Mark-release-recapture experiment in Burkina Faso demonstrates reduced fitness and dispersal of genetically-modified sterile malaria mosquitoes

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28419-0
• Publication Date: 2022-02-10T11:03:54Z
• Authors: Franck Adama Yao; Abdoul-Azize Millogo; Patric Stephane E...; Ace North; Florian Noulin; Koulmaga Dao; Mouhamed Drabo; Charles Guissou; Souleymane Kekele; Moussa Namountougou; Robert Kossivi Ou...; Lea Pare; Nourou Barry; Roger Sanou; Haida Wandaogo; Roch K. Dabire; Andrew McKemey; Frederic Tripet; Abdoulaye Diabaté
• Keywords: Anopheles gambiae; Sterile Insect Technique; Mosquito control

Abstract Every year, malaria kills approximately 405,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa, most of them children under the age five years. In many countries, progress control has been threatened by rapid spread resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides. Novel genetic mosquito approaches could play an important role future integrated strategies. July 2019, Target Malaria consortium proceeded with first release hemizygous genetically-modified (GM) sterile non-transgenic sibling males Anopheles coluzzii Burkina Faso. This study aimed determine potential fitness cost associated transgene gather information related dynamic transgene-carrying mosquitoes, crucial for next development steps. Bayesian estimations confirmed that GM had lower survival were less mobile than their wild type (WT) siblings. The estimated male population size Bana village, at time was 28,000 - 37,000. These results provide unique about behaviour released will inform releases more effective strains A. gambiae complex.