Led by the Target Malaria project at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), the initiative seeks to use 'gene drive' technology to reduce the number of malaria transmitting mosquitoes without relying on traditional tools like insecticide-treated bed nets or indoor spraying.
'We are developing genetically modified mosquitoes that, once released, could drastically lower the population of the vectors responsible for malaria transmission,' says Krystal Birungi, an entomologist with Target Malaria Uganda.
The approach focuses on two genetic modifications; reducing female mosquito fertility and altering the sex ratio of offspring. By engineering mosquitoes to lay fewer eggs or produce mostly male offspring, which do not bite or transmit malaria, scientists aim to gradually suppress mosquito populations in the wild.
'For instance, instead of a mosquito laying 300 eggs, gene editing could reduce that to 10. And instead of an even split between male and female offspring, we aim for about 295 males to just five females. Over time, this significantly reduces the number of biting mosquitoes and disrupts malaria transmission,' Birungi explains.
Uganda remains one of the countries hardest hit by malaria. According to the World Health Organization, the country recorded over 12 million cases and nearly 16,000 deaths in 2023 alone. The disease places a significant financial and health burden on both individuals and the government.
Current malaria control methods, bed nets, antimalarial drugs, and insecticide spraying have proven effective but face limitations due to changing mosquito behavior, resistance, and inconsistent usage.
Charles Ntege, senior entomology advisor at the Ministry of Health's Malaria Control Program, says the new approach offers promise. 'We need innovations that are less dependent on constant human behavior or expensive maintenance,' he noted.
'Gene drive mosquitoes could operate in the background, reducing transmission without requiring daily human intervention,' he emphasized.
However, the project has sparked concerns among conservationists. Critics worry about unforeseen ecological consequences, particularly how altering the mosquito population could affect species that feed on them, like fish, birds, bats, and frogs.
'In science, we follow the precautionary principle. We don't yet fully understand how genetically modified genes might affect ecosystems or predators of mosquitoes. Yet, once released, we can't call them back,' warns Dr. Edward Mwavu, an ecologist at Makerere University.
In response, Birungi assured that the project is proceeding cautiously. 'We're only targeting three out of about 3,400 mosquito species. The goal is specific and backed by ecological studies. So far, we've found no species that depend exclusively on mosquitoes for survival.'
She adds that their work is closely monitored by regulatory bodies, and no modified mosquitoes will be released without thorough risk assessments and public engagement.
Target Malaria is a multinational research collaboration working in Uganda, Mali, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The project has received over $170 million in funding between 2005 and 2025 to explore genetic solutions to malaria.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/uganda-gov-t-mulls-breeding-lab-mosquitoes-to-fight-malaria
