Elucidating the complex evolution of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus Africa-wide and its impact on control tools

Worrying cases of high resistance levels to insecticides are emerging in major malaria vectors such as Anopheles funestus leading to extensive loss of efficacy of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) including piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-pyrethroid nets. Unless such super-resistance is managed, recent gains in reducing malaria transmission could be lost with terrible consequences. Unfortunately, the molecular drivers of this super-resistance remain unknown hindering the design of resistance management strategies to prevent malaria resurgence. This project will elucidate such factors, including the role of a massive increase in metabolic resistance and detect key DNA markers to design diagnostic tools to track and manage this super-resistance before it spreads Africa-wide. Importantly, by detecting the molecular drivers of reduced penetration resistance, likely contributing to observed resistance escalation, this project will help elucidate this under-studied major resistance mechanism. This is despite its ability to confer resistance across different chemical classes (cross-resistance) which has substantial practical implications for the design of resistance management strategies including rotations. The development of DNA-based diagnostic tools complemented by recent molecular assays will facilitate the use of entomological endpoints to assess the impact of super-resistance on the effectiveness of current and novel insecticide-based tools.

Project details

Combination of Interventions
Enabling Technologies & Assays
Insecticide Resistance

Jan 2014 — Dec 2018

$2.65M

Cameroon