Genetic Approaches to Reduce Malaria Transmission by Mosquitoes

Two genetic approaches that target mosquitoes and their microbiota could help to reduce transmission of malaria in endemic regions. The studies that evaluated these approaches were published in Science. In the first approach, the scientists fed mosquitoes with a modified bacterium called Serratia AS1 in a sugar meal. In the second study, the mosquitoes were genetically modified to increase their immunity and make them more resistant to infection with the malarial parasite.