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New interventions are needed to reduce the burden of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengué, which are among the most serious and prevalent infectious diseases worldwide. The release of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes may offer an alternative strategy to do so while circumventing the pitfalls of current vector control methods. Current methodologies are stalling because of drug resistance, absence of vaccines and inadequate mosquito control techniques. GM mosquitoes have been developed that are resistant to pathogen infection and transmission, but the public-health and environmental consequences of releasing such insects are unclear, mainly because of a lack of knowledge of the ecology and population biology of mosquitoes.
This book is the reflection of a workshop, held in June 2002, that addressed these issues. Experts on mosquito ecology met for the first time to discuss the current knowledge of mosquito ecology with respect to GM-insect technology. Emphasis of the workshop was on evaluating how human health and natural ecosystems, including target wild-mosquito populations, will respond to the invasion of GM vectors. This volume will stimulate discussion by clearly showing the importance of vector ecology for prevention of vector-borne diseases.
Sommario
Preface. 1. An introduction to ecological challenges concerning the use of genetically-modified mosquitoes for disease control; W. Takken, C. Boëte.
Genetic control of mosquito-borne diseases. 2. Transgenic mosquitoes: the state of the art; D.A. O'Brochta. 3. Lessons from the past: an overview of studies by the University of Maryland and the University of California, Berkeley; W.K. Reisen. 4. Genetic-control trials and the ecology of Aedes aegypti at the Kenya coast; L.P. Lounibos.
Mosquito ecology. 5. May the force be with you: measuring mosquito fitness in the field; J.D. Charlwood. 6. Fitness advantages in multiple blood-feeding: the Aedes aegypi example; J.D. Edman. 7. Factors affecting the vectorial competence of Anopheles gambiae: a question of scale; W. Takken, S.W. Lindsay. 8. Contained semi-field environments for ecological studies on transgenic African malaria vectors: benefits and constraints; B.G.J. Knols, B.N. Njiru, R.W. Mukabana, E.M. Mathenge, G.F. Killeen.
Population genetics. 9. Gene flow among populations of Anopheles gambiae: a critical review; G.C. Lanzaro, F. Tripet. 10. Effective population size in relation to genetic modification of Anapheles gambiae sensu stricto; C.E. Taylor, N.C. Manoukis.
Vectors, parasites and pathogen transmission. 11. Environmental constraints on the physiology of transgenic mosquitoes; P.F. Billingsley. 12. Evolution of parasite virulence to vectors; S.L. Elliot, M.W Sabelis, F.R. Adler. 13. On the evolutionary ecology of mosquito immunity and the use of transgenic mosquitoes for malaria control; J.C. Koella. 14. Aedes aegypti density and the risk of dengue-virus transmission; T.W. Scott, A. Morrison.
Consequences of GMM release. 15. Release ratios employed for genetically modifying populations of mosquitoes; A. Spielman. 16. Biosafety and risk assessment in the use of genetically modified mosquitoes for disease control; Y.T. Touré, A.M.J. Oduola, J. Sommerfeld, C.A. Morel. 17. Measuring public-health outcomes of release of transgenic mosquitoes; C.F. Curtis. 18. Discussion - Ecological challenges concerning the use of genetically mosquitoes for disease control: synthesis and future perspectives; B.G.J. Knols, T.W. Scott.
List of participants.
Riassunto
This book is the reflection of a workshop, held in June 2002. Experts on mosquito ecology met for the first time to discuss the current knowledge of mosquito ecology with respect to GM-insect technology. Emphasis of the workshop was on evaluating how human health and natural ecosystems, including target wild-mosquito populations, will respond to the invasion of GM vectors. This volume will stimulate discussion by clearly showing the importance of vector ecology for prevention of vector-borne diseases.
