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Transgenic anopheline mosquitoes impaired in transmission of a malaria parasite

Author

Listed:
  • Junitsu Ito

    (Case Western Reserve University, Department of Genetics)

  • Anil Ghosh

    (Case Western Reserve University, Department of Genetics)

  • Luciano A. Moreira

    (Case Western Reserve University, Department of Genetics)

  • Ernst A. Wimmer

    (Universitätsstrasse 30)

  • Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena

    (Case Western Reserve University, Department of Genetics)

Abstract

Malaria is estimated to cause 0.7 to 2.7 million deaths per year, but the actual figures could be substantially higher owing to under-reporting and difficulties in diagnosis1. If no new control measures are developed, the malaria death toll is projected to double in the next 20 years1. Efforts to control the disease are hampered by drug resistance in the Plasmodium parasites, insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, and the lack of an effective vaccine. Because mosquitoes are obligatory vectors for malaria transmission, the spread of malaria could be curtailed by rendering them incapable of transmitting parasites. Many of the tools required for the genetic manipulation of mosquito competence for malaria transmission have been developed. Foreign genes can now be introduced into the germ line of both culicine2,3 and anopheline4 mosquitoes, and these transgenes can be expressed in a tissue-specific manner5,6. Here we report on the use of such tools to generate transgenic mosquitoes that express antiparasitic genes in their midgut epithelium, thus rendering them inefficient vectors for the disease. These findings have significant implications for the development of new strategies for malaria control.

Suggested Citation

  • Junitsu Ito & Anil Ghosh & Luciano A. Moreira & Ernst A. Wimmer & Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, 2002. "Transgenic anopheline mosquitoes impaired in transmission of a malaria parasite," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6887), pages 452-455, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:417:y:2002:i:6887:d:10.1038_417452a
    DOI: 10.1038/417452a
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    Cited by:

    1. Michelle L. Johnson & Bruce A. Hay & Maciej Maselko, 2024. "Altering traits and fates of wild populations with Mendelian DNA sequence modifying Allele Sails," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Tales V. Pascini & Yeong Je Jeong & Wei Huang & Zarna R. Pala & Juliana M. Sá & Michael B. Wells & Christopher Kizito & Brendan Sweeney & Thiago L. Alves e Silva & Deborah J. Andrew & Marcelo Jacobs-­, 2022. "Transgenic Anopheles mosquitoes expressing human PAI-1 impair malaria transmission," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Vanessa M. Macias & Johanna R. Ohm & Jason L. Rasgon, 2017. "Gene Drive for Mosquito Control: Where Did It Come from and Where Are We Headed?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-30, September.

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