Session: Innovative, Operational Non-Chemical Approaches to Mosquito Control Symposium II
231 - Application of genetically engineered mosquitoes for malaria elimination
Thursday, March 7, 2024
11:00am – 11:15am
Location: A3
Abstract: The University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI), a for-non-profit initiative, has a core mission to contribute to eradication of human malaria using genetically engineered mosquitoes. UCMI approach is to modify natural populations of Anopheles coluzzii Coetzee & Wilkerson mosquitoes, which are primary malaria vectors in Africa, using technology that alters natural mosquito populations to prevent malaria transmission by coupling 2 genes that block the parasite (beneficial genes) with a “gene drive” that spreads beneficial genes in a mosquito population. The benefits of population modification include that once the parasite blocking genes are fixed in a population it provides a layer of sustainable malaria control whether at malaria phase of control, pre-elimination or elimination and, if at elimination phases, will provide sustainable control to combat reintroduction of malaria. Aspects of the 4 main components of UCMI, namely, Laboratory Science, Modeling, Field Science and Community Engagement will be presented to provide insights into the UCMI goal of a World Health Organization) WHO defined Phase II ecologically confined field trial.
