Identification of molecular markers of susceptibility to infection by human Plasmodium species in the main neotropical malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi

Malaria is a febrile disease arising from infection by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, whose transmission is transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes, and in Brazil the vector of greatest epidemiological importance is Nyssorhynchus darlingi, previously taxonomically known as Anopheles darlingi. On a national level, the municipality of Barcelos (AM) was, in 2022, the second largest location with malaria records in Brazilian territory, with a total of 6,636 infected people, of which 77.16% corresponded to P. vivax infections, while P. falciparum infections accounted for 22.84% of the total. The identification of successfully infected mosquitoes for the transmission and maintenance of the disease is a tool that can assist in the study of genetic contributions to the susceptibility of the infection, making it possible to present evidence that helps guide vector surveillance and epidemiological control strategies. Furthermore, the relevance of molecular studies on the genetics of populations of malaria vectors is evident, and the importance of understanding their behavior and detecting molecular markers related to susceptibility to infection by human Plasmodium species, in order to accurately identify the characteristics genetics of populations in endemic areas, allowing the targeting of successful interventions to control the disease. To identify infected insects, a triplex assay to detect human species of Plasmodium will be carried out, and the identification of molecular markers will be performed through genotyping analysis by sequencing and genome-wide association study (GWAS).

Project details

Basic Science

Jul 2024 — Sep 2025

Brazil