Mosquito immunity: uncovering how malaria-carrying mosquitoes defend themselves
Official title: Larval immunity in mosquitoes
Funded at Kansas State University · NIH-11440915 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying the immune system of the malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles gambiae to understand how its body fights infections and how that might affect disease transmission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhattan, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $238,247 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI202136-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440915 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients; involves mosquito biology.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation; the study does not involve people.
What this research studies
This project looks at the proteins and enzymes that control a key mosquito immune process called melanization, which can influence how long mosquitoes live and how often they bite. By mapping how protease cascades activate phenoloxidase, researchers aim to reveal how mosquitoes respond to bacteria, fungi, and malaria parasites. The findings could inform strategies to modify mosquito biology and reduce malaria transmission. The work will be done using mosquito samples and molecular techniques over a two-year period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to new ways to reduce malaria transmission by altering mosquito immunity and biology.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows that manipulating mosquito immune pathways can affect vector capacity, but this project focuses on a specific proteolytic network in An. gambiae.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas State University
Manhattan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Michel, Kristin — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Michel, Kristin
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.