KEMRI Sounds Alarm as Mosquito Evolves to Outsmart Bed Nets

Kenyans are staring at an increased risk of malaria infections after new research revealed that a major mosquito species has evolved to resist insecticides and bite during the day, undermining traditional prevention methods such as bed nets.

The findings, published September 18 in the Science journal, focus on the Anopheles funestus mosquito, one of Africa’s most prolific malaria vectors, which has undergone genetic and behavioral adaptations.

Unlike its traditional night-biting patterns, the species now feeds outdoors and during daylight, making it harder to contain.

Scientists from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) contributed to the study alongside researchers from 13 African countries and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

The project sequenced more than 650 mosquito genomes collected across the continent, including historic specimens dating back to the 1920s, to trace evolutionary changes.

“For too long An. funestus has been neglected despite its key role in malaria transmission across Africa,” said Professor Charles Wondji of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases in Cameroon.

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“My team is proud to have contributed to this major milestone that will facilitate the implementation of future control interventions against this major vector.”

How Mosquitoes Have Evolved

The study revealed that insecticide resistance has been evolving for decades.

Mutations conferring resistance were already present in mosquitoes from the 1960s, though newer adaptations emerged later in response to modern chemicals.

Researchers also found that some mosquito populations across Africa mix widely, while others remain genetically isolated, a complexity that poses challenges for public health.

“We find some mosquito populations readily sharing variation across the African continent, while others are close neighbors but genetically distinct,” said Dr. Mara Lawniczak, senior author of the study and group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

“Even if the Gambiae Complex disappeared today, malaria would still rage through Africa until An. funestus is also effectively targeted.”

Why is This Important for Kenyans

The findings showed the urgency of diversifying malaria control strategies.

Beyond insecticide-treated nets and spraying, scientists are exploring gene-editing technologies such as gene drives.

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The study found that a genetic target used in An. Gambiae could also be effective in An. Funestus, raising hopes for future breakthroughs.

The research also showed the importance of museum collections in understanding long-term changes in disease vectors.

“When asked why we still develop collections, these sorts of studies remind us that we often just don’t know what we can ask from our specimens,” said Erica McAlister, senior curator at the Natural History Museum in London.

In 2023, KEMRI confirmed the presence of Anopheles stephensi, a mosquito that thrives in both urban and rural areas.

The latest discoveries now add to concerns that conventional tools may no longer be enough to protect vulnerable populations.

With malaria still killing more than half a million people annually in Africa, health experts warn that without new interventions, progress made in recent decades could be reversed.

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