Transmission of transgenic mosquito-killing fungi during copulation
Entomopathogenic fungi engineered to express insect-specific neurotoxins have demonstrated potential as microbial control agents against malaria mosquitoes. Currently, the primary application method is via direct contact of spores with indoor resting mosquitoes. However, many malaria-transmitting mosquitoes feed and rest outdoors. To target these, we have developed an alternative application method that exploits the lethality of transgenic fungi as a sexually transmitted mosquito disease. This approach has both a wider interdisciplinary significance and important implications for preventing mosquito-borne diseases.
Authors
- Abdoulaye Diabaté (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9666-9395)
- Issiaka Saré (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4216-134X)
- Brian Lovett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5721-7695)
- Etienne Bilgo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2350-9339)
- Raymond St. Leger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7386-6775)
- Edounou Jacques Gnambani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4515-046X)
- Abel Souro Millogo
Institutions
- Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (BF)
- United States Department of Agriculture (US)
- Nazi Boni University (BF)
- Centre Muraz (BF)
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (BF)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Ithaca College (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-01-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83242-5
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.69
Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- African Academy of Sciences
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases