Gene Drive Technology for Anopheles Mosquito Population Control: Ecological Safety and Malaria Elimination Potential
Masika Anna Mahinda
Department of Pharmacy Kampala International University Uganda
Email: mahindamasika@studwc.kiu.ac.ug
ABSTRACT
Malaria remained a devastating parasitic disease, with Anopheles mosquitoes serving as obligate vectors for Plasmodium transmission, accounting for approximately 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths globally in 2022. Traditional vector control strategies faced increasing challenges from insecticide resistance and operational limitations, necessitating innovative genetic approaches. Gene drive systems represented a revolutionary molecular technology capable of biasing inheritance patterns to spread desired traits through wild mosquito populations at super-Mendelian frequencies. This narrative review critically synthesized current evidence on gene drive mechanisms, ecological safety considerations, and malaria elimination potential in Anopheles species. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases (2015–2025) using keywords related to gene drive, CRISPR-Cas9, Anopheles, malaria control, and ecological risk assessment. Current evidence demonstrates that CRISPR-based gene drives can achieve population suppression through female sterility mechanisms or population modification through anti-Plasmodium effector genes, with laboratory trials showing transmission rates exceeding 90% within 10–20 generations. However, significant challenges persisted regarding drive resistance evolution, off-target ecological effects, containment strategies, and regulatory frameworks for environmental release. Gene drive technology held transformative potential for malaria elimination but required rigorous field validation, comprehensive ecological monitoring, and transparent community engagement before operational deployment.
Keywords: Gene drive technology, Anopheles mosquitoes, CRISPR-Cas9, Malaria vector control, Ecological biosafety.
CITE AS: Masika Anna Mahinda (2026). Gene Drive Technology for Anopheles Mosquito Population Control: Ecological Safety and Malaria Elimination Potential. IAA Journal of Biological Sciences 14(1):22-28. https://doi.org/10.59298/IAAJB/2026/142228