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Characterizing malaria vector competence among natural populations of Anopheles

Award Number: R21AI156297
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/15/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2023

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Characterizing malaria vector competence among natural populations of Anopheles - PROJECT SUMMARY The burden of malaria remains high in many regions of Africa, despite widespread availability of malaria control measures. The recent report of increases in malaria infection rates in Africa highlights the need to ensure that current and future interventions target the key sources of malaria transmission in these settings. The susceptibility of an Anopheles mosquito to permit ingested Plasmodium gametocytes to develop fully to the transmissible sporozoite stage, or vector competence, remains poorly understood. In Malawi and many other regions in southern and eastern Africa, Anopheles funestus and Anopheles arabiensis are now the most common malaria vectors and may have important variability in vector competence that has not been considered in control and elimination efforts. Our long-term goal is to better understand the contributions of both humans and vectors to transmission of malaria parasites to design effective vector control strategies for the highest-burden regions of Africa. We have the unique opportunity to conduct a rigorous assessment of the vector competence of the key malaria vectors in Malawi through our on-going projects in the Malawi International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research (ICEMR). The proposed study is being led by an epidemiologist who serves as the project leader for a transmission study within the ICEMR that focuses on the human to vector phases of the cycle, and an entomologist who leads the ICEMR entomology core. We have established a well-functioning insectary and routinely collect live female Anopheles mosquitoes from several high transmission settings in the region. In addition, we are establishing a cohort of children and adults who will be followed to identify P. falciparum infections that contain gametocytes. We will use specimens collected from these gametocyte-infected donors to compare vector competence between colony-reared An. gambiae Kisumu and field-caught An. funestus and An. arabiensis to test the hypotheses that vector competence of natural An. funestus and An. arabiensis differs from each other and from the colony strain. We will further evaluate variation in vector competence among isofemale lines of the same Anopheles species to assess the heritability of vector competence. Finally, we propose comparing vector competence within the same species but from geographically isolated areas of Malawi. The expected outcomes of this proposal include estimates of vector competence for An. arabiensis and An. funestus. Identifying significant differences in vector competence among species, within species or based on region of origin, may indicate the need to investigate a genomic basis for vector competence. Our results will also impact the rational implementation of vector control measures in Malawi and other high transmission settings.


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: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE	220 ARCH ST OFC LEVEL2	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	7/18/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $181,266 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND	220 ARCH ST RM 02148	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	12/6/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$181,266
														Subtotal = $181,266

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $211,567 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND	220 ARCH ST RM 02148	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	12/14/2020	NEW	$211,567
														Subtotal = $211,567

Grand Total All Awards = $392,833

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Characterizing malaria vector competence among natural populations of Anopheles

Award Number: R21AI156297

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/15/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2023

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