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Anopheles stephensi
- It is a major malaria vector mosquito in urban areas of South Asia and has recently invaded the horn of Africa.
- It is predicted to become a major urban malaria vector in Africa, putting 126 million urban Africans at risk.
About the discovery
- Under the newly upgraded Anopheles stephensi genome, more than 3,000 genes have been unearthed.
- The discoveries also include 29 formerly undetected genes that play crucial roles in resistance to chemical insecticides.
- The newly discovered genes are found to play key roles in the metabolism of ingested blood meal, reproduction and immunity against microbial parasites.
- The new genome assembly is a comprehensive and accurate map of genomic functional elements.
Relevance
- It is vital for the development of genetic control strategies of disease transmission.
- It would help malaria biologists in India and the rest of the world, towards the goal of malaria elimination in India by 2030.
- The newly discovered genes can also help address the issue of growing insecticide-resistant mutations.
About Malaria
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- It is preventable and curable but sometimes results in a fatality.
- Symptoms: Fever and flu-like illness, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Sometimes Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea may also occur.
- Prevention and Cure
- Vector control is the main way to prevent and reduce malaria transmission.
- Antimalarial medicines are used to prevent malaria e.g. Chemoprophylaxis, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
India’s Effort to Combat Malaria
- Malaria Elimination Efforts were initiated in 2015 and were later brought under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) in 2016.
- Â Nodal Agency: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination for 2017-22 was launched in July 2017 which laid down strategies for the control of the disease.
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In News
Recently, scientists have unveiled the detailed genome of the Asian malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi.
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Anopheles stephensi
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About the discovery
- Under the newly upgraded Anopheles stephensi genome, more than 3,000 genes have been unearthed.
- The discoveries also include 29 formerly undetected genes that play crucial roles in resistance to chemical insecticides.
- The newly discovered genes are found to play key roles in the metabolism of ingested blood meal, reproduction and immunity against microbial parasites.
- The new genome assembly is a comprehensive and accurate map of genomic functional elements.
Relevance
- It is vital for the development of genetic control strategies of disease transmission.
- It would help malaria biologists in India and the rest of the world, towards the goal of malaria elimination in India by 2030.
- The newly discovered genes can also help address the issue of growing insecticide-resistant mutations.
About Malaria
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- It is preventable and curable but sometimes results in a fatality.
- Symptoms: Fever and flu-like illness, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Sometimes Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea may also occur.
- Prevention and Cure
- Vector control is the main way to prevent and reduce malaria transmission.
- Antimalarial medicines are used to prevent malaria e.g. Chemoprophylaxis, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
India’s Effort to Combat Malaria
- Malaria Elimination Efforts were initiated in 2015 and were later brought under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) in 2016.
- Â Nodal Agency: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination for 2017-22 was launched in July 2017 which laid down strategies for the control of the disease.
