Last Updated: 04/12/2025
To isolate naturally occurring microbes found in Anopheles mosquitoes in Kenya that could be used to block the transmission of Plasmodium
Objectives
This project proposes the establishment of a screening protocol that will enable the identification and isolation of candidate bacterial strains that can be further investigated in the context of a transmission blocking strategy.
International centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya
A number of recent studies have demonstrated that bacterial members of the mosquito intestine can prevent Anopheles from being able to transmit malaria. While this research has opened up the possibility to use such bacteria as a transmission blocking strategy, more research along theselines is needed. Firstly, Plasmodium inhibition is just one of the characteristics that would berequired for successful utilization of such bacteria. In addition, bacteria must be persistent and transmissible between mosquito hosts (ideally vertically and horizontally) and also must have lowfitness costs to their host mosquitoes. Notably, since these baceterial isolates will be present in the environment their dissemination will not require the hurdles associated with importation of exotic or genetically modified bacterial strains.
Mar 2016 — Aug 2018
$82,545
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