Introduction

Using whole-genome sequencing for enhanced monitoring and surveillance of the major African malaria vector Anopheles funestus.

Objectives & Coordination

Anopheles funestus is the second most important human malaria vector species, transmitting Plasmodium parasites in sub-Saharan Africa. This project aims to use whole-genome sequencing to survey genetic diversity, population structure and evolution of An. funestus, and to establish a foundation for ongoing genomic surveillance of An. funestus populations.

Status

Sequencing of mosquitoes from phase 1 of the project is now complete, and has generated whole genome sequence data for more than 800 An. funestus individuals from 15 countries, forming the basis for the first continent-wide An. funestus population genomic analysis. Through 2022, we will be exploring genetic variation and population structure on these phase 1 data. Please reach out to us if you would like to be involved in analysing these data and/or if you would like to participate in future sequencing studies on this important species.

New Partners

The project is currently open to new partnerships. If you are a vector biologist studying or monitoring An. funestus mosquitoes and are interested in partnering with the project, please email the project contact, or see the information about Applying for a Partner Study.

Sampling locations

Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Data

We routinely release analysis-ready genomic data to project partners. In addition, we periodically release public access datasets. These data are made available via our cloud data repository, and are accompanied by analytical software to simplify data access.

In order to ensure regularly and timely data are available, data from this project will be made available as a series of data releases. Each data release will be given a version identifier (e.g., “Af1.1”) and will be associated with a date of public release.

To find out more about currently available data please visit the Vector Data User Guide.

 

Current

Partner studies

We work with a number of researchers undertaking independent studies to address unique questions about malaria biology and disease in malaria endemic areas. Each study is different, but they all involve a genomic component whereby they partner with us to sequence parasite samples and share the population genetic data. Click a link below to learn more about their work.

Publications

• Discovery of knock-down resistance in the major African malaria vector Anopheles funestus
  Odero et al.
  bioRxiv, 2024;
  10.1111/mec.17542