Genomic diversity of the African malaria vector <i>Anopheles funestus</i>
<i>Anopheles funestus</i> s.s. is a major human malaria vector across Africa. To study its evolution, especially under vector control pressure, we sequenced 656 modern specimens (collected 2014 to 2018) and 45 historic specimens (collected 1927 to 1967) from 16 African countries. Despite high genetic diversity, the species shows stable but considerable continental population structure. Although one population showed little differentiation over a century and 4000 kilometers, nearby, we found two genetically distinct ecotypes. Vector control has resulted in strong signals of selection, with some resistance alleles shared across populations through gene flow and others arising independently. Fortunately, we found that a promising gene drive target in <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> is highly conserved in <i>An. funestus</i>. These insights will enable more strategic insecticide usage and gene drive deployment, supporting malaria elimination.
Authors
- Charles S. Wondji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0791-3673)
- Samuel Dadzie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4105-1010)
- Lizette L. Koekemoer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4236-6345)
- Mara Máquina
- Emmanuel W. Kaindoa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6170-5694)
- Brian Polo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7505-9050)
- Diégo Ayala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4726-580X)
- Lee Hart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6473-0964)
- Eric Ochomo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4042-4970)
- David P. Tchouassi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9910-4704)
- Claire Sangbakembi-Ngounou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6296-9568)
- Eric R. Lucas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3892-1668)
- Petra Korlević (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5418-5587)
- Joachim Nwezeobi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7541-9186)
- Joel O. Odero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8463-2122)
- Alistair Miles (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9018-4680)
- Katie Love (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5773-7933)
- Ibra Lujumba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9937-1255)
- Fredros O. Okumu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2731-5654)
- Gadji Mahamat
- Dominic Kwiatkowski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5023-0176)
- Alex Makunin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9555-5097)
- Krijn P. Paaijmans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4837-2818)
- Sanjay C. Nagi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1214-8523)
- Richard Michael Durbin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9130-1006)
- Erica McAlister (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8558-3510)
- Mara Lawniczak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3006-2080)
- Marilou Boddé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2107-5100)
- Ousman Akone‐Ella
- Sonia Barasa
Institutions
- Ifakara Health Institute (TZ)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Natural History Museum (GB)
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (KE)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Wellcome Sanger Institute (GB)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KE)
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (FR)
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (GH)
- Institut Pasteur de Bangui (CF)
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (GA)
- Manhiça Health Research Centre (MZ)
- Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (CM)
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (MG)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (DE)
- Arizona State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2025-09-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adu3596
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.45