Keywords: Europe

Present and Future of Mosquito-Borne Disease Control in Europe with a Specific Focus on the Mediterranean

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Cholvi, M., Moretti, R., Osório, H. C., et al.,  Insects,  17. 2026-02-27 19:18:24.
Mosquito-borne diseases are an emerging public health challenge in Europe, driven by the spread of invasive mosquito species capable of sustaining outbreaks of tropical arboviral diseases. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, human-driven habitat changes, and prolonged transmission seasons have increased the risk of dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus outbreaks, among other vector-borne diseases. Effective control requires a multifaceted approach, combining traditional and novel methods with advanced surveillance technologies and community involvement. However, growing insecticide resistance and concerns about insecticide use highlight the need for more prudent management of current tools and the development of innovative alternatives. Genetic control strategies, including the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), Wolbachia-based approaches, and genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes, offer promising solutions but still face scientific, regulatory, and societal challenges. This review explores the current landscape of mosquito-borne disease control in Mediterranean Europe, emphasizing key challenges and emerging solutions. An integrated approach that strengthens surveillance, promotes sustainable control methods, and incorporates novel biotechnological tools supported by smart technologies will be essential to reduce the future burden of mosquito-borne diseases in the region.

Fruit fly tests in Greece target invasive species threat

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Vassilis Kyriakoulis,  Phys.org,  2025-09-15 15:24:50.
In a small persimmon orchard in northern Greece, scientists carefully open paper bags to release thousands of flies, in an experiment aimed at blunting the destructive impact of invasive new species. The insects are sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata), a pest that annually causes significant damage to crops in Naousa, where a large proportion of Greece's prominent export, the peach, is produced. But the project is ultimately aimed at curbing an even greater threat: fruit fly species from Asia, which have begun to make their appearance in southeastern Europe as climate change increases local temperatures. The four-year, EU-funded project titled REACT brings together researchers from 12 different countries including the UK, Israel and South Africa. The program has a budget of 6.65 million euros ($7.8 million). "Our approach is to locally eradicate Mediterranean fruit fly populations and then apply this knowledge to other species of interest, such as the oriental fruit fly and the peach fruit fly," said project participant Nikos Papadopoulos, a professor of Applied Entomology at the University of Thessaly. The male flies are grown at the University of Patras and are fed a bacterial supplement that makes them more active, resilient, and competitive, said George Tsiamis, the university's Laboratory of Microbiology Systems director, during a media tour organized in Naousa by the research team.

Effectiveness of the sterile insect technique in controlling Aedes albopictus as part of an integrated control measure: evidence from a first small-scale field trial in Switzerland

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Parrondo Monton, D., Ravasi, D., Campana, V. et al.,  Infect Dis Poverty,  14. 2025-08-24 16:54:24.
The invasive Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) poses growing health risks across Europe. In Switzerland, a preliminary field trial was conducted to assess the feasibility of integrating the sterile insect technique (SIT) into existing integrated vector management (IVM), which includes breeding site removal and application of biological larvicides. SIT involves repeated releases of irradiated sterile males, which mate with wild females, producing non-viable eggs and leading to population decline. Following a preliminary release test in 2022, a small-scale SIT trial took place in 2023 in Morcote, Switzerland. Approximately 150,000 sterile males were released weekly over a 45-hectare area throughout the entire mosquito activity season, from May to September. This SIT area also received routine IVM. Population dynamics were compared with a control area where only IVM was applied. Monitoring included egg counts, hatch rates, and adult female densities. Generalized additive mixed-effects models (GAMM) and generalized additive models (GAM) accounted for spatial, temporal, and random effects. Model selection used AIC, BIC, and Chi-square tests (significance at 5%). The SIT-treated area showed a significant mosquito population reduction. Egg counts dropped by 57% (GAMM regression coefficient: − 0.8513, P < 0.001), with temporal patterns differing between SIT-treated and control areas (P < 0.001). Egg hatch rates were also lower in the SIT area, with odds of hatching reduced by 1.24 log-odds units (P < 0.001). Adult female densities declined by 66% (regression coefficient: − 1.0818, P < 0.001). Spatial GAMs revealed heterogeneous effects: up to 90% egg reduction in the western release area, while the eastern edge, bordering untreated zones, showed up to 300% higher egg counts. Similar spatial trends were observed for hatch rates and adult females (P < 0.01). These findings highlight both the overall effectiveness of SIT and the influence of mosquito immigration on spatial patterns. This trial demonstrated the potential of SIT as a complementary tool in Swiss vector control. Public interest and acceptance were high. To improve cost-effectiveness, further optimization of male production, sterilization, transport, and release processes is needed. Continued implementation over multiple seasons is recommended to enhance long-term effectiveness.

Suppression of Aedes mosquito populations with the boosted sterile insect technique in tropical and Mediterranean urban areas

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Bouyer, J., Gil, D.A., Mora, I.P. et al.,  Scientific Reports,  15. 2025-05-26 20:31:16.
Aedes mosquitoes are the vectors of dengue viruses and other arboviruses, which threaten billions of people all over the world. The boosted sterile insect technique (boosted SIT) is a version of SIT in which irradiated sterile males also transmit a biocide to immature stages. We describe three field trials that were run in 2021: one against Aedes aegypti in La Reunion and two against Aedes albopictus in Spain, each using pyriproxyfen as a biocide. The relative density of adults (compared to their density in control sites: without sterile male release) decreased from 1.00 to 0.09, 95% credible interval [0.06, 0.15] (La Reunion, July) and to 0.02 [0.01, 0.03] and 0.11 [0.08, 0.16] (Spain, July and October). The success rate, corresponding to the proportion of traps with suppression greater than 80%, ranged from 0.43 to 0.71 in La Reunion, from 0.26 to 1.00, and from 0.50 to 0.70 in Spain. In Spain, suppression with boosted SIT was higher than with non-boosted SIT, in 2020 and 2022. This work is in line with the predictions of the model of a better efficacy of boosted SIT compared to SIT, together with partial protection from invasion of treated areas by fertile females, paving the way for larger-scale field trials.

Gene drives. Technologies for spreading genetic modifications in populations. TAB-Fokus

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König, H., Kolleck, A., Sauter, A.,  TAB-Fokus,  48. 2025-03-21 07:04:16.
Gene drives have the potential to help solve major challenges, including the fight against invasive species or vector-borne diseases such as malaria. These hopes are offset by technical and scientific challenges as well as environmental risks. The policy brief TAB-Fokus no. 48 on the opportunities and risks of a technology for spreading desirable traits in populations summarises the most important results of the TA project for the German Bundestag on four pages (and is also available as a web version - see relation in KITopen). Detailed results can be found in the final report - see relation in KITopen).

Exploring new tools to fight vector-borne diseases: research and governance implications

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Alekos Simoni,  Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research,  2024-10-08 12:24:29.
I recently had the honor and pleasure of attending an event co-organized by the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research at the European Parliament in Brussels, and delivering a presentation on our work at Target Malaria to develop new genetic tools to reduce malaria transmission in Africa. The event was an opportunity to discuss advancements in the development of gene drive technologies and governance implications related to these new tools. With climate change creating favorable conditions for the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes, and challenges such as drug and insecticide resistance threatening the efficacy of current interventions, a global, coordinated response is needed to tackle vector-borne diseases. In this context, gene drive technologies could offer a promising addition to existing approaches. MEP Charles Goerens opened the session by highlighting the global burden of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, which cause over 700,000 deaths every year. He stressed the importance of innovation to address global health challenges and the critical role of the European Parliament in ensuring responsible oversight of new tools, such as gene drive technologies.

Engagement on risk assessment for gene drive mosquitoes by EFSA and Target Malaria

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S. Hartley, A. Kokotovich, Y. Devos and J. Mumford,  Environmental Science and Policy,  142:183-193. 2023-02-27 11:12:07.
As engineered gene drive technologies continue to advance, many actors are actively considering how environmental risk assessments (RAs) for gene drive organisms should be conducted, and how stakeholder engagement opportunities should be provided. There is, however, a lack of clarity concerning what constitutes engagement on gene drive RA and, furthermore, what forms of engagement already exist around gene drive RA. To address this gap, we reflect on the actions of a risk assessor (the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA) and a gene drive developer (Target Malaria) to understand: 1) the RA-related decisions that each are making concerning gene drive technology for mosquitoes and other harmful insects, 2) the existing role of engagement in those decisions, and 3) the implications for our understandings of engagement and RA. We found, first, that both EFSA and Target Malaria have already made many RA-related decisions, even though any preparation and evaluation of a formal RA for gene drive mosquitoes remains far off. This finding supports the idea that gene drive RA involves multiple processes and decisions in different forms across the entire technology and regulatory development process. Second, we found that both EFSA and Target Malaria have already integrated engagement into their respective RA-related decisions in different ways, reflecting their different roles. We conclude by considering how EFSA and Target Malaria could improve their existing RA-related engagement by explicitly considering disciplinary diversity and worldview diversity in their related decision making.

Gene Drive-Modified Organisms: Developing Practical Risk Assessment Guidance

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Devos, Yann et al. Trends in Biotechnology,  Volume 39, Issue 9:853 – 856. 2021-09-15 00:00:00.

Why the EU should back research into gene drive – even if Europe never uses it

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R. Müller,  The Brussels Times,  2021-05-23 12:00:13.
As the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy reaches the European Parliament, it has reopened a worrying debate about research into gene drive technology, a tool which could pave the way for biasing the inheritance of desired genetic traits through targeted species. Advances in this kind of genetic technology could allow scientists to create a blueprint for stopping diseases spread by mosquitoes and protecting endangered species, both significant reasons for supporting this emerging field. Yet even if EU decision makers see no need for gene drive technology in Europe at present, there are compelling reasons for supporting ongoing research, and rejecting irresponsible and short-sighted calls for a moratorium. Firstly, the threat of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases may be minimal today but it existed on the continent within living memory, with Europe first becoming malaria-free in 1975, and then again only as recently as 2015.

Further guidance required for assessment of gene drive technology, says EFSA

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Euractiv,  The World News Monitor,  2020-11-16 16:25:26.
Existing guidelines are adequate for evaluating risks associated with gene-drive modified insects, but further guidance is needed for some areas, most notably for environmental risk assessments. The evaluation was requested to explore the issue ahead of the consideration of any possible applications of the technology and is also designed to support the EU in discussions on the biosafety of GMOs in international fora such as the United Nations. It found that while existing guidelines are sufficient for evaluating risks associated with technology, further guidance is needed for some areas, such as molecular characterisation, environmental risk assessment and post-market environmental monitoring.

Mutagenic chain reaction cannot be sufficiently controlled

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Christoph Then,  Testbiotech,  2020-11-16 16:21:27.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the results of its public consultation on the risks of so-called gene drive organisms. Testbiotech accuses the authority of disguising the real dimension of the risks. Gene drives are designed to spread artificial genetic constructs throughout populations of wild species much faster than would be expected naturally. Currently, gene drives are being developed with the aid of tools such as the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors. There are plans, e.g. to apply gene drives in insects (flies and mosquitoes) or rodents (rats or mice). The aim is to replace or eradicate natural populations. Once started the process cannot be controlled effectively or reliably. The damage to humans, the environment and nature could be severe.

Outcome of a public consultation on the draft adequacy and sufficiency evaluation of existing EFSA guidelines for the molecular characterisation, environmental risk assessment and post-market environmental monitoring of genetically modified insects containing engineered gene drives

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European Food Safety Authority, Y. Devos, M. B. Bonsall, F. Nogué, K. Paraskevopoulos, E. A. Wimmer and L. G. Firbank,  EFSA Supporting Publications,  17:1939E. 2020-11-12 19:10:10.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carried out an online public consultation to receive input from interested parties/persons on the draftscientific opinion on the adequacy and sufficiencyevaluation of existing guidelines for the molecular characterisation (MC), environmental risk assessment (ERA) and post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of genetically modified insects containing engineered gene drives. This draft scientific opinion was endorsed by the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for public consultation on 29 January 2020, and prepared by EFSA'sGene Drive expert Working Group and scientific officers. The public consultation was open from 17 February 2020 until 24 April 2020.

Adequacy and sufficiency evaluation of existing EFSA guidelines for the molecular characterisation, environmental risk assessment and post‐market environmental monitoring of genetically modified insects containing engineered gene drives

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EFSA,  2020-10-15 00:00:00.

The value of existing regulatory frameworks for the environmental risk assessment of agricultural pest control using gene drives

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Jörg Romeis, Jana Collatz, Debora C.M. Glandorf, Michael B. Bonsall,  Environmental Science & Policy,  Volume 108:Pages 19-36. 2020-06-15 00:00:00.

The EU not ready for the release of Gene drive organisms into the environment.

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Pensoft Publishers,  ScienceDaily,  2020-05-07 15:59:25.
In their study, published in the open-access journal BioRisk, an international group of scientists led by Marion Dolezel from the Environment Agency Austria, discuss the potential risks and impacts on the environment.

Beyond limits – the pitfalls of global gene drives for environmental risk assessment in the European Union

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M. Dolezel, C. Lüthi and H. Gaugitsch,  BioRisk,  15:1-29. 2020-05-04 14:58:37.
We evaluate the novel features of GDOs and outline the resulting challenges for the environmental risk assessment.

Outcome of a public consultation on the draft adequacy and sufficiency evaluation of existing EFSA guidelines for the molecular characterisation, environmental risk assessment and post-market environmental monitoring of genetically modified insects containing engineered gene drives

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EFSA,  2020-04-24 00:00:00.

Stakeholder workshop: Problem formulation for the environmental risk assessment of gene drive modified insects (15 May 2019, Brussels)

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European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Yann Devos, Barbara Gallani, Leslie G Firbank.,  EFSA Supporting Publications,  Vol 17 (3). 2020-03-16 00:00:00.

Using problem formulation for fit-for-purpose pre-market environmental risk assessments of regulated stressors

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Yann Devos, Wendy Craig, Robert H Devlin, Alessio Ippolito, Rosalind A Leggatt, Jorg Romeis, Richard Shaw, Claus Svendsen and Christopher J Topping,  EFSA Journal,  2019;17(S1):e170708. 2019-04-01 00:00:00.

The EU regulatory framework on genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

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Bruetschy, C,  Transgenic Research,  28:169-174. 2019-01-11 00:00:00.
The European Union (EU) legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) aims to ensure a high level of protection for human, animal and environmental health and a well-functioning EU internal market. The framework regulates the release of GMOs into the environment and their use as, or in, food and feed. It has three main pillars: pre-market authorisation based on a prior risk assessment, traceability and labelling. Within this legal framework, the EU has authorised the placing on the market of 118 GMOs so far. These have been obtained through long-standing techniques of genetic modification, namely transgenesis. Following the adoption of the GMO legislation, new techniques of genetic modification, including new mutagenesis techniques, have been developed, which have raised questions regarding the applicability of the GMO legislation and attracted a lot of attention from stakeholders and the general public. This article provides an overview of EU GMO legislation and implementation of the EU Court of Justice ruling on organisms obtained by mutagenesis techniques, issued in July 2018. It also updates on the recent initiatives by the European Commission and EU Member States on new developments in biotechnology. The manuscript is based on the author's contribution at the OECD Conference on Genome Editing, Applications in Agriculture, Implications for Health, Environment and Regulation held in Paris on 28-29 June 2018. It is complemented with updated information.

Guidance on the use of the weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments

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EFSA Scientific Committee, Anthony Hardy, Diane Benford, Thorhallur Halldorsson, Michael John Jeger, Helle Katrine Knutsen, Simon More, Hanspeter Naegeli, Hubert Noteborn et al.,  EFSA Journal,  15 (8): 4971. 2017-08-03 00:00:00.

Scientific opinion addressing the safety assessment of plants developed through cisgenesis and intragenesis

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EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy,  EFSA Journal,  0 (2): 2561. 2012-06-15 00:00:00.

Scientific opinion addressing the safety assessment of plants developed using Zinc Finger Nuclease 3 and other Site-Directed Nucleases with similar function

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EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy.,  EFSA Journal,  2012; 10 (10): 2943. 2012-06-15 00:00:00.

Directive 2009/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (Recast) (1)

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European Parliament,,  Official Journal of the European Union L 125,  52:75. 2009-05-21 21:44:10.
Whereas: (1 )Council Directive 90/219/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (3) has been substantially amended several times (4). Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity. (2) Under the Treaty, action by the Community relating to the environment must be based on the principle that preventive action is to be taken and must have as its objective, among other things, the preservation, protection and improvement of the environment and the protection of human health. (3) Measures concerning the evaluation and best use of biotechnology with regard to the environment are a priority area on which Community action should concentrate.

DIRECTIVE 2001/18/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC

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THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL,  2001-03-12 00:00:00.