Population genomic evidence of a putative ‘far-west’ African cryptic taxon in the Anopheles gambiae complex
The two main Afrotropical malaria vectors - Anopheles coluzzii and An. gambiae - are genetically distinct and reproductively isolated across West Africa. However, populations at the western extreme of their range are assigned as "intermediate" between the two species by whole genome sequence (WGS) data, and as hybrid forms by conventional molecular diagnostics. By exploiting WGS data from 1190 specimens collected across west Africa via the Anopheles gambiae 1000 Genomes network, we identified a putative taxon in the far-west (provisionally named Bissau molecular form), which did not arise by admixture but rather may have originated at the same time as the split between An. coluzzii and An. gambiae. Intriguingly, this taxon lacks insecticide resistance mechanisms commonly observed in the two main species. These findings lead to a change of perspective on malaria vector species in the far-west region with potential for epidemiological implications, and a new challenge for genetic-based mosquito control approaches.
Authors
- Alfred Amambua‐Ngwa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4478-3601)
- Jacob A. Tennessen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5015-4740)
- Alessandra della Torre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7054-0027)
- Kevin Opondo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8975-6266)
- Giordano Bottà (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7459-7570)
- Sessinou Benoit Assogba
- Kelly L. Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0330-5275)
- Beniamino Caputo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5650-8773)
- Chris S. Clarkson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8757-1660)
- Alistair Miles (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9018-4680)
- Verena Pichler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7553-3704)
- David Weetman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5820-1388)
- Carlo De Marco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8657-3832)
Institutions
- Broad Institute (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Wellcome Sanger Institute (GB)
- MRC Unit the Gambia (GM)
- Istituto Pasteur (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2024-09-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06809-y
- Citations
- 11
- Primary Topic
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.05
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Wellcome
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Broad Institute
- European Commission
- Medical Research Council
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership