Anopheles mosquito Mosquitoes, the main vector of malaria in South America, have evolved in response to insecticides, making them harder to kill and potentially making malaria more difficult to control, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The study is scheduled to be published in the journal Science on March 26, 2026. This is the first study to sequence a large number (>1000) of complete genomes. Anopheles mosquito The Americas are home to many mosquitoes, and more than 600,000 cases of malaria occur each year, mostly in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Malaria remains strong in South America, and there is a risk that dangerous drug-resistant strains of the malaria parasite may evolve in the Americas and then spread to other regions. Our study plays an important role in revealing the evolutionary dynamics of the main vector of malaria and provides new insights into malaria. Anopheles mosquito Biology that could help improve ways to stop disease transmission. ”
Jacob Tennessen, Corresponding Author, Research Scientist, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Previous research on Anopheles mosquito Population genetics uses a set of genetic markers, but not the entire genome. For this study, researchers generated whole genome sequences for 1,094 adult women. Anopheles mosquito They surveyed mosquitoes in 16 locations including forests, wetlands, grasslands, farmlands, mining areas, and cities in six South American countries (French Guiana, Brazil, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia).
As a result of the research, Anopheles mosquito A new finding is that they are evolving to avoid pesticides. “Insecticide resistance has only been recorded sporadically. Anopheles mosquito“These countries have not been subject to the same intensive pesticide-heavy campaigns as other parts of the world,” Tennessen said, adding, “We did not expect to see resistance-related genes evolving to this extent in so many countries.” Resistance can be caused by agricultural insecticides, rather than insecticides specifically used for vector control. ”
Researchers also found that there is extensive genetic diversity among people. Anopheles mosquito For example, among mosquitoes in Guyana and Venezuela, we observed mosquitoes across the continent and observed that this species is poised to adapt to changing environments.
According to the researchers, this study is a milestone for vector biology in the Americas and provides a template for future studies of other studies. Anopheles mosquito species of the region. Although the study results contribute to a knowledge base that can inform malaria control efforts, “this was basic research, not applied research,” said lead author Daniel Kneafsey, associate professor of immunology and infectious diseases. “Additional research is required before any policy changes are implemented.”
Other authors include Raphael Brosula, Angela Early, Margaret Laws, and Katrina Kelley of Neafsey Lab, and Nicholas Arisco and Marcia Castro of Harvard Chan.
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Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health
Reference magazines:
Tennessen, J.A.; others. (2026). population genomics Anopheles mosquito the main malaria vector in South America. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.adw9761. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw9761
