Infection of anopheline mosquitoes with Wolbachia: Implications for malaria control

Malaria eradication and vector control in AfricaAfrica carries a disproportionate share of the malaria burden.For example, more than 90% of the 446,000 malaria-related deaths reported in 2015 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa [1].Anopheles gambiae, A. coluzzii, A. arabiensis, and A. funestus are some of the most important African vectors of malaria [2,3].Other species, such as A. melas and A. merus are also efficient vectors but have a limited geographical distribution [3].Insecticide-based strategies, mainly the distribution of insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, are efficient against a wide range of mosquitoes and are the current cornerstones of malaria control programs.However, the growing number of reports of insecticide resistance is driving the development of novel vector control strategies [4]. Wolbachia in mosquito vectors and its effects on disease transmissionWolbachia also protects mosquitoes from viral infections.Native wPip infections in Culex quinquefasciastus increases host resistance to West Nile virus [11].Similarly, native Wolbachia limits dengue virus (DENV) infection in Aedes albopictus [12].However, the effect of