Gene-drive-capable mosquitoes suppress patient-derived malaria in Tanzania - Nature

"Malaria remains a major public health concern, with many African nations being far from meeting their malaria elimination targets4,5. Vector control methods including indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets have played a pivotal role in reducing malaria incidence, but the emergence of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes has impeded further progress6. In addition, Africa's rapidly growing population and persistent malaria receptivity make these interventions increasingly unsustainable as standalone solutions."

"Gene drive can offer a transformative solution for malaria elimination by spreading genetic modifications that can either suppress mosquito populations or render them unable to transmit the disease2,9,10. Our work focuses on the latter approach known as mosquito population modification or replacement, whereby antiparasitic effectors introduced into the mosquito genome are spread to fixation within populations using a Cas9 endonuclease-based synthetic gene drive."

"In our design, the transmission-blocking effector and gene drive functions are separated into distinct genetic traits and strains3,11,12,13. This separation offers several advantages: it allows the development, testing and optimization of effector constructs in endemic settings independently of a full gene drive system; it facilitates rigorous risk assessment and community engagement before introducing self-propagating elements and it provides a safer, more modular pathway towards deployment12."

Malaria remains a major public health concern in many African nations, with current vector control hindered by insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and unsustainable given population growth and persistent receptivity. Gene drive enables biased inheritance of traits to spread through populations faster than Mendelian expectations and can either suppress mosquito populations or render them unable to transmit malaria. The approach focuses on mosquito population modification by introducing antiparasitic effectors spread via a Cas9-based synthetic gene drive. Separating effector and drive functions allows independent development and testing, facilitates rigorous risk assessment and community engagement, and offers a safer, modular pathway toward deployment.

Read at Nature