Introduction

Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by The Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA), this collaboration aims to establish a new programme of genomic research and data generation on African malaria vectors.

Objectives & Coordination

Nine studies have been set up to collect new mosquito specimens from regions and settings where little or no genomic data were previously available. MalariaGEN is supporting these studies by performing whole-genome sequencing on mosquito specimens collected, and processing sequence data to generate high quality, analysis-ready data on mosquito genomic variation.

The new programme has two broad aims. The first is to accelerate innovative genomic research into the biology, ecology and epidemiology of African malaria vectors, that in turn leads to improved methods, tools and technologies for vector control. The second is to strengthen and enhance vector surveillance systems being developed and operated by national malaria control programmes, by generating genomic data that shed new light on the efficacy and impact of current vector control interventions, and that could lead to better decisions about vector control strategy and resource allocation.

Sampling locations

Cameroon, Congo, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Partner studies

Cameroon

Antonio-Nkondjio Christophe is investigating residual transmission and transmission patterns of An. gambiae and An. funestus in relation to insecticide resistance & population genetics. Working at five sites in Cameroon the project is exploring Anopheline feeding behaviour at indoor and outdoor spaces, and the night feeding cycle.

Cote d’Ivoire

Joseph Chabi and Alphonsine Koffi are investigating genetic diversity and gene flow of insecticide resistance in An. gambiae in six districts of Cote d’Ivoire. This study trains National Malaria Control Programmes to perform Anopheles collections, and strengthens vector surveillance.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Francis Wat’senga is investigating genetic diversity and the spread of insecticide resistance in An. gambiae across three provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, each with three distinct health areas. This study is conducted in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine using historical samples alongside more recent collections.

East-Southern Africa An funestus consortium

This consortial study with Themba Mzilahowa (Malawi), Eric Ochomo (Kenya) Charles Ntege (Uganda) and Faraji Abilahi (Tanzania), uses surveillance to investigate insecticide resistance related to genomic diversity and population-level effects of interventions on genetic diversity. The study is providing National Malaria Control Programmes in each country with training in sampling techniques of An. funestus.

The Gambia

Kevin Opondo is investigating genomic diversity of insecticide resistance, and gene flow between east and west Gambia, in An. gambiae.

Kenya

Luna Kamau is studying genomic diversity, insecticide resistance and gene flow of resistance genes in An. gambiae and An. arabiensis in Kenya. She is developing the strategic capacity for national malaria control programmes to interpret data.

South Africa & Zimbabwe

Givemore Munhenga is investigating genetic structure and the implications on vector control on An. gambiae, An. funestus, and focusing on An. arabiensis in three South African provinces in relation to genetic differences associated with indoor and outdoor feeding. Additional collections are being coordinated in Zimbabwe. The study is building capacity through training National Malaria Control Programmes in vector surveillance.

Uganda

Charles Ntege is establishing a mosquito observatory in Uganda; looking into population structure & insecticide resistance in An. funestus and genotypic and phenotypic diversity across 10 ecological zones.

Zambia

Mbanga Muleba is investigating the seasonality and impact of vector control interventions on population genetics of An. gambiae and An. funestus in low, medium and high transmission regions in Zambia.