Diverse outdoor-biting malaria vectors and drug-resistant parasites complicate malaria transmission and control in Southeast Asia | New Voices in Infection Biology

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Talk abstract:

With the emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites in Southeast Asia, understanding the role of diverse vector species and populations in the complex malaria transmission dynamics in this region is crucial to reduce and eliminate malaria. In a series of infection experiments, we showed that these parasites can infect diverse anophelines. In Cambodia, longitudinal field studies confirmed that there are multiple sympatric malaria vectors where these parasites are circulating that bite outdoors and are abundant throughout the year.

To further understand these vectors, we performed a whole-genome taxonomic survey of 30 Anopheles species from these field collections and are now performing deeper population genomic analyses of several of these vector species, including An. minimus, from multiple field sites in Cambodia over several years. These data will help us to better understand outdoor malaria transmission in Southeast Asia towards improved malaria control.