Molecular basis of the escalation of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and its impact on malaria control

Malaria prevention relies extensively on mosquito control using insecticides. However, insecticide resistance in major transmitting-mosquitoes threatens malaria control in Africa. Worryingly, recent evidences show that resistance is getting worse leading to extensive loss of protection from most bed nets. It is of urgent importance to understand how mosquitoes become super-resistant to help prevent such resistance spreading Africa-wide. The possibility that super-resistance is caused by mosquitoes producing greater amount of enzymes able to breakdown insecticides faster and/or more efficiently will be investigated and DNA markers associated with this trait identified. Evidence that mosquitoes are hardening their body armor (cuticle) to reduce insecticide uptake will be investigated and tools designed to track such super-resistance. Furthermore, this project will establish the extent to which this super-resistance is reducing the efficacy of insecticide-treated nets and thereby contributing to the increase in malaria cases being reported in Africa.