Keywords: Target malaria
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine joins the Target Malaria Consortium
35499Dr. Tony Nolan, Target Malaria: News, 2026-03-10 09:34:21.
Target Malaria has so far been working on the three widespread vectors of the Anopheles gambiae species complex: An. coluzzii, An. gambiae, and An. arabiensis. As members of a species complex, these three species are morphologically indistinguishable. Together, they are among the most important malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Although they are distinct species, they can occasionally inter-breed. In addition, Anopheles funestus is a widespread vector across sub-Saharan Africa. It is more distantly related to the gambiae species complex and is not capable of hybridising with those species. An. funestus has distinct ecological characteristics and is a highly efficient vector of malaria – its species name, funestus, means “deadly”. In some areas, it is the dominant contributor to malaria transmission. Modelling indicates that achieving the full public health impact of gene drive will require trageting of An. funestus, as malaria transmission in many regions is shared between multiple vector species. Anopheles funestus is particularly challenging to colonise and maintain in the laboratory. Our team at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine was among the first to demonstrate stable genetic modification of An. funestus, establishing the technical foundation required to explore gene drive approaches in this species. Through joining Target Malaria, we will extend gene drive research beyond the gambiae complex and support the development of multi-species gene drive strategies for malaria control.
Potential benefits, opportunities, risks and challenges of population suppression gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control described in the scholarly literature: a rapid scoping review
35472Fürer, C. L., Fischer, T. B., Suter, T., Winkler, M. S., and Knoblauch, A. M., Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 2026-02-27 18:07:52.
Gene drive mosquitoes represent a promising strategy to alter mosquito populations and reduce disease transmission. However, their use has generated considerable debate due to ecological, ethical, and societal concerns. This paper reviews risks, challenges, benefits, and opportunities of gene drive technology, focusing on environmental, social, economic, and health implications. A literature search of peer-reviewed articles published between January 2019 and September 2023 was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Embase (Elsevier), and Google Scholar. Eligible papers included keywords such as ‘gene drive’, ‘mosquitoes’, and ‘Anopheles’. Extracted statements were grouped as ‘risks/challenges’, ‘benefits/opportunities’, or ‘ambivalent’, and classified across five dimensions: environmental/entomological/ecological, social, economic, health, and technological. From 1304 papers identified, 53 were included, yielding 892 statements. Of these, 66.5% addressed ‘risks/challenges’, 26.3% ‘benefits/opportunities’, and 7.2% were ‘ambivalent’. Most statements were classified under the ‘environmental/entomological/ecological’ dimension (46.1%), followed by ‘social’ (24.6%), ‘health’ (18.5%), ‘GM technology’ (7.2%), and ‘economic’ (3.6%). Commonly cited ‘risks/challenges’ included potential off-target effects, fitness costs, and development of resistance. The breadth of identified considerations, alongside the predominantly risk-focused discourse, highlights the need for multidimensional assessments. Early evaluations should integrate biosafety assessments with inclusive frameworks such as Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessments (ESHIA) to support responsible deployment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can the world survive without mosquitoes and should we even try to find out?
34934Sowjanya Pedada, LA Post, 2025-06-17 15:08:22.
Scientists have developed gene editing technology that could wipe out malaria-carrying mosquitoes within subsequent generations, offering hope against diseases like Malaria, which kills nearly 600,000 people each year. But as field trials approach, bioethicists warn that deliberately driving a species to extinction raises profound questions about our right to reshape nature. Communities in hard-hit regions now face a difficult tradeoff: accept ecological risks or continue losing lives to preventable mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquito-borne diseases extend far beyond Malaria. Dengue infects up to 3.9 billion people annually across 132 countries, causing approximately 40,000 deaths each year. Zika, documented in 89 countries, can cause severe congenital disabilities like microcephaly. The CDC calls mosquitoes the “world’s deadliest animal,” responsible for over 700,000 deaths each year. In sub-Saharan Africa, scientists at Target Malaria have developed genetic modifications that render female mosquito offspring infertile, causing populations to collapse within a few generations in lab tests. “There are so many lives at stake,” said Alekos Simoni, a molecular biologist with the group. Their method uses male mosquitoes to spread ovary-disrupting genes throughout wild populations. Gene-driven mosquito extinction has ignited ethical debate. A recent study published in Science concluded that deliberately wiping out a species may be justifiable, but only under rare, extreme conditions. “These cases highlight the tension between the intrinsic value of a species and the benefits of eradicating a harmful pest,” said Clare Palmer, a bioethicist at Texas A&M. Environmental experts warn of ecological risks, but scientists stress that only a few mosquito species, mainly malaria-spreading Anopheles, would be targeted. “Extinction is not a likely outcome, nor even a desirable one,” said Tony Nolan of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. “It’s not necessary to make the mosquito extinct to eliminate malaria.”
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.
Innovative video game brings gene drive technology to life in Africa’s fight against malaria
34769African Media Agency, Business Ghana, 2025-04-17 09:53:12.
Ahead of World Malaria Day, Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium pioneering genetic technologies for malaria control, hosted a live demonstration this month of its educational video game, Target Malaria: The Game. This interactive tool is reshaping how science is communicated by making complex genetic technologies accessible, engaging, and fun. Originally launched at the end of 2024, the educational game places players in the role of a lab technician working on genetically modified mosquitoes — a potential tool for vector control being explored to eliminate malaria in Africa. It introduces players of all ages and backgrounds to the real-world tools and processes of molecular biology through two modules: “Microinjection” and “Transgenic Screening.” In “Microinjection”, players simulate injecting a DNA solution into mosquito embryos, and in “Transgenic Screening”, players sort fluorescent, genetically modified mosquito larvae. “This isn’t just a game — it’s a capacity-building tool,” says Louise Marston, Senior Research Technician for Target Malaria at the Crisanti Lab, in Imperial College London and who conceived the idea for the game. “We’re demonstrating how a digital experience can bring scientific discovery to life, even in low-connectivity environments.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Exploring new tools to fight vector-borne diseases: research and governance implications
32541Alekos 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.
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?
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.
“Mozzie Drive” Card Game rules
28945Katie Willis, Ace North, Target Malaria, 2024-02-27 18:24:27.
Mozzie Drive is an educational card game that demonstrates how gene drive technology could be used to reduce populations of malaria mosquitoes. To download the game for free, please visit: https://targetmalaria.org/why-malaria... . This game was designed by Dr. Katie Willis and Dr. Ace North from the Target Malaria modelling team.
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?
Gene Drives: Target Malaria is underestimating the risks
24867C. Then, Testbiotech, 2023-03-17 07:55:56.
The Target Malaria consortium has for several years been planning to conduct field trials using genetically engineered mosquitoes in Burkina Faso. The aim is to transfer artificial gene constructs, i. e. the so-called ‘X-shredder’, into wild populations of the mosquitoes. This gene construct is meant to reduce the number of female offspring, and thus bring about a decline in the overall population of mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae) known to transmit malaria. However, as recent research shows, the planned releases are based on flawed data and incorrect assumptions.
Engagement on risk assessment for gene drive mosquitoes by EFSA and Target Malaria
24794S. 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.
Ethical dilemma: Should we get rid of mosquitoes?
24650Talya Hackett, TED-Ed, 2023-01-30 09:59:15.
Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths every year than any other animal, but very few of the 3,500 mosquito species actually transmit deadly diseases to humans. Scientists have been conducting experiments using engineered technologies called gene drives that could theoretically get rid of the most lethal mosquitoes. So, should we eradicate these pesky insects? Talya Hackett investigates.
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.
East African policy dialogue on research of genetically modified mosquitoes for malaria control and elimination
24112C. Mugoya, Target Malaria, 2022-12-02 09:27:43.
The East African Community Secretariat, in collaboration with the East African Health Research Commission; NEPAD, AFIDEP and IFAKARA Health Institute recently convened an East African regional dialogue in Dar es salaam, Tanzania from 17-19 November 2022 to deliberate the way forward on the legal and regulatory frameworks guiding research on genetically modified mosquitoes to solve the problem of malaria in the East African region. The dialogue was attended by legislators from the seven countries of the East African Community partner states – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda and South Sudan, policy makers, government officials, and health experts including biotechnology/biosafety regulators.
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.
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
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.
Who decides whether to use gene drives against malaria-carrying mosquitoes?
22730T. H. Saey, ScienceNews, 2022-06-03 08:12:18.
The gene drive interferes with the insects’ ability to reproduce. It wiped out captive populations of mosquitoes in eight to 12 generations (SN: 10/27/18, p. 6) in a small lab study. In 2021, the technology worked in the large cages in Terni, Italy, too. Within as little as five to 10 years, this gene drive could be ready to test in the wild. The first experimental release could be rolled out in Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana or Uganda. In those locations, researchers are working with a nonprofit research consortium called Target Malaria to develop the gene drive carriers along with other genetically engineered mosquitoes to fight malaria. This research is driven by the idea that every tool available must be used to fight malaria, which sickened close to 241 million people in 2020 and killed 670,000 worldwide, mostly in Africa. Children 5 years old and younger accounted for about 80 percent of the continent’s malaria deaths, the World Health Organization says. Because of malaria’s huge toll, large investments have been made to fight the disease, yielding preventive drugs, insecticide-treated bed nets and even malaria vaccines — one was recently recommended for use in sub-Saharan Africa (SN: 12/18/21 & 1/1/22, p. 32). These efforts are helping. But mosquitoes are developing resistance to insecticides, and some anti-malaria drugs may no longer work well.
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.
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.
A multi-disciplinary approach for a building common understanding of genetic engineering for malaria control in Burkina Faso
21637L. Pare Toe, N. Barry, A. D. Ky, S. Kekele, W. I. Meda, K. Bayala, et al., Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9. 2022-04-05 08:18:54.
Genetic engineering is a complex topic, even for scientists working in other areas, and even more so for those who lack a formal scientific training. To help gene specialists and affected communities talk with one another, international guidance documents have been published that promote dialogue and exchanges. The current paper explores collaboration among scientists of different disciplines as well as between scientists, the local communities, mediated by theatre actors to develop a conversation about Target Malaria’s work on genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes for malaria elimination in Burkina Faso. It focuses on the co-construction of meaning of key scientific concepts with a view to fostering productive collaboration between scientists and the local community. The community provided feedback on what was shared with them regarding the science being developed in the lab and in the field, which in turn informed aspects of the research itself, and the nature of the collaboration between the scientists and the local community.
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.
Articulating ethical principles guiding Target Malaria’s engagement strategy
20320A. J. Roberts and D. Thizy, Malaria Journal, 21:35. 2022-02-05 09:13:03.
Progress in gene drive research has engendered a lively discussion about community engagement and the ethical standards the work hinges on. While there is broad agreement regarding ethical principles and established best practices for conducting clinical public health research, projects developing area-wide vector control technologies and initiating ambitious engagement strategies raise specific questions: who to engage, when to engage, and how? When responding to these fundamental questions, with few best practices available for guidance, projects need to reflect on and articulate the ethical principles that motivate and justify their approach. Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share malaria control and elimination technology. The consortium is currently investigating the potential of a genetic technique called gene drive to control populations of malaria vectoring mosquito species Anopheles gambiae. Due to the potentially broad geographical, environmental impact of gene drive technology, Target Malaria has committed to a robust form of tailored engagement with the local communities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Uganda, where research activities are currently taking place. This paper presents the principles guiding Target Malaria’s engagement strategy. Herein the authors (i) articulate the principles; (ii) explain the rationale for selecting them; (iii) share early lessons about the application of the principles. Since gene drive technology is an emerging technology, with few best practices available for guidance, the authors hope by sharing these lessons, to add to the growing literature regarding engagement strategies and practices for area-wide vector control, and more specifically, for gene drive research.
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.
Two years of laboratory studies on the non gene drive genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes concluded successfully in Mali
19224M. Coulibaly, Target Malaria, 2021-11-09 21:44:38.
The Target Malaria Mali team at the Malaria Research and Training Centre (MRTC) based at the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB) is proud to have been the first Malian research team to work on non gene drive genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes. The team has just published the results of the two years we spent studying these mosquitoes in our laboratory. Thanks to this research, we have gained new knowledge and developed cutting-edge skills in the areas of entomology, molecular biology and genetics, allowing us to sustain a colony containing both local and genetically modified mosquitoes. This research was made possible thanks to an authorisation from the Malian Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development (MEADD) issued on 21 June 2019 to import a strain of non gene drive genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes and study them in a contained environment. Initially designed at Imperial College London1, the genetically modified mosquitoes were then tested at Polo d’Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia (PoloGGB) in Terni, Italy, before being transported to Mali. The mosquito eggs arrived by plane on 4 September 2019. They were kept in the insectarium renovated by the Target Malaria project.
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.
Gene drive revolution: How genetically tweaked mosquitoes could tip the balance in the battle to contain malaria
18903F. Okumu, Genetic Literacy Project, 2021-10-06 14:24:37.
In 2016, a World Health Organisation (WHO) panel concluded that even with the best use of current approaches, there would still be 11 million malaria cases in 2050. What’s needed are longer-term integrated strategies to complement current methods. These may include large-scale environmental management to reduce Anopheles breeding, mosquito-proof homes, stronger health systems and public education focusing on disease prevention. Fortunately, new technologies are also being developed which could complement these strategies at lower cost and less effort. One particularly exciting example is the release of genetically programmed mosquitoes, which we call “protector mosquitoes”. Upon mating with wild mosquitoes they produce offspring that are either incapable of any further reproduction or unable to transmit malaria parasites.
Mobilizing Mutant Mosquitoes to Fight Malaria
18227D. Mclaughlin and J. Recht, United Nations Foundation, 2021-08-18 15:49:29.
World Mosquito Day today marks the 1897 discovery by Sir Ronald Ross that female Anopheles mosquitoes spread malaria. Since that breakthrough, the world has fought this deadly disease through scientific research and new technology. While astounding progress has been made against the ancient disease, more than 400,000 people died from malaria in 2019, two-thirds of them children under 5, the vast majority in Africa.Existing malaria controls such as spraying insecticides indoors or sleeping beneath long-lasting insecticidal bed nets work by blocking mosquitoes from biting people and transmitting malaria. Such tools have helped halve malaria in many countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Yet this remarkable progress is in jeopardy as mosquitoes develop resistance to these insecticides. As the dangerous mosquito continues to adapt, health interventions must continue evolving to protect families from this disease and move us closer to a malaria-free world. Now, there is a promising new tool, seemingly ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel, to stop malaria’s spread: genetically modified mosquitoes.
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.
Gene Drives – Engineering the Wild
17825L. Sharratt, Sentinel, 2021-07-13 14:52:05.
So far, genetically engineered organisms have been mostly limited to agricultural use, with partial success. Around the world, a few major crops (mostly corn, soy, and cotton) are genetically engineered, predominantly for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. However, the newer techniques of genome editing (also called gene editing) mean that a much wider variety of organisms can now be genetically engineered, including for many purposes outside of food and farming. This increased power is most dramatically illustrated in the development of gene drive technology. Unlike genetically engineered plants and animals intended for confined use in agricultural production, gene drive organisms are expressly designed for intentional, long-lived release into the wild. Gene drives are a technology through which a few individual genetically engineered organisms would be deployed to intentionally push new genes through an entire population of a species in the wild or in a farm ecosystem. Through the gene drive mechanism, new genes would be inherited by all offspring in subsequent generations, not just the expected half in normal inheritance. When gene drive organisms reproduce, specific traits as well as the gene drive mechanism itself would be passed on. Making such spreading genetic changes to an organism, or eliminating it in the wild, could disrupt whole ecosystems in ways that are difficult or impossible to predict or reverse.
West African countries working together to develop framework to regulate genetically engineered mosquitos: Target Malaria
17663Anonymous, Global News, 2021-07-08 19:50:08.
Abdoulaye Diabaté, principal investigator for Target Malaria, says West African countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Benin are working with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to develop a pan-West African framework to regulate gene drive mosquitos.
The ethical scientist in a time of uncertainty
16620L. Zoloth, Cell, 184:1430-1439. 2021-03-18 17:59:56.
Using the example of gene drives for malaria control to explore the problem of deep uncertainty in biomedical research, I argue that profound uncertainty is an essential feature. Applying the language and presumptions of the discipline of philosophical ethics, I describe three types of uncertainty that raise ethical challenges in scientific research. Rather than mitigate these challenges with excessive precautions and limits on progress, I suggest that researchers can cultivate classic values of veracity, courage, humility, and fidelity in their research allowing science to proceed ethically under conditions of deep uncertainty.
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.
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.
Proceedings of an expert workshop on community agreement for gene drive research in Africa – Co-organised by KEMRI, PAMCA and Target Malaria [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
16224D. Thizy, L. Pare Toe, C. Mbogo, D. Matoke-Muhia, V. P. Alibu, S. K. Barnhill-Dilling, T. Chantler, G. Chongwe, J. Delborne, L. Kapiriri, E. Nassonko Kavuma, S. Koloi-Keaikitse, A. Kormos, K. Littler, D. Lwetoijera, R. Vargas de Moraes, N. Mumba, L. Muten, Gates Open Research, 2021-01-28 16:25:31.
Target Malaria, the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Pan African Mosquito Control Association co-organised a workshop with researchers and practitioners on this topic to question the model proposed by Target Malaria in its research so far that involved the release of genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes and how this could be adapted to future studies involving gene drive mosquito releases for them to offer reflections about potential best practices. This paper shares the outcomes of that workshop and highlights the remaining topics for discussion before a comprehensive model can be design
Co‐developing a common glossary with stakeholders for engagement on new genetic approaches for malaria control in a local African setting
16104E. Chemonges Wanyama, B. Dicko, L. Pare Toe, M. B. Coulibaly, N. Barry, K. Bayala Traore, A. Diabate, M. Drabo, J. K. Kayondo, S. Kekele, S. Kodio, A. D. Ky, R. R. Linga, E. Magala, W. I. Meda, S. Mukwaya, A. Namukwaya, B. Robinson, H. Samoura, K. Sanogo, Malaria Journal, 20:53. 2021-01-21 14:51:47.
Scientific terminologies are mainly lacking in local languages, yet when research activities involve international partnership, the question of technical jargon and its translation is crucial for effective and meaningful communication with stakeholders. Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium developing innovative genetic approaches to malaria vector control, carried out a linguistic exercise in Mali, Burkina Faso and Uganda to establish the appropriate translation of its key terminology to local languages of sites where the teams operate.
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
Brave New Planet: Reshaping Nature Through Gene Drives
15047E. Lander, Brave New Planet, 2020-11-09 19:26:24.
A new technology, called gene drives, has the power to spread any genetic instructions you wish across an entire animal or plant species in the wild. It might let us restore ecosystems ravaged by invasive species, or help species adapt to climate change. And, it might save millions of children from dying of malaria. But could altering nature in this way, and on this scale, have unintended consequences? And, when it comes reshaping ecosystems, who needs to say yes?
Interview with Professor Austin Burt: Role of gene drive technology in the context of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030
14874S. Dunphy, European Scientist, 2020-10-28 14:10:38.
In view of these conditions, leading scientists are calling on EU institutions to continue to back research into gene drive as a potential tool to protect public health and deliver on Europe’s biodiversity goals. Experts believe gene drive technologies could be a vital and effective solution in developing countries and islands, as well as across Europe.
Driven to Exterminate
14724Z. Moloo and J. Thomas, etc group, 2020-10-14 18:16:08.
Gates’s ‘let’s deploy it’ response may not seem out of character, but it was an unusually gung ho response given how risky the technology is widely acknowledged to be.
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
Three innovative technologies stopping malaria
13168B. Muni, The Borgen Project, 2020-07-09 14:47:45.
Malaria has plummeted by 40% fifteen years after 2000. A report that NCBI published attributed this to mosquito preventative measures like bed netting and insecticides. These interventions and practices, like wearing light color clothing, help at-risk populations fight malaria. However, mosquitos are learning to fight back. Resistance to insecticides is evolving in mosquitos and malaria continues to afflict millions. In 2018, there were still 228 million cases of malaria and 405,000 deaths. Over 90% of these cases and deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, but there are many interventions that have the potential to stop malaria. Here are three innovative technologies stopping malaria.
Fighting malaria with gene-drive technology
12417EarthWise, earthwise radio, 2020-06-08 20:03:15.
A team led by Imperial College London has created a genetic modification that distorts the sex ratio of a population of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes using “gene drive” technology. The modification works by using a DNA-cutting enzyme to destroy the X chromosome during the production of sperm, which leads to predominantly male offspring, since females require two X chromosomes. The modification is coupled to a gene drive to allow it to spread through a population in a very effective way. A gene drive is a genetic engineering technology that propagates a particular modification by assuring that a specific form of a gene (or allele) will be transmitted with far more than the natural 50% probability.
The development of complex and controversial innovations. Genetically modified mosquitoes for malaria eradication
11431V. Cisnetto and J. Barlow, Research Policy, 49:103917. 2020-05-04 13:32:20.
e use a longitudinal process approach and qualitative system dynamics modelling to study the development of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes for malaria eradication in an African country.
‘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.
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.
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