Environmental persistence and transmission dynamics of <i>Serratia</i> AS1 in mosquito habitats: advancing paratransgenesis for malaria control

Malaria remains a major health challenge, especially in developing countries where traditional control methods like insecticides and drugs are becoming less effective due to resistance. This study explores a promising new approach called paratransgenesis, which uses genetically modified bacteria to fight malaria. We tested a bacterium called <i>Serratia</i> AS1, which can live inside mosquitoes and spread through their populations. Our experiments showed that <i>Serratia</i> AS1 can survive in mosquito breeding sites and spread effectively among mosquitoes through multiple routes, such as larval water, sugar sources, and even from parent mosquitoes to their offspring. These findings suggest that <i>Serratia</i> AS1 could be used to deliver anti-malaria molecules to mosquitoes in the wild, offering a sustainable and innovative way to control the disease. This work brings us one step closer to using paratransgenesis as a practical tool to reduce malaria transmission and save lives.