The Promise and Challenge of Genetic Biocontrol Approaches for Malaria Elimination
Background
Malaria remains an ongoing public health challenge, with over 600,000 deaths in 2021, of which approximately 96% occurred in Africa. Despite concerted efforts, the goal of global malaria elimination has stalled in recent years. This has resulted in widespread calls for new control methods. Genetic biocontrol approaches, including those focused on gene-drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs), aim to prevent malaria transmission by either reducing the population size of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes or making the mosquitoes less competent to transmit the malaria parasite.
James, S., & Santos, M. (2023). The Promise and Challenge of Genetic Biocontrol Approaches for Malaria Elimination. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8(4), 201.