Researchers Unveil Detailed Genome of Invasive Malaria Mosquito
New ‘gold standard’ reference genome reveals thousands of new genes vital for targeting pathogen transmission and immunity
Adult female Anopheles stephensi mosquito.
Newswise Despite the broad notoriety of sharks, snakes, scorpions and other formidable creatures, mosquitoes remain the deadliest animal on the planet… by far. Mosquito-transmitted malaria remains the number one worldwide killer among vector-borne diseases, claiming more than 400,000 human lives in 2019.
In order to engineer advanced forms of defense against malaria transmission, including targeted CRISPR and gene drive-based strategies, scientists require intricate knowledge of the genomes of vector mosquitoes.
Mahul Chakraborty a project scientist at the University of California, Irvine, working with colleagues at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) at UC San Diego and India, and the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biote