Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41965360›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Sex distorter male drive for resistance-resilient population control of the human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

Silvia Grilli, Oksana Vertsimakha, Louise Marston, Irati Aramburu Gonzalez, Austin Burt, Andrea Crisanti, Federica Bernardini

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Insects · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Silvia GrilliDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Oksana VertsimakhaDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Louise MarstonDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8441-773X
Irati Aramburu GonzalezDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Austin BurtDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5146-9640
Andrea CrisantiDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2406-4426
Federica BernardiniDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK. f.bernardini11@imperial.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7526-0155

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) Target Malaria Phase II, INV006610Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation INV-006610
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Progress in malaria control has plateaued, prompting the exploration of additional tools. Here, we characterise two germline-specific promoters, spo11 and vasa1, in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. These promoters display distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns, making them well-suited for potential applications in CRISPR-based gene drives and sex ratio distortion systems. Leveraging these unique promoter features, we developed a Sex Distorter Male Drive (SDMD) technology that generates a highly male-biased progeny while spreading through super-Mendelian inheritance. This approach greatly simplifies previous genetic construct designs, potentially improving genetic stability and resilience against the development of target site resistance, a major challenge for the efficacy of genetic strategies. Our findings position SDMD as a promising and potentially resistance-resilient tool for the population suppression of Anopheles mosquitoes in malaria-endemic regions.

Indexed as

AnophelesGene Drive TechnologyMalariaMosquito ControlMosquito VectorsAnimalsEndodeoxyribonucleasesFemaleHumansInsect ProteinsMalePromoter Regions, GeneticSex RatioEndodeoxyribonucleasesInsect Proteins

Identifiers

PMID41965360
PMCPMC13246785

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.