About this Research Topic
Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths in 85 malaria-endemic countries. Despite the ambitious goal set by the WHO to eliminate malaria in at least 30 countries by 2030, current projections indicate that key milestones will be missed by 89%. This alarming statistic underscores the urgency of addressing the contemporary threats to global malaria control. Recent advancements, such as the approval of two vaccines (RTS,S/AS01E and R21/Matrix-M) for children, mark significant progress. However, the growing issue of insecticide resistance threatens to undermine these gains. There is a pressing need for a novel, interdisciplinary toolkit to control malaria across all age groups and interrupt Anopheles transmission, highlighting the gaps in current strategies and the necessity for innovative solutions.
This Research Topic aims to address the major contemporary threats to global malaria control, as recognized by the WHO and key international stakeholders. The primary objectives include exploring new tools and strategies to combat insecticide resistance, understanding the challenges of residual malaria transmission, and developing novel pharmacological interventions. Specific questions to be answered include:
What are the novel molecular markers and mechanisms of insecticide resistance?
How can we effectively monitor and control outdoor biting mosquitoes?
What new or repurposed drug entities can target Plasmodium or the mosquito at various developmental stages?
By addressing these questions, the research aims to contribute to the global effort to eliminate malaria.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of this research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Vector insecticide resistance and new tools/insecticides to combat insecticide resistance:
- Novel molecular markers and mechanisms of insecticide resistance.
- Emerging resistance to ‘new’ vector control insecticides (including but not limited to PBO/pyrethroids, chlorfenapyr, pyriproxyfen, clothianidin).
- Phase I, II, and III evaluations of novel vector control tools.
- Predictive mathematical models of insecticide resistance.
- Residual malaria transmission:
- Challenges to meeting malaria elimination targets in the Asia-Pacific Region.
- Operational monitoring of vector control tools in areas of high intervention coverage.
- Monitoring and control of outdoor biting mosquitoes.
- Novel strategies of pharmacological intervention:
- Targets essential for the parasite or the mosquito.
- Tackling all developmental stages with either genetic tools or chemical compounds.
- Novel or repurposed drug entities against Plasmodium or the mosquito.
We invite original research, opinion/perspective pieces, and literature reviews (including systematic reviews) that present recent scientific developments and progress in combating malaria.
This Research Topic aims to address the major contemporary threats to global malaria control, as recognized by the WHO and key international stakeholders. The primary objectives include exploring new tools and strategies to combat insecticide resistance, understanding the challenges of residual malaria transmission, and developing novel pharmacological interventions. Specific questions to be answered include:
What are the novel molecular markers and mechanisms of insecticide resistance?
How can we effectively monitor and control outdoor biting mosquitoes?
What new or repurposed drug entities can target Plasmodium or the mosquito at various developmental stages?
By addressing these questions, the research aims to contribute to the global effort to eliminate malaria.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of this research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Vector insecticide resistance and new tools/insecticides to combat insecticide resistance:
- Novel molecular markers and mechanisms of insecticide resistance.
- Emerging resistance to ‘new’ vector control insecticides (including but not limited to PBO/pyrethroids, chlorfenapyr, pyriproxyfen, clothianidin).
- Phase I, II, and III evaluations of novel vector control tools.
- Predictive mathematical models of insecticide resistance.
- Residual malaria transmission:
- Challenges to meeting malaria elimination targets in the Asia-Pacific Region.
- Operational monitoring of vector control tools in areas of high intervention coverage.
- Monitoring and control of outdoor biting mosquitoes.
- Novel strategies of pharmacological intervention:
- Targets essential for the parasite or the mosquito.
- Tackling all developmental stages with either genetic tools or chemical compounds.
- Novel or repurposed drug entities against Plasmodium or the mosquito.
We invite original research, opinion/perspective pieces, and literature reviews (including systematic reviews) that present recent scientific developments and progress in combating malaria.
Keywords: malaria, vector control, anopheles, plasmodium, drug resistance, drug targets, insecticide resistance
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
