FUNDING AGENCY: GRAND CHALLANGES CANADA
PROJECT TITLE: Toxicity of Curry Tree Phytochemical(s) to Anopheles Gambiae Malaria Vector
Names
1
Clarence Mang’era
2
Mireji Paul, PhD
3
Donald Otieno, PhD
Roles in Project
PI – Project manager
PI – Project manager
Co-PI - Identification and
Field sampling of Murray
Koenigii species
Area of expertise/Research
interests/
Institution/link
Molecular parasite biology
Kenyatta University, Kenya
http://www.ku.ac.ke/
Tropical Entomology
Plant Systematics and Ethnobotany
Technical University of Kenya
http://tukenya.ac.ke/
University of Eldoret, Kenya
Photo
Co-PI-bioassay-guide
Murray Koenigii
phytochemical analyses
Chemical Ecology and Bioprospecting
Kenyatta University, Kenya
http://www.ku.ac.ke/
Martin Rono, PhD
Co-PI- Micro-array
Cell and Molecular Biology
“Host-Pathogen interactions”
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust
Research Programme, Kilifi
www.kemri-wellcome.org
Charles Mbogo PhD
Investigator-Physiological
responses of An. gambiae
s.s to moquitocidal Murray
Koenigii extracts
Mosquito Ecology
KEMRI-CGMRC, Kilifi
www.kemri-wellcome.org
4 Ahmed Hassanali, PhD
5
6
PROJECT SUMMARY:
We propose an interdisciplinary approach to explore insecticidal potential of Murraya koenigii phytochemicals on Anopheles
malaria vector with the following specific objectives: 1) Determine molecular diversity of selected mosquitocidal M. koenigii species
from various regions of Kenya; 2) Determine bioactivity, and impact of M. koenigii phytochemical blends on biological fitness of An.
gambiae s.s.; 3) Identify constituents of phytochemical-blend in M. koenigii plant extracts with mosquitocidal or growth - disrupting
effects on An. gambiae s.s (larvae and adults); and 4) Determine molecular responses in the mosquito to the phytochemical blends.
The research will use a combination of field-based and laboratory investigations to address the objectives. Our innovative approach
will be to compare growth-disrupting effects of sub-lethal doses of M. koenigii phytochemical blend, (including the blend of
constituents that diffuses into aqueous system from powdered products) on the performance and mortality of An. gambiae over an
extended time-scale. In addition, we shall also study the efficacy of volatiles (steam distillates and thermally expelled) from the plant
in repelling African malaria vectors and protecting households and their occupants. The innovative knowledge generated under this
trans-disciplinary project will 1) comprehensively document mosquito-control potential of M. koenigii phytochemicals, and 2) define
related physiological and molecular factors that can facilitate further research and development of novel mosquito control
phytochemical blends against the vector. In addition, deployment of the active phytochemical blend for mosquito larval control shall
be incorporated with current approaches such as Long-lasting insecticidal nets and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) to explore an
integrated approach to managing the malaria vector.
The project is financed through a grant from the Grand Challenges Canada.