And now, Target
Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium which has no operations in Kenya, has launched an educational
video game titled “Target Malaria: The Game”.
Available for free, the game invites players to step into
the role of a lab technician specialising in the genetic modification of
mosquitoes.
This interactive tool offers a hands-on introduction to
molecular biology, allowing players of all ages and backgrounds to explore the
potential of genetically modified mosquitoes as a promising tool to fight
malaria.
Developed in collaboration with independent game developer
Michael Marston, “Target Malaria: The Game” runs seamlessly on both gaming PCs
and low-spec systems for easy use in low connectivity environments.
It features two modules at this point, and each task
requires speed and precision, with players earning points for accuracy:
In “Microinjection”, players simulate injecting a DNA
solution into mosquito embryos.
In “Transgenic Screening”, players sort fluorescent,
genetically modified mosquito larvae.
“The game's setting simulates Target Malaria’s lab at
Imperial College London, providing a realistic glimpse into the scientific
principles and techniques of molecular biology”, says Louise Marston, Senior
Lab Technician at Imperial College London, who came up with the game’s idea and
was the scientific advisor for its development.
“We tested Target Malaria: The Game at science events in the
United Kingdom earlier this year. It sparked meaningful conversations about the
scientific discovery process at Target Malaria. We are thrilled to now make it
publicly available”, adds Morgane Danielou, Head of Global Communications at
Target Malaria.
“We hope video game enthusiasts, tech lovers, and science
students will use this unique tool to learn more about malaria and the
devastating impact it has on African communities and economies,” said Michael
Marston.
“Target Malaria: The Game” can also be used for training purposes in labs working on the genetic modification of mosquitoes. With this interactive tool, Target Malaria hopes to further share its technology, as well as make its research accessible to the public at large.
As part of its mission, Target Malaria is pioneering
cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies, such as gene drive, to
complement existing malaria interventions. Stakeholder engagement is central to
its work, and the research consortium has developed an array of creative
science communication tools over the years.
These include: Mozzie Drive, a card game illustrating gene
drive technology; “Swarm”, a sonification developed with British composer Jamie
Perera; and interactive theatre performances in Burkina Faso that explain the
project's purpose and phases.
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and its partners have in the past explored the introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) mosquitoes
in Kenya to control the spread of malaria. However, no date has been set.
Elsewhere, Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) has engineered GM mosquitoes designed to carry two
specific genes.
One
includes a self-limiting gene, which prevents female mosquito offspring from
surviving to adulthood, and a fluorescent marker gene, which glows under red
light, allowing researchers to identify GM mosquitoes in the field.
These GM
mosquitoes are produced in a laboratory and lay eggs containing both the
self-limiting and fluorescent marker genes.
When these
eggs are released into designated areas, they hatch and develop into adult
mosquitoes that mate with wild females, passing on the modified genes.
The process
is expected to significantly reduce the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes,
which are the key vectors of malaria.
In 2022, the World Health Organization estimated that over 12,000 people died from the disease in Kenya.
Most of those affected were children under 5 and pregnant women.
