Developing native strains of insect-killing Metarhizium spp. fungi to prevent malaria transmission in Burkina Faso

Malaria is a disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite transmitted to humans via mosquito bites. Malaria causes more than 450,000 deaths annually, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the lack of an effective vaccine, malaria prevention relies on mosquito control. Chemical control through insecticides has been the core strategy. However, the recent spread of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes is creating an urgent need for alternative tools. Fungi that are pathogenic to mosquitoes have recently gathered increased interest because of their potential to kill mosquitoes through direct contact with the insect. Indeed, we found that local strains of fungi from Burkina Faso have never-before-seen before high virulence against mosquitoes. This is highly promising for developing new biocontrol tools against malaria, but questions remain about its efficacy to control mosquitoes. Using a combination of laboratory and field experiments, I will address these questions to operationalize vector control tools based on fungi.