Progress toward the development of genetically modified mosquito (GMM) strains to be used in a genetic control program for mosquito vectors of malaria has reached a point where most of the scientific community involved in this research are beginning to think about field trials. The following recommendation was made by a group of experts in the field of vector biology participating in a meeting entitled """"""""Genetically Engineered Arthropod Vectors of Human Infectious Diseases"""""""": """"""""The exciting progress in molecular strategies for blocking parasite development in vectors has far outpaced the related and essential work on field sites and vector populations that must precede any GM release field trial."""""""" Imperial College, London 14-15 September, 2001. We believe that the most promising sites for GMM field trial sites would be on islands off the coast of sub-Saharan Africa. With this Exploratory! Developmental Research Grant proposal (R21) we seek support to initiate studies aimed at assessing the suitability of two island sites. We have selected one island off the east coast of Africa and one off the west to explore for this grant application. Based on a critical analysis of available data we chose to study Anopheles gambiae populations on Isla de Orango, part of the Bijago Archipelago in West Africa and Grande Comore in East Africa. Our initial assessment will include: (1) collection of basic ecological and biological data for An. gambiae at each site, including relative population densities and adult distribution; (2) an assessment of the degree to which island populations are genetically isolated from the nearest mainland populations and from populations on neighboring islands, and a description of the genetic structure of populations on each of the two target islands; (3) creation of a GIS system that describes the ecology of each site and is fully integrated with information from the ecology and population genetics studies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AI062929-01A2
Application #
7384602
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-M (02))
Program Officer
Costero, Adriana
Project Start
2009-05-08
Project End
2011-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-08
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$226,553
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Lee, Yoosook; Weakley, Allison M; Nieman, Catelyn C et al. (2015) A multi-detection assay for malaria transmitting mosquitoes. J Vis Exp :e52385
Lee, Yoosook; Marsden, Clare D; Nieman, Catelyn et al. (2014) A new multiplex SNP genotyping assay for detecting hybridization and introgression between the M and S molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae. Mol Ecol Resour 14:297-305
Marsden, Clare D; Cornel, Anthony; Lee, Yoosook et al. (2013) An analysis of two island groups as potential sites for trials of transgenic mosquitoes for malaria control. Evol Appl 6:706-20
Lee, Yoosook; Marsden, Clare D; Norris, Laura C et al. (2013) Spatiotemporal dynamics of gene flow and hybrid fitness between the M and S forms of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:19854-9
Marsden, Clare D; Lee, Yoosook; Nieman, Catelyn C et al. (2011) Asymmetric introgression between the M and S forms of the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, maintains divergence despite extensive hybridization. Mol Ecol 20:4983-94
Sanford, Michelle R; Demirci, Berna; Marsden, Clare D et al. (2011) Morphological differentiation may mediate mate-choice between incipient species of Anopheles gambiae s.s. PLoS One 6:e27920
Marshall, John M; Toure, Mahamoudou B; Traore, Mohamed M et al. (2010) Perspectives of people in Mali toward genetically-modified mosquitoes for malaria control. Malar J 9:128