Lessons Learned from Target Malaria to Help Guide Future Gene Drive Strategies |
|
Target Malaria is a not-for-profit consortium investigating the potential of gene drive technology to help control the population of malaria's vector mosquito. With few guidelines on the best practices available about gene drive, the consortium shares its experiences in engaging with the local communities of their selected sites to promote the technology's transparency and acceptability.
|
|
|
|
|
Paper Details Potential of Gene Drives in Malaria Control |
|
Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes and typically affects tropical countries. In 2020 alone, malaria killed 627,000 people worldwide. Existing interventions have been insufficient to stop or eradicate malaria. Gene drives is one of the many avenues being investigated to help eliminate the disease.
|
|
|
|
Vector Control Experts Share Guidelines for Gene Drive Mosquito Studies |
|
Scientists from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of California, Berkeley, provided some lessons from vector control field trials and invasive species that could be helpful in monitoring gene drive mosquito projects. Their perspective article is published in Frontiers in Genetics.
|
|
|
|
Study Shows Fitness and Behavior of GM Mosquitoes in Africa |
|
Scientists presented the results of the first-ever small-scale release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Africa – a major milestone for the gene drive research field. The African region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden – 95% of the 241 million cases and 96% of the 627,000 deaths, mostly children less than five years old.
|
|
|
|
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10. |
|
|
|