Assessing the biology and public health importance of anopheles stephensi in Africa (AnoSTEP AfriKa)

In the past decade, anopheles stephensi has been reported in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and more recently in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. The project, to be shortly named as, “AnoSTEP AfriKa”, aims to understand the contribution of An. stephensi to malaria transmission relative to native malaria vectors across a range of ecological zones spanning rural, peri-urban, and urban epidemiological settings in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, with the aim of pinpointing factors driving invasion.

Results will strengthen the evidence base on the significance and impact of this invasive vector on malaria transmission and burden, inform the targeted response strategies and guide R&D and vector suitability analytical innovations.  The project will assess the bionomics and relative contribution of An. stephensi to malaria transmission compared to native malaria vectors across different ecological and epidemiological zones in rural and urban settings.

Collaborations

The AnoSTEP Project funded by the Wellcome Trust will be led by Dr. Samson Kiware from Ifakara Health Institute (Tanzania) with the support from other IHI Scientists and project managers and Co-PIs (Dr. Eric Ochomo and Dr. Fitsum Girma). The project will be conducted in collaboration with four African institutes—Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (Nigeria), KEMRI (Kenya), Armauer Hansen Research Institute (Ethiopia), and Djibouti National Molecular Biology Laboratory (Djibouti) and National Malaria Control Countries in participating countries.  Additional support to implement the project will be provided by UK institutions, including the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (ANOSPP), University of Glasgow, and University of Lancaster.

The grant will be implemented over four years, from January 2025 to December 2028, with a total award of £5,006,634.41 to support program activities across all implementation sites and institutions.

Significance

As a leading research organization in Africa, IHI is at the forefront of addressing pressing health challenges in Africa and beyond. The AnoSTEP AfriKa Project exemplifies IHI’s commitment to advancing evidence-based interventions and fostering collaborations to combat diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

Although An. stephensi has not yet been reported in Tanzania, the knowledge and strategies developed through this project will equip the country to effectively prevent and manage a potential invasion of this vector.

The project represents a significant step forward in the fight against malaria in Africa. It underscores the importance of regional and global collaboration to address emerging threats and strengthens the evidence base for effective vector control strategies.