# Research Project 2:  Vector bionomics, vector competence, and insecticide resistance across distinct ecological zones

> **NIH NIH U19** · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $164,752

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract – Burkina Faso ICEMR Project 2
Malaria control has been stagnating in Burkina Faso for years, including in vector control efforts. Insecticide
resistance is widespread and modest, or inapparent malaria vector control has been achieve even from the
deployment of next generation IRS and ITNs. To begin to reverse these trends, a reassessment of malaria
vector bionomics and parasite transmission by mosquitoes in Burkina Faso is necessary, and the key goal of
this Research Project 2 of the Burkina Faso ICEMR. Central to the issues is the diversity in ecozones within
the country that vary in climate and vector diversity, from the northernmost Sahelian ecozone with a short but
intense 2-3 month transmission season driven mostly by Anopheles coluzzii, to the southern Sudanian
ecozone with a long rainy season lasting 5-6 months, extremely high human biting rates and sporozoite rates
in vectors, persistent low levels of transmission during the dry season, and numerous vector species including
An. gambiae s.s., An. coluzzi , An. funestus, An. nili, in rural regions and An. arabiensis in urban areas such as
the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. This diverse set of highly competent and seasonally abundant vector species tend
to occupy specific niches across ecological zones and vary in abundance across landscapes (rural village,
towns and cities, migrant/artisanal gold mining camps) and seasons with different larval water sources. The
variable spatiotemporal clustering of vectors, each vector species’ insecticide resistance status and their
diverse and adaptable blood feeding habits and behaviors (e.g. endophily vs. exophily and endophagy vs.
exophagy) have resulted in their resistance to indoor-applied vector control measures. New evidence from our
RIMDAMAL II trial showing that An. gambiae s.l. preferentially transmits Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)
sporozoites and An. funestus preferentially transmits P. ovale (Po) sporozoites likely increases the
spatiotemporal heterogeneity and duration of human infections as does ours and others’ data showing
antimalarials and sub-lethal insecticide exposure (including ivermectin) can influence sporogony outcomes.
Our objectives in this project are to assess the natural vector bionomics and parasite transmission across
spatio-temporal gradients in Burkina Faso in Aim 1, and to perform laboratory experiments of parasite
transmission to validate our field findings in Aim 2, which will use natural parasite infections and mosquitoes
with wild-type genetics, and also expose the infected mosquitoes to sub-lethal insecticide concentrations or
drugs that the vectors are likely to encounter during the extrinsic incubation period in the field.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10837566
- **Project number:** 1U19AI181595-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Roch Kounbobr Dabire
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $164,752
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-26 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10837566

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10837566, Research Project 2:  Vector bionomics, vector competence, and insecticide resistance across distinct ecological zones (1U19AI181595-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10837566. Licensed CC0.

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