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Science 10 June 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5728, pp. 1638 - 1641
DOI: 10.1126/science.1108423
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Reports

Fungal Pathogen Reduces Potential for Malaria Transmission

Simon Blanford,1 Brian H. K. Chan,1 Nina Jenkins,2 Derek Sim,1 Ruth J. Turner,1 Andrew F. Read,1 Matt B. Thomas3*

Using a rodent malaria model, we found that exposure to surfaces treated with fungal entomopathogens following an infectious blood meal reduced the number of mosquitoes able to transmit malaria by a factor of about 80. Fungal infection, achieved through contact with both solid surfaces and netting for durations well within the typical post-feed resting periods, was sufficient to cause >90% mortality. Daily mortality rates escalated dramatically around the time of sporozoite maturation, and infected mosquitoes showed reduced propensity to blood feed. Residual sprays of fungal biopesticides might replace or supplement chemical insecticides for malaria control, particularly in areas of high insecticide resistance.

1 Institutes of Evolution, Immunology, and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT Scotland, UK.
2 CABI Bioscience at Department of Agricultural Sciences, Imperial College London, Wye Campus, Wye, Kent, TN25 5AH, UK.
3 Division of Biology and NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Wye Campus, Wye, Kent, TN25 5AH, UK.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: m.thomas{at}imperial.ac.uk

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)