Employing (Home) Organisation: Centre for Research in Infectious disease (CRID)
Project title: Building capacity to produce transgenic Drosophila to validate mosquitoes insecticide resistance candidate genes or alleles and transfer the technology to CRID-Cameroon for further work.
I am a postdoctoral research assistant at CRID. My research focusses on validating the role of mosquito candidate gene in insecticide resistance and developing diagnostic tools to track resistance in the field for implementation of sustainable mosquito vector control strategies in Africa. I have a strong understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry and computational biology. During my PhD, I gained skills in in-silico modelling and docking, RNA sequencing, proteins expression, RNA silencing, work with transgenic drosophila, mosquitoes rearing and insecticide bioassay.
Summary of Project Destination
Given the global burden and impact of malaria, and that insecticide resistance in mosquitoes is the biggest obstacle to eradication, understanding the mechanisms involved in resistance is essential. I want to become a leading researcher in vector control and contribute to understanding resistance mechanisms to develop innovative solutions to prevent/eradicate malaria. For this, I would like to be trained, to investigate the role of detoxification genes in mosquitoes’ insecticide resistance and design molecular markers to track resistance on the field. This AREF fellowship will provide me with an opportunity to develop solid skills in injecting embryos and creating transgenic fly lines at CRID helping me to save time and have a complete platform for fly facility in Cameroon.
Summary of Fellowship Plan
AREF fellowship will provide me an opportunity to develop solid skills to make transgenic drosophila in Cameroon, rather than sending samples overseas. I will travel to IBMM-FORTH lab in Greece to learn how to make transgenic flies/mosquitoes. and transfer technology to Cameroon. I plan to contribute to putting in place a high-standard functional genomic platform at CRID after my placement, where other African students/researchers can carry out their experiments. Other African scientists will benefit from this placement via seminars/ training.
Quote
“Training African scientists in functional genomics will help to decipher the mechanisms of resistance, improve vector control strategies, and strengthen the fight against malaria.”
Dr. KOUAMO MANGOUA Mersimine Flore expects to start her fellowship in July 2025