MosqGuide: A project to develop best practice guidance for the deployment of innovative genetic vector control strategies for malaria and dengue
John Mumford1*, M. Megan Quinlan1, Camilla Beech2, Luke Alphey2, Vicente Bayard3, Margareth L Capurro4, Pattamaporn Kittayapong5, Jonathan D. Knight1, Mauro T. Marrelli6, Kenneth Ombongi7, Janine M. Ramsey8, Rachel Reuben9
1Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, United Kingdom;
2Oxitec Ltd., 71 Milton Park, Oxford, OX14 4RX United Kingdom;
3Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, 0816-02593 Panama City, Panama;
4Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374, Butanta, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil;
5Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University at Salaya, Phutthamonthon 4 Road, Nakhonpathom, 73170 Thailand;
6Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av.Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira Cesar, 01246-904 São Paulo, Brazil;
7Department of History, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya;
8Centro Regional de Investigaciòn en Salud Pùblica (antes Centro de Investigaciones de Paludismo)/CISEI 30700 19 Calle Poniente s/n, entre 4ta y 6ta Av. Norte, Tapachula, Mexico;
9 Center for Research in Medical Entomology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Madurai, India.
*Author for Correspondence.
Centre for Environmental Policy,
Imperial College London,
Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, United Kingdom;
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract.
The World Health Organisation Special Programme in Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR) has funded a project, designated MosqGuide, to develop guidance on the potential deployment of different types of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes to control vector borne diseases, specifically malaria and dengue. This guidance is intended to support disease endemic countries (DECs) and other stakeholders in considering the safety and legal/regulatory aspects, as well as ethical, cultural and social issues, of such deployment. Commissioned in 2008 as a three year project, MosqGuide will result in a series of best practice documents developed by the project’s international team of experts in regulation, vector control and management, arthropod molecular biology, social sciences and environmental risk assessment. Using fundamental principles of risk/benefit as a foundation, the MosqGuide project will prepare guidance as a series of modules aimed at different user groups, including researchers, regulators, public health officials, funding bodies and interested public. Each module will be tested with target audiences, primarily regulators and decision makers in the DECs, and will also feed into other WHO initiatives, such as the Regional Biosafety Training Centres for GM Vectors. The guidance will also include a module that demonstrates a prototype issues/response model to assist DECs in making an informed choice about whether and under what conditions to deploy specific genetic control methods for the control of mosquito vectors for malaria and dengue.
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