On World Mosquito Day today, scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking technology that aims to conserve mosquito populations while tackling diseases they transmit. This novel approach, known as gene drive technology, offers the potential to eradicate malaria—a major mosquito-borne disease—without negatively impacting the overall mosquito population.
This method could provide an effective and environmentally sustainable solution to combat malaria.
“Gene drives have been successfully tested in laboratory settings to reduce mosquito fertility and spread resistance genes against the malaria parasite. There are field trials and pilot studies underway to test the effectiveness and safety of gene drives in real-world environments,” says Dr Willy Tonui.
Dr. Tonui, Chairman and Executive Director at Environmental Health Safety (EHS Consultancy Ltd), and Founder and Head of the Secretariat at the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, highlighted a groundbreaking development in the fight against malaria.
This year’s World Mosquito Day 2024 theme, “Reaching the Zero Malaria Target,” aligns with the introduction of this innovative gene drive technology. The technology provides a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to combat malaria, a disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually.
As of 2022, malaria resulted in approximately 608,000 global deaths—a slight decrease from the previous year but still significant, with the majority of fatalities occurring in Africa, where the disease burden is the highest.
During a workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, focused on expanding awareness of genetic biocontrol in Africa, Dr. Tonui emphasized that this technology marks a significant breakthrough. Traditional malaria control methods have primarily relied on insecticides and mosquito nets to either kill mosquitoes or prevent bites.
While these approaches have had some success, they often lead to unintended ecological issues, such as insecticide resistance and disruption of local ecosystems.
Gene drive technology, in contrast, represents a paradigm shift. Instead of killing mosquitoes, this method involves genetically modifying them to either resist the malaria parasite or reduce their ability to transmit it.
“These genetic modifications are designed to spread rapidly through mosquito populations, thanks to a mechanism that ensures the altered gene is passed on to nearly all offspring, rather than the typical 50 per cent in natural inheritance,” he said.
According to Dr. Agha Ukpai Agha, Acting Director of the National Biosafety Management Agency, Nigeria, this approach has garnered significant attention and excitement within the scientific community, as it offers a potentially permanent solution to malaria.
“Unlike insecticides, which require continuous application and monitoring, gene drive could lead to a self-sustaining reduction in malaria transmission. Additionally, by not wiping out mosquito populations, the technology helps preserve the ecological balance, which is essential for maintaining biodiversity,” says Dr. Agha.
Dr. Tonui acknowledges that the introduction of gene drive technology comes with its own set of challenges and ethical considerations. One major concern is the potential for unintended consequences, such as the spread of modified genes to non-target species or ecosystems.
To address these issues, scientists are performing extensive testing in controlled environments to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the technology before proceeding with any large-scale deployment.
“If successful, gene drive technology could mark a turning point in the global fight against malaria, a disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already expressed cautious optimism about the potential of this technology, noting that it could complement existing malaria control measures and accelerate progress towards the goal of eradicating the disease by 2030,” he said.
