Gene drives to fight malaria: current state and future directions

Hammond, Andrew M.; Galizi, Roberto

Abstract

Self-propagating gene drive technologies have a number of desirable characteristics that warrant their development for the control of insect pest and vector populations, such as the malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. Theoretically easy to deploy and self-sustaining, these tools may be used to generate cost-effective interventions that benefit society without obvious bias related to wealth, age or education. Their species-specific design offers the potential to reduce environmental risks and aim to be compatible and complementary with other control strategies, potentially expediting the elimination and eradication of malaria. A number of strategies have been proposed for gene-drive based control of the malaria mosquito and recent demonstrations have shown proof-of-principle in the laboratory. Though several technical, ethical and regulatory challenges remain, none appear insurmountable if research continues in a step-wise and open manner.

Citation

Hammond, A. M., & Galizi, R. (2018). Gene drives to fight malaria: current state and future directions. Pathogens and Global Health, 412 - 423. https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2018.1438880

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2018
• Publication Date: Feb 19, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2023
• Journal: Pathogens and Global Health
• Print ISSN: 2047-7724
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Pages: 412 - 423
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2018.1438880
• Keywords: Gene, Malaria, Directions
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20477724.2018.1438880