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Tracking the spread of a South Asian malaria vector in the Horn of Africa: A genetic approach

Award Number: R15AI151766
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Tracking the spread of a South Asian malaria vector in the Horn of Africa: A genetic approach - ABSTRACT Malaria is a major global health concern. Controlling malaria transmission requires vector-based interventions that consider local mosquito vector species composition. One growing concern for malaria control programs is the movement of malaria vectors into new areas. Anopheles stephensi is a major vector of malaria in South Asia and the Middle East. Our recent report of An. stephensi being found for the first time in Ethiopia has raised concerns about the impact of this mosquito on the transmission of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, and the emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria strains in Ethiopia and the rest of the African continent as is happening in Southeast Asia. More information is needed about the factors that are leading to the An. stephensi range expansion in Ethiopia, particularly the impact of movement of pastoralist groups and their livestock. Also, the impact of the new vector on local Plasmodium strains remains unknown. Genetic and genomic analysis of wild-caught mosquito specimens can provide crucial insights into the evolutionary history and ecology of vector species. The goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the history and spread of the An. stephensi population in Ethiopia, characterize the intersection of vector feeding preferences and human-mediated vector movement, and outline the potential impact on transmission of local malaria parasites using genetic and genomic analysis. The project will be supported by my partnership with (U.S.) President’s Malaria Initiative, which is actively conducting field surveillance and will provide mosquito specimens collected from 20 sites with which to conduct the proposed investigation. The PI and undergraduate students will apply whole genome and targeted sequencing to the An. stephensi collected from twenty sites in Ethiopia to 1) determine the origin and nature of An. stephensi emergence and spread in Ethiopia, 2) evaluate the relationship between mosquito migration and zoophilic feeding preferences that are shaping the spread of Anopheles stephensi in Ethiopia, and 3) apply a novel genetic approach to evaluate the potential of Ethiopian An. stephensi to spread Plasmodium. The results will inform decisions about the type of interventions to implement and where such interventions should be target to reduce the potential public health threat that the presence of An. stephensi poses.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$7,199 )
2025	2020	BAYLOR UNIVERSITY	700 S UNIVERSITY PARKS DR	WACO	TX	76706	MCLENNAN	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	12/19/2024	NEW	-$7,199
														Subtotal = -$7,199

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2020	BAYLOR UNIVERSITY	700 S UNIVERSITY PARKS DR	WACO	TX	76706	MCLENNAN	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	8/31/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2020	BAYLOR UNIVERSITY	700 S UNIVERSITY PARKS DR	WACO	TX	76706	MCLENNAN	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	3/1/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $420,000 )
2020	2020	BAYLOR UNIVERSITY	700 S UNIVERSITY PARKS DR	WACO	TX	76706	MCLENNAN	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	9/2/2020	NEW	$420,000
														Subtotal = $420,000

Grand Total All Awards = $412,801

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Tracking the spread of a South Asian malaria vector in the Horn of Africa: A genetic approach

Award Number: R15AI151766

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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