Introduction

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

Objectives & Coordination

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa, where it has been found to be resistant to many commonly used  insecticides. Unlike other malaria vectors, An. stephensi favours urban and man-made environments, making this a unique vector of great public health significance.

This project was established to better understand the invasive malaria vector, generating whole-genome sequence data which can be used to survey genetic diversity, population structure and evolution, and to establish a foundation for ongoing genomic surveillance of An. stephensi populations.

Status

As part of a collaborative research project, researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have generated whole genome sequence data for An. stephensi individuals across ten countries. 

Locations

Samples were collected from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Iran and India 

Sampling locations

Afghanistan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Kenya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen.

Data

Analysis-ready whole genome sequence data of An. stephensi, sampled and sequenced by the project partners is now available on the Malaria Vector Genome Observatory. 

The inclusion of An. stephensi in the Malaria Vector Genome Observatory is a significant expansion of global malaria genomic data-sharing efforts fostered through MalariaGEN. As genomic data resources continue to grow, integrating diverse mosquito species into the Vector Observatory will be crucial for building a comprehensive understanding of malaria transmission dynamics.

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

Current

Mosquito 20 Apr 2026 As1.0 SNP data release

This data release includes whole genome sequences from 639 mosquitos collected from different sites across Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kenya and India. 

Partner studies

Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Afghanistan (1367-VO-AF-DONNELLY) 

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Yemen (1366-VO-YE-ALLAN)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Djibouti (1365-VO-DJ-ABDI)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Djibouti (1385-VO-DJ-WEETMAN)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.   These specimens were reared in a colony seeded from samples collected in Djibouti and…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Ethiopia (1363-VO-ET-GADISA)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Ethiopia (1458-VO-ET-YEWHALAW)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.   These specimens were collected by researchers in Ethiopia and genotyped by researchers from Liverpool…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Iran (1370-VO-IR-ENAYATI)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Kenya (1386-VO-KE-OCHOMO)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.   These specimens were collected by researchers in Kenya and genotyped by researchers from Liverpool…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Pakistan (1368-VO-PK-DONNELLY) 

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Saudi Arabia (1369-VO-SA-AL-NAZAWI)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Sudan (1364-VO-SD-KAFY) 

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.  These specimens were collected by researchers in…

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Partner study Anopheles stephensi vector surveillance in Sudan (1459-VO-SD-AHMED)

Anopheles stephensi is a human malaria vector species originating in South East Asia and parts of the Arabian peninsula but is now increasingly detected in Africa.   These specimens were collected by researchers in Sudan and genotyped by researchers from Liverpool…

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