotypes in the context of malaria transmission allows us to test deployment strategies for existing interventions that reduce the deleterious effects of resistance and allows exploration of the impact of new tools being proposed or developed.Author summary Vector control interventions are essential to the success of global malaria control and elimination efforts but increasing insecticide resistance worldwide threatens to derail these efforts. Releasing genetically modified mosquitoes that use gene drives to pass on desired genes and their associated phenotypic traits to the entire population within a few generations has been proposed to address resistance and other issues such as transmission heterogeneity that can sustain malaria transmission indefinitely. While the ethics and safety of these methods are being debated, mathematical models offer an efficient way of predicting the behavior and estimating the efficacy of these interventions if deployed to specific regions facing challenges to reaching elimination. We have developed a detailed mathematical model of vector genetics where specific genomes code for physical attributes that influence transmission and are affected by the surrounding environment. This is the first model to incorporate an individual-based multi locus genetic model into a detailed individual-based model of malaria transmission. This model opens the door to investigate a number of subtle but important questions such as the effects of small numbers of mosquitoes in a region sustaining malaria transmission during the low transmission season, and the success of gene drives in regions where extant vector control interventions could kill off gene drive mosquitoes before establishment. Here, we investigate the reduced efficacy of current vector control measures in the presence of insecticide resistance and evaluate the likelihood of achieving local malaria elimination using gene drive mosquitoes released into a high transmission setting alongside other vector control measures.
Community Engagement Prior to a Small-Scale Pilot of the Sterile Insect Technique in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa 2018
25918P. N. Manana, J. Zikhali, D. Dlamini, S. Gumede, N. Mabaso, T. Mpungose and G. Munhenga, Journal of Public Health and Disease Prevention, 2. 2019-12-16 13:14:53.
Approximately 165 000 listeners were engaged during two 30 minute radio interviews at a local radio station. Two hundred and fifty farm workers, several outpatients from primary health care facilities and 1400 secondary school pupils were given education on malaria transmission and control strategies including SIT. Furthermore, two road shows; one in areas around Mamfene and a second at KwaPhuza market, were done. In total, 447 falciparum-specific rapid diagnostic tests were conducted with 20 people testing positive. These patients were immediately treated for malaria. Conclusions: The campaigns showed that the majority of community members are informed concerning malaria transmission and control. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the SIT as a vector control option. A more extensive public awareness programme on SIT as a vector control strategy is recommended to prepare the community of Mamfene for future small field pilot sterile male mosquito releases.
‘We don’t want to be guinea pigs’: how one African community is fighting genetically modified mosquitoes
15233A. Pujol-Mazzini, The Telegraph, 2019-10-08 16:47:08.
Researchers from the Target Malaria consortium, a not-for-profit research group funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and various research institutions, have developed a mosquito in their laboratory that can kill off its own species by spreading a faulty gene. If it works in the wild, the technology – called gene drive – could help eliminate malaria where decades of efforts involving bed nets, repellents and insecticides have failed.
Scientists release sterile mosquitoes in Burkina to fight malaria
17024T. Ndiaga, Reuters, 2019-09-18 13:18:20.
Scientists in Burkina Faso have deployed a new weapon in the fight against malaria, and waded into a thorny bioethics debate, by letting loose thousands of genetically sterilized mosquitoes.Their experiment is the first outside the lab to release genetically altered mosquitoes in the hope of reducing their ability to spread the often deadly disease. It works using a technique called a gene drive, which edits and then propagates a gene in a population - in this case to prevent males from producing offspring. Investments in anti-malarial drugs, mosquito nets and insecticides have slowed malaria over the past two decades in Africa, which accounts for more than 90% of global cases. But malaria still killed more than 400,000 people across the continent in 2017, and the World Health Organization says progress against the disease is stalling, leading researchers to push for fresh approaches.
Gene Drives in Africa: Civil Society Speaks Out
13132African Centre for Biodiversity, 2019-07-26 13:51:13.
On Monday 1st July 2019, Target Malaria announced the release of genetically modified (GM) sterile male mosquitoes in Bana, a village in Burkina Faso – the first GM insect to be released in Africa. This is Phase I – by Phase III, Target Malaria aims to release gene drive mosquitoes. This release occurred despite strong opposition from civil society, in Burkina Faso, and across the continent. In this video, key CSO figures discuss their concerns regarding gene drive technology and explain how their governments, and the Africa Union’s, position on gene drives, has been captured.
The Release of Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso: Bioeconomy of Science, Public Engagement and Trust in Medicine
3890Beisel, UG, J. K., African Studies Review, 62:164-173. 2019-01-08 00:00:00.
Malaria, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, continues to be responsible for a significant number of disease episodes and childhood deaths on the African continent. A variety of mosquito control strategies are currently inplace, but since case numbers are rising again, and drug and insecticide tolerance slow down progress made, there has been a push for innovative strategies. In August 2018, the National Biosafety Agency of Burkina Faso granted approval for the release of a maximum of 10,000 male Anopheles mosquitoes in experimental trials conducted by the multi-country consortium Target Malaria. These mosquitoes are rendered infertile through genetic modification, namely through “re-programming” of endonucleases that “cut through essential genes,” in this case, genes for fertility (Target Malaria 2019). The idea is that through the sterilization of male mosquitoes, the population of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes will be reduced, thereby decreasing the overall number of malaria infections.
Do not betray Africa on synbio and gene drives
4557etc group, etc group, 2018-11-11 00:00:00.
As representatives of a broad range of African civil society organisations (CSOs), we do not feel represented by the delegations of Nigeria and South Africa, speaking on behalf of African Group, in their attempt to speak on behalf of the people of Africa on the issue of synthetic biology (synbio) and gene drive organisms (GDOs).
Sterile insect technique field trials to eliminate malaria under way
25913Anonymous, SA Department of Science and Innovation, 2018-10-29 13:06:00.
The first South African research trial for the biological control of mosquitoes using the sterile insect technique started in Jozini in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month, with funding from the Department of Science and Technology. South Africa is making significant progress in reducing the incidence of malaria, and is now at a level where the country in a prime position to begin with complementary vector control strategies that address the problem of insecticide resistance. However, indoor residual spraying (IRS) using DDT and pyrethroid insecticides, while effective in controlling the disease, is unlikely to eliminate malaria on its own. IRS targets mainly indoor feeding and resting mosquitoes, and is not effective against vectors that feed and rest outdoors such as Anopheles arabiensis, which is a major contributor to outdoor transmission in South Africa's malaria-affected provinces. One of the supplementary methods being explored is the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT). This works like birth control to suppress mosquito populations and reduce the spread of malaria. The technique involves the mass-rearing and sterilisation of male mosquitoes before they are released in the wild.
Why is this African village letting mosquitoes in?
4711BBC, BBC, 2018-10-19 00:00:00.
This is a BBC spot about the first release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Africa by the Target Malaria team. Very little information about gene drive but the context of this spot is notable.
Just Say No to Agricultural Gene Drives
4722Bassey-Orovwuje, M., Project Syndicate, 2018-10-16 00:00:00.
By forcing laboratory-made genes on an entire population or species, cutting-edge gene-drive technologies have the power to transform entire ecosystems in one fell swoop. But where leading industrial agriculture firms see dollar signs, farmers in the regions where gene drives could be unleashed see a mortal threat to their livelihoods.
For the first time, researchers will release genetically engineered mosquitoes in Africa
11444Ike Swetitz, STAT, 2018-09-05 18:02:01.
The government of Burkina Faso granted scientists permission to release genetically engineered mosquitoes anytime this year or next, researchers announced Wednesday. It’s a key step in the broader efforts to use bioengineering to eliminate malaria in the region.
A Revolutionary Genetic Experiment is Planned for a West African Village – If Residents Agree
11446Ike Swetitz, STAT, 2017-03-14 18:05:29.
This small village of mud-brick homes in West Africa might seem the least likely place for an experiment at the frontier of biology. Yet scientists here are engaged in what could be the most promising, and perhaps one of the most frightening, biological experiments of our time. They are preparing for the possible release of swarms of mosquitoes that, until now, have been locked away in a research lab behind double metal doors and guarded 24/7. The goal: to nearly eradicate the population of one species of mosquito, and with it, the heavy burden of malaria across Africa.
Mating competitiveness of sterile genetic sexing strain males (GAMA) under laboratory and semi-field conditions: Steps towards the use of the Sterile Insect Technique to control the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis in South Africa
25911G. Munhenga, B. D. Brooke, J. R. L. Gilles, K. Slabbert, A. Kemp, L. C. Dandalo, O. R. Wood, L. N. Lobb, D. Govender, M. Renke and L. L. Koekemoer, Parasites and Vectors, 9:122. 2016-03-02 13:00:23.
Anopheles arabiensis Patton is primarily responsible for malaria transmission in South Africa after successful suppression of other major vector species using indoor spraying of residual insecticides. Control of An. arabiensis using current insecticide based approaches is proving difficult owing to the development of insecticide resistance, and variable feeding and resting behaviours. The use of the sterile insect technique as an area-wide integrated pest management system to supplement the control of An. arabiensis was proposed for South Africa and is currently under investigation. The success of this technique is dependent on the ability of laboratory-reared sterile males to compete with wild males for mates. As part of the research and development of the SIT technique for use against An. arabiensis in South Africa, radio-sensitivity and mating competitiveness of a local An. arabiensis sexing strain were assessed.
Perceptions and recommendations by scientists for a potential release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Nigeria
12394P. N. Okorie, J. M. Marshall, O. M. Akpa and O. G. Ademowo, Malaria Journal, 13:154. 2014-04-23 18:22:17.
The use of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) for the control of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases has been proposed in malaria-endemic countries, such as Nigeria, which has the largest burden in Africa. Scientists are major stakeholders whose opinions and perceptions can adversely affect the success of the trials of GMMs if they are not involved early. Unfortunately, information on the awareness of Nigerians scientists and their overall perception of the GMMs is practically non-existent in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed at understanding how receptive Nigerian scientists are to a potential release of GMMs for the control of malaria.
The Impact of Pyrethroid Resistance on the Efficacy of Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets against African Anopheline Mosquitoes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
12678C. Strode, S. Donegan, P. Garner, A. A. Enayati and J. Hemingway, PLOS Medicine, 11:e1001619. 2014-03-18 17:48:58.
This meta-analysis found that ITNs are more effective than UTNs regardless of resistance. There appears to be a relationship between resistance and the RD for mosquito mortality in laboratory and field studies. However, the substantive heterogeneity in the studies' results and design may mask the true relationship between resistance and the RD, and the results need to be interpreted with caution. Our analysis suggests the potential for cumulative meta-analysis in entomological trials, but further field research in this area will require specialists in the field to work together to improve the quality of trials, and to standardise designs, assessment, and reporting of both resistance and entomological outcomes.
Swarming and mating behavior of male Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae) in an area of the Sterile Insect Technique Project in Dongola, northern Sudan
25815M. M. Hassan, H. M. Zain, M. A. Basheer, H. E. F. Elhaj and B. B. El-Sayed, Acta Tropica, 132:S64-S69. 2013-11-27 08:57:21.
The problems facing the conventional mosquito control methods including resistance to insecticides have led to the development of alternative methods such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to suppress populations of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis in northern Sudan. This method entails the release of large numbers of irradiated males to compete against wild conspecifics for mating with virgin females in the field. The swarming and mating behaviors of this species were conducted at two field sites during the period 2009-2012 in Dongola, northern Sudan. Observations were made in the field sites and in a contained semi-field enclosure. In addition, participation of released irradiated-marked males in the swarms of wild mosquito was investigated. Swarms were observed on sunset in the vicinity of larval habitats around irrigation channel and stopped with the onset of the darkness about 21-25 min after the start. Swarms were observed above visual markers such as palm trees, bare ground, and manure. Several couples were observed leaving the swarms in copula in the direction of the sunlight. The majority of copulations were observed within 12-15 min of the start of swarming. Relatively low insemination rates (28%) of females collected from coupling pairs were observed. Irradiated-marked males were observed to join the natural swarms regularly, indicating their probable competitiveness with the other wild males. These findings enhance the feasibility of staging an SIT campaign against malaria vector in Northern State-Sudan. Copyright (C) International Atomic Energy Agency 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Evaluating the potential of the sterile insect technique for malaria control: relative fitness and mating compatibility between laboratory colonized and a wild population of Anopheles arabiensis from the Kruger National Park, South Africa
25909G. Munhenga, B. D. Brooke, T. F. Chirwa, R. H. Hunt, M. Coetzee, D. Govender and L. L. Koekemoer, Parasites and Vectors, 4:208. 2011-10-31 12:48:58.
The successful suppression of a target insect population using the sterile insect technique (SIT) partly depends on the premise that the laboratory insects used for mass rearing are genetically compatible with the target population, that the mating competitiveness of laboratory reared males is at least comparable to that of their wild counterparts, and that mass rearing and sterilization processes do not in themselves compromise male fitness to a degree that precludes them from successfully competing for mates in the wild. This study investigated the fitness and sexual cross-compatibility between samples of field collected and laboratory reared An. arabiensis under laboratory conditions.
Pyrethroid resistance in African anopheline mosquitoes: what are the implications for malaria control?
12676H. Ranson, R. N’Guessan, J. Lines, N. Moiroux, Z. Nkuni and V. Corbel, Trends in Parasitology, 27:91-98. 2011-02-01 17:44:55.
The use of pyrethroid insecticides in malaria vector control has increased dramatically in the past decade through the scale up of insecticide treated net distribution programmes and indoor residual spraying campaigns. Inevitably, the major malaria vectors have developed resistance to these insecticides and the resistance alleles are spreading at an exceptionally rapid rate throughout Africa. Although substantial progress has been made on understanding the causes of pyrethroid resistance, remarkably few studies have focused on the epidemiological impact of resistance on current malaria control activities. As we move into the malaria eradication era, it is vital that the implications of insecticide resistance are understood and strategies to mitigate these effects are implemented.
Ethical, legal and social aspects of the approach in Sudan
25823B. B. El Sayed, C. A. Malcolm, A. Babiker, E. M. Malik, M. A. H. El Tayeb, N. S. Saeed, A. H. D. Nugud and B. G. J. Knols, Malaria Journal, 8:S3. 2009-11-16 10:10:31.
The global malaria situation, especially in Africa, and the problems frequently encountered in chemical control of vectors such as insecticide resistance, emphasize the urgency of research, development and implementation of new vector control technologies that are applicable at regional and local levels. The successful application of the sterile insect technique (SIT) for the control of the New World screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax and several species of fruit flies has given impetus to the use of this method for suppression or elimination of malaria vectors in some areas of Africa including Northern State of Sudan. The research and development phase of the Northern State feasibility study has been started. Sudanese stakeholders are working side-by-side with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the activities of this important phase. Several ethical, legal and social issues associated with this approach arose during this phase of the project. They need to be seriously considered and handled with care. In this paper, these issues are described, and the current and proposed activities to overcome potential hurdles to ensure success of the project are listed.
Field site selection: getting it right first time around
25817C. A. Malcolm, B. El Sayed, A. Babiker, R. Girod, D. Fontenille, B. G. J. Knols, A. H. Nugud and M. Q. Benedict, Malaria Journal, 8. 2009-11-16 09:57:52.
The selection of suitable field sites for integrated control of Anopheles mosquitoes using the sterile insect technique (SIT) requires consideration of the full gamut of factors facing most proposed control strategies, but four criteria identify an ideal site: 1) a single malaria vector, 2) an unstructured, relatively low density target population, 3) isolation of the target population and 4) actual or potential malaria incidence. Such a site can exist in a diverse range of situations or can be created. Two contrasting SIT field sites are examined here: the desert-flanked Dongola Reach of the Nile River in Northern State, Sudan, where malaria is endemic, and the island of La Reunion, where autochthonous malaria is rare but risk is persistent. The single malaria-transmitting vector at both sites is Anopheles arabiensis. In Sudan, the target area is a narrow 500 km corridor stretching from the rocky terrain at the Fourth Cataract - just above the new Merowe Dam, to the northernmost edge of the species range, close to Egypt. Vector distribution and temporal changes in density depend on the Nile level, ambient temperature and human activities. On La Reunion, the An. arabiensis population is coastal, limited and divided into three areas by altitude and exposure to the trade winds on the east coast. Mosquito vectors for other diseases are an issue at both sites, but of primary importance on La Reunion due to the recent chikungunya epidemic. The similarities and differences between these two sites in terms of suitability are discussed in the context of area-wide integrated vector management incorporating the SIT.
Spatial and temporal distribution of the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis in northern Sudan: influence of environmental factors and implications for vector control
25826T. B. Ageep, J. Cox, M. M. Hassan, B. G. J. Knols, M. Q. Benedict, C. A. Malcolm, A. Babiker and B. B. El Sayed, Malaria Journal, 8:14. 2009-06-09 10:20:40.
Background: Malaria is an important public health problem in northern Sudan, but little is known about the dynamics of its transmission. Given the characteristic low densities of Anopheles arabiensis and the difficult terrain in this area, future vector control strategies are likely to be based on area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) that may include the sterile insect technique ( SIT). To support the planning and implementation of future AW-IPM activities, larval surveys were carried out to provide key data on spatial and seasonal dynamics of local vector populations. Methods: Monthly cross-sectional larval surveys were carried out between March 2005 and May 2007 in two localities (Dongola and Merowe) adjacent to the river Nile. A stratified random sampling strategy based on the use of Remote Sensing (RS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to select survey locations. Breeding sites were mapped using GPS and data on larval density and breeding site characteristics were recorded using handheld computers. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify breeding site characteristics associated with increased risk of presence of larvae. Seasonal patterns in the proportion of breeding sites positive for larvae were compared visually to contemporaneous data on climate and river height. Results: Of a total of 3,349 aquatic habitats sampled, 321 (9.6%) contained An. arabiensis larvae. The frequency with which larvae were found varied markedly by habitat type. Although most positive sites were associated with temporary standing water around the margins of the main Nile channel, larvae were also found at brickworks and in areas of leaking pipes and canals-often far from the river. Close to the Nile channel, a distinct seasonal pattern in larval populations was evident and appeared to be linked to the rise and fall of the river level. These patterns were not evident in vector populations breeding in artificial water sources away from the river. Conclusion: The GIS-based survey strategy developed in this study provides key data on the population dynamics of An. arabiensis in Northern State. Quantitative estimates of the contributions of various habitat types and their proximity to settlements provide a basis for planning a strategy for reducing malaria risk by elimination of the vector population.
Towards a sterile insect technique field release of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes in Sudan: Irradiation, transportation, and field cage experimentation
25755M. E. H. Helinski, M. M. Hassan, W. M. El-Motasim, C. A. Malcolm, B. G. J. Knols and B. El-Sayed, Malaria Journal, 7:10. 2008-04-25 10:09:22.
Background: The work described in this article forms part of a study to suppress a population of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis in Northern State, Sudan, with the Sterile Insect Technique. No data have previously been collected on the irradiation and transportation of anopheline mosquitoes in Africa, and the first series of attempts to do this in Sudan are reported here. In addition, experiments in a large field cage under near-natural conditions are described. Methods: Mosquitoes were irradiated in Khartoum and transported as adults by air to the field site earmarked for future releases (400 km from the laboratory). The field cage was prepared for experiments by creating resting sites with favourable conditions. The mating and survival of (irradiated) laboratory males and field-collected males was studied in the field cage, and two small-scale competition experiments were performed. Results: Minor problems were experienced with the irradiation of insects, mostly associated with the absence of a rearing facility in close proximity to the irradiation source. The small-scale transportation of adult mosquitoes to the release site resulted in minimal mortality (< 6%). Experiments in the field cage showed that mating occurred in high frequencies (i.e. an average of 60% insemination of females after one or two nights of mating), and laboratory reared males (i.e. sixty generations) were able to inseminate wild females at rates comparable to wild males. Based on wing length data, there was no size preference of males for mates. Survival of mosquitoes from the cage, based on recapture after mating, was satisfactory and approximately 60% of the insects were recaptured after one night. Only limited information on male competitiveness was obtained due to problems associated with individual egg laying of small numbers of wild females. Conclusion: It is concluded that although conditions are challenging, there are no major obstacles associated with the small-scale irradiation and transportation of insects in the current setting. The field cage is suitable for experiments and studies to test the competitiveness of irradiated males can be pursued. The scaling up of procedures to accommodate much larger numbers of insects needed for a release is the next challenge and recommendations to further implementation of this genetic control strategy are presented.
The Sterile Insect Technique: can established technology beat malaria?
25843M. E. H. Helinski, B. El-Sayed and B. G. J. Knols, Entomologische Berichten, 66:13-20. 2006-06-06 14:48:37.
The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is the mass production, sterilisation and subsequent release of sterile insects into a target population in an area-wide integrated approach. The released sterile males mate with wild females; they thus no longer produce offspring and therefore the size of the target population is reduced. Over the years, SIT has proven to be a safe, effective and environmentally sound method to suppress, eliminate or contain pest populations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a long history of supporting SIT programmes against key insect pests, including fruit flies, tsetse flies and moths. Recently, an integrated five year study to assess the feasibility of SIT to control African malaria mosquitoes has been initiated. In this article, we discuss the components and research requirements for such a feasibility study including sexing, mass production, sterilisation and release methodologies.
Radiation-induced sterility for pupal and adult stages of the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis
25750M. E. H. Helinski, A. G. Parker and B. G. J. Knols, Malaria Journal, 5:10. 2006-05-16 15:23:31.
The optimal dose for male insects to be released in an SIT programme depends on their level of sterility and competitiveness. The use of semi-sterilizing doses to produce more competitive insects is discussed. The most convenient developmental stage for mosquito irradiation on a mass-scale are pupae, but pupal irradiation resulted in a lower insemination rate at the highest dose compared to adult irradiation. On the basis of this study, a suitable dose range that includes semi-sterilizing doses is identified to initiate competitiveness experiments for males irradiated at both developmental stages.
Tsetse fly eradication in Burkina Faso and evaluation of traps and targets
26174M. Clair, D. Cuisance, H. Politzar, P. Merot and B. Bauer, STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE FOR TSETSE CONTROL AND ERADICATION, 1990-05-01 14:50:02.
Control operations against tsetse flies with the sterile insect technique (SIT) were conducted by the Centre de recherches sur les trypanosomoses animales (CRTA) (Institut d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux/Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (IEMVT/GTZ) Project), Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). The project ended in 1984 with the eradication in the Sideradougou pastoral zone ofthe three tsetse species present there (Glossina palpalis gambiensis, G. tachinoides and G. morsitans submorsitans). Since 1985, besides monitoring of this area, the CRTA oriented its activities towards improving trapping by carrying out research on the form and colour of targets as well as the use of olfactory attractants.
The eradication of Glossina-palpalis-palpalis (Robineau-Desvoidy) (diptera, Glossinidae) using traps, insecticide-impregnated targets and the sterile insect technique in central Nigeria
26155W. Takken, M. A. Oladunmade, L. Dengwat, H. U. Feldmann, J. A. Onah, S. O. Tenabe and H. J. Hamann, Bulletin of Entomological Research, 76:275-286. 1986-06-01 13:33:24.
The integrated use of biconical traps, insecticide-impregnated targets and the sterile insect technique was developed for the eradication of Glossina palpalis palpalis (Robineau-Desvoidy) in a 1500-km2 area of central Nigeria. Six weeks or more of continuous removal trapping, using biconical traps, reduced the target tsetse population by more than 90% but failed to eradicate it. Males sterilized by irradiation from a ^Co source that were then released weekly induced significant sterility in target females and were successful in helping to eradicate the target population. A minimum ratio of 10:1 of sterile to wild males was required to achieve eradication in a central area of 300 km2. In marginal habitats, insecticide-impregnated targets were found adequate to control the tsetse population. The targets were also efficient as barriers to prevent reinvasion of the area. The combined effect of removal trapping and sterile male release is expected to eradicate G. p. palpalis from the entire study area.
Integration of insect sterility and insecticides for control of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Tanzania. IV. Application of endosulfan as an aerosol prior to release of sterile males
26520D. L. Williamson, D. A. Dame, C. W. Lee, D. B. Gates and P. E. Cobb, Bulletin of Entomological Research, 73:383-389. 1983-07-07 13:20:11.
As part of a programme to test the sterile insect technique against Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw. in Tanzania, two aerial applications of endosulfan were applied to a 195-km2 test area. The applications were made with a 28-day interval to provide an initial reduction in the target species prior to the release of sterile males. A Cessna 310 aircraft equipped with a rotary atomiser and operating at night was used to apply the insecticide at a dosage of about 20 g/ha. Flyround surveys within 48 h following the spraying operations indicated that a 100% reduction of G. m. morsitans adults was achieved in both applications, while G. pallidipes Aust. was reduced by 91 5% in the first and 100% in the second.
Sterility introduced by release of genetically altered males to a domestic population of Aedes aegypti at the Kenya coast
25875P. T. McDonald, W. Hausermann and N. Lorimer, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 26:553-61. 1977-05-06 07:09:31.
The release of males heterozygous for one or two sex-linked translocations was effective in introducing a high level of sterility into a domestic population of Aedes aegypti at a Rabai village. The effect of the releases continued for several weeks after the release period. Male mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, were released at the Kenya coast to test the effectiveness of laboratory engineered mosquitoes in introducing a genetic mechanism and the ability of the mechanism to establish itself under field conditions. A triplicate of Rabai villages was selected for the experiment. In the 1st village nottreatment was made. In the 2nd village the domestic water containers were cleaned twice a week to remove larvae and pupae. Translocation males were released in the 3rd village. A mixture of 2 types of males was introduced: the single heteroxygote male selected from 78 translocations induced by irradiation in the African strains, and the double heterozygote male. Genetic analysis of the content of release samples determined quality control of released males. Fertility was also determined with females of a strain collected at Chibarani before releases began. Hatchability of eggs in all villages was counted to assay sterility in all villages. Before the releases population fluctuations in the 3 villages were monitored for 20 weeks. The release mixture had a fertility of 37% and the single heterozygote of 50%. A daily survival rate of .63 was shown for the dusted release males. There was close agreement between the monitoring for sterility for both the egg collections and the oviposition of the LB catch females. The sterility introduced into the Chibarani population was extensive.
