The annual meeting took place in the capital of Addis Abeba,Ethiopia, and was a significant opportunity to engage in dialogue with our African partners regarding measures to be implemented concerning surveillance and management in the context of emerging threats from disease vectors.
From September 17th to 21st, our researchers Rocco D’Amato, Florian Noulin e Chrysanthi (Chryssa) Taxiarchi participated in the 9th Congress of the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA), held in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
Several presentations were given, primarily focusing on three main areas:
- The need to improve genomic surveillance to track mosquito populations, monitor insecticide resistance, and develop targeted interventions.
- Gene drive and requirements for conducting field experiments as proof of concept to further develop this technology, as well as assisting regulators in making informed decisions.
- Gender inclusivity in the response to malaria and vector-borne diseases, particularly for African women.
During the Congress, Dr. Rocco D’Amato delivered a presentation on the activities carried out at the Polo GGB in Terni, specifically on population genetics experiments conducted in large cages (semi-field) to study transgenic mosquitoes (gene drive and/or anti-drive).
These experiments aim to bridge the gap between laboratory research and fieldwork, providing crucial information to decision-makers and authorities for large-scale studies, including potential field releases. Dr. Chrysanthi Taxiarchi presented the results of collaborative work on anti-drive, a genetic technology capable of limiting the activity of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives in Anopheles mosquitoes.
The ability to inhibit gene drives or reverse their impact on mosquito populations is of great scientific and regulatory interest. In this regard, Polo GGB is currently conducting research funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation titled “Anti-CRISPR and novel strategies for gene drive remediation.
