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2nd open day in Medical Entomology: His Excellency Dennis B. Hankins took part in the opening ceremony

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FMOS) hosted Thursday, December 19, 2019, the second edition of the open day in Medical Entomology.

Organized by the Malaria Research and Training Center Entomologie-MRTC-E, this day aims to popularize the work carried out in the field of Medical Entomology, by the research teams of USTTB in collaboration with their national and international partners. The opening ceremony of this day chaired by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Mahamadou FAMANTA, took place in the presence of the Director of the Center, Prof. Sékou Fantamady TRAORE, the Rector of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Prof. Ouaténi DIALLO, the Ambassador of the United States to Mali, Mr. Dennis B. Hankins, and researchers, etc.

The Malaria Research and Training Center, created in 1992, (MRTC: English acronym) is one of the largest research centers in Africa with excellence in the field of epidemiology and vector biology and parasites of malaria and other vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis, filariasis, arboviruses and tick-borne diseases. It trains national and international scientists in the field of medical entomology and epidemiology of vector-borne diseases.

Entomology, a branch of zoology that studies insects.

At FMOS, there is a special laboratory for Immunogenetics and Parasitology of Malaria. “We are trying to understand how immune responses develop with age and gradually reduce parasite density and the incident of Malaria, how human genetic polymorphisms reduce the incidence of malaria in many cases without reducing parasite density”, explains the Head of Unit, Prof. Mahamadou DIAKITE.

There is also the leishmaniasis laboratory directed by Prof. Seydou DOUMBIA. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the bite of the sandfly insect. Smaller than the mosquito, it can pass through the mosquito nets. The disease is very common but little known. The frequency rate of the disease in the Kayes region is 70%. According to Prof. DOUMBIA, the lines of research on leishmaniasis include the investigation of infection in humans as well as in vector insects (flies).

In addition, the genomics and proteomics laboratory directed by Dr. Mamadou B. Coulibaly has two different but related lines of research. The first aims to establish the gene expression profile associated with blood sampling and plasmodium falciparum infection in the malaria vector using microchip technologies. The second line of research is on the genetic engineering of malaria vector mosquitoes for the control of malaria transmission.

In 2010, Mali recorded 239 million cases of malaria

The project, based on the MRTC-E genetic vector control approach, aims to use mosquitoes (genetically modified) against mosquitoes in order to fight against malaria. In 2010 Mali recorded 239 million cases of malaria, these figures saw a slight reduction in 2018 (214 million) and the last report offers 219 million cases in 2018, we learned from researchers from the USTTB . Nowadays, genetically modified mosquitoes are available in the laboratories of the USTTB, with the agreement of the authorities. Note that the project is still in the study phase.

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Ibrahima DIA

Communication Officer of the University Clinical Research Center (UCRC). idia@icermali.org/diaou270@yahoo.fr

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