Mosquito bacteria designed to block malaria spread
Official title: Toward field-ready paratransgenesis for malaria: bacterial strain optimization and microbiota interactions
Funded at Duquesne University · NIH-11323096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are modifying harmless bacteria inside mosquitoes so the bugs can't pass malaria to people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duquesne University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 18, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $569,909 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI184909-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in malaria-endemic regions, especially communities exposed to Anopheles mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa, are the likely beneficiaries of this work.
✕Less likely to help
People who already have malaria will not get direct treatment from this prevention-focused research.
What this research studies
This project engineers a naturally occurring mosquito bacterium (Asaia) to produce proteins that stop malaria parasites from developing in mosquitoes. The team will remove antibiotic-resistance genes and design the strains to resist transfer to other species while testing how the engineered bacteria interact with the mosquito microbiome. Lab experiments will measure how much anti-malaria protein the bacteria secrete and whether that lowers parasite levels in mosquitoes. The long-term aim is to develop strains that are safe and effective enough for future use in malaria-affected communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower malaria transmission in communities and reduce the number of new infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies of paratransgenesis have shown promise in blocking pathogens within mosquitoes, but field-ready versions are largely novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lampe, David J — Duquesne University
- Study coordinator: Lampe, David J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.