Effective vaccines are not available for many of the deadly tropical diseases caused by mosquitoes. Therefore, current disease prevention relies on controlling mosquito populations. Insecticides are also used to target mosquitoes. However, these control methods have limitations due to growing insecticide resistance or ecological/environmental constraints that limit its use and effectiveness. The limited success of conventional control strategies against malaria or dengue control/prevention has led scientists to search for new tools. One of these new tools is genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes. Due to recent success in gene drive technology in transforming mosquitoes in laboratory conditions, the potential use of gene drive in natural conditions created a new discussion not only in technological and regulatory realm, but also ethics and community engagement in order for such technologies to be tested and deployed in real world settings.
The goal of this Research Topic is to have a collection of research, policy, and perspective articles related to genetically modified mosquitoes and other novel genetic control strategies under development for vector-borne tropical disease control and prevention. We would like to include not only molecular and cell biology lab research but also efforts related to field trial preparation with respect to ecology, regulatory, and community engagement.
Any of the following topics, contingent on the discussion related to novel genetic control strategies for vector borne tropical disease control and prevention, would be considered as part of the proposed Research Topic:
1) Development of genetically modified insects for vector population control;
2) Ecological/environmental assessment of field vector/pathogen populations;
3) Development/challenges in Policy or regulatory work for facilitating the field trials;
4) Development/challenges in Community engagement work for facilitating the field trials.
Effective vaccines are not available for many of the deadly tropical diseases caused by mosquitoes. Therefore, current disease prevention relies on controlling mosquito populations. Insecticides are also used to target mosquitoes. However, these control methods have limitations due to growing insecticide resistance or ecological/environmental constraints that limit its use and effectiveness. The limited success of conventional control strategies against malaria or dengue control/prevention has led scientists to search for new tools. One of these new tools is genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes. Due to recent success in gene drive technology in transforming mosquitoes in laboratory conditions, the potential use of gene drive in natural conditions created a new discussion not only in technological and regulatory realm, but also ethics and community engagement in order for such technologies to be tested and deployed in real world settings.
The goal of this Research Topic is to have a collection of research, policy, and perspective articles related to genetically modified mosquitoes and other novel genetic control strategies under development for vector-borne tropical disease control and prevention. We would like to include not only molecular and cell biology lab research but also efforts related to field trial preparation with respect to ecology, regulatory, and community engagement.
Any of the following topics, contingent on the discussion related to novel genetic control strategies for vector borne tropical disease control and prevention, would be considered as part of the proposed Research Topic:
1) Development of genetically modified insects for vector population control;
2) Ecological/environmental assessment of field vector/pathogen populations;
3) Development/challenges in Policy or regulatory work for facilitating the field trials;
4) Development/challenges in Community engagement work for facilitating the field trials.