30Jan 25
World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, observed on January 30, presents an opportunity to draw attention to the burden of NTDs and the efforts required to eliminate these diseases. This year’s theme: Unite. Act. Eliminate. urges leaders and communities to “unite, act and eliminate NTDs by making bold, sustainable investments to free the estimated 1.5 billion people, in the world’s most vulnerable communities, from a vicious cycle of disease and poverty”.
NTDs are not merely a public health challenge, they are also a stark indicator of social inequities, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations with limited access to healthcare, sanitation, and education. Among NTDs, vector-borne diseases pose a unique challenge, due to their complex epidemiology and the difficulties involved in controlling insect vectors.
Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Dengue, a neglected tropical disease transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, has emerged as a significant global health concern in recent years. In 2024, dengue transmission reached unprecedented levels, with over 10 million cases reported worldwide.
Research surrounding the use of gene drive technology as a tool to control mosquitoes that are vectors of disease has produced promising results. However, research on gene drive technology in the Aedes aegypti mosquito – which is also known for transmitting viruses such as Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya – remains limited, with only a few studies exploring its potential and challenges. In a recent study, we evaluated two gene drive constructs and investigated their efficiency in spreading specific genetic traits through Aedes aegypti mosquito populations.
Jackson Champer, Xiaozhen Yang and Xuejiao Xu with the Champer Lab’s team at Peking University. Photograph: Champer Lab
Our study demonstrated the ability of one of these drives to achieve super-Mendelian inheritance, exhibiting the potential of spreading desired genetic traits in populations of these mosquitoes. The study thoroughly assessed gene drive and gene editing efficiency, as well as resistance allele formation, providing valuable data for further improving the gene drive performance. Improving drive efficiency and addressing potential resistance formation will be key to creating successful gene drives that can spread effectively and safely through a population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Overall, the study highlights the potential of gene drive technology as a tool to control Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, as well as the importance of continued research and innovation to further refine the technology and explore strategies to make it more efficient.
As highlighted by this year’s call to action, achieving the targets of the WHO 2030 NTD road map will require accelerating the research and development of new and improved tools to fight neglected tropical diseases, such as dengue. At the Champer Lab, we hope to continue working to refine and test different gene drive strategies with the ultimate goal of contributing to a future where the transmission of vector-borne diseases is lowered, improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations worldwide.
