Harness the power of genetic control strategies: an innovative and sustainable solution to effectively manage the widespread human malaria vectors

Malaria continues to be a significant global health challenge, particularly in African regions. Traditional control methods have made important contributions; however, they face limitations due to high costs and the development of resistance to both insecticides and antimalarial drugs. This situation underscores the need for innovative strategies in vector control. Recently, genetic control has emerged as a sustainable and innovative approach that complements existing methods in the fight against this vector-borne disease. Advances in genomics and genetic engineering have enabled the development of effective genetic control tools for Anopheles gambiae, a major malaria vector. The primary objective of this research was to expand the availability of genetic tools for the control of Anopheles arabiensis, a species that has expanded its distribution and shown a rapid ability to adapt, making it one of the major vector species for human malaria on the African continent. We have developed a self-limiting technology aimed at population suppression, which includes an X-shredding system specifically designed for An. arabiensis. This system effectively skews the sex ratio towards males and has been shown to be unable to affect itssibling species An. gambiae. This specificity adds an extra layer of control when used in field settings. The research also includes secondary objectivesfocused on creating a self-sustaining technology based on the successful results of the doublesex gene drive strain in An. gambiae, which achieved complete population suppression in cage trials. This study represents the initial steps toward developing a similar strategy for An. arabiensis. Additionally, we aimed to identify novel target genes for vector control strategies. We investigated a female-specific actin gene involved in the indirect flight muscles as a potential candidate for a gene drive. In conclusion, this study has expanded the range of genetic control tools available for managing malaria vectors. These technologies have the potential to be both efficient and sustainable. When combined with traditional control methods, they can significantly contribute to the efforts to eradicate malaria