'Super Mosquito' Hybrid Resistant To Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets

The interbreeding of two malaria mosquito species in the West African country of Mali has resulted in a "super mosquito" that's now resistant to insecticide-treated bed nets.

"It's 'super' with respect to its ability to survive exposure to the insecticides on treated bed nets," said lead study author and medical entomologist Gregory Lanzaro of UC Davis, in a news release. "What we provide in this new paper is an example of one unusual mechanism that has promoted the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance in one of the major malaria mosquito species."

Anopheles gambiae, a major malaria vector, is interbreeding with isolated pockets of another malaria mosquito, A. coluzzii. Entomologists initially considered them as the "M and S forms" of Anopheles gambiae. They are now recognized as separate species.

This mosquito has begun interbreeding with isolated pockets of another malaria mosquito, A. coluzzuii. Entomologists initially considered them as "M and S forms" of Anopheles gambiae, which are now recognized as separated species.

Yet the insecticide resistance came as no surprise. "Growing resistance has been observed for some time," Lanzaro said. "Recently it has reached a level at some localities in Africa where it is resulting in the failure of the nets to provide meaningful control, and it is my opinion that this will increase."

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there have there has been a 47 percent decrease in Malaria deaths thanks to insecticide-treated bed nets as of 2000. However, it was just a matter of time before the insecticide resistance began to emerge.

Now, officials are working to develop more enhanced malaria vector control strategies, including mosquito-killing bacteria and fungi and genetic manipulation of the insects.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

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