Quinlan M Megan, Birungi Josephine, Coulibaly Mamadou B, Diabaté Abdoulaye, Facchinelli Luca, Mukabana Wolfgang Richard, Mutunga James Mutuku, Nolan Tony, Raymond Peter, Traoré Sékou F
1 Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London , Ascot, United Kingdom .
2 Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) , Entebbe, Uganda .
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2018 Jan;18(1):14-20. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2189.
Genetic strategies for large scale pest or vector control using modified insects are not yet operational in Africa, and currently rely on import of the modified strains to begin preliminary, contained studies. Early involvement of research teams from participating countries is crucial to evaluate candidate field interventions. Following the recommended phased approach for novel strategies, evaluation should begin with studies in containment facilities. Experiences to prepare facilities and build international teams for research on transgenic mosquitoes revealed some important organizing themes underlying the concept of "facilities readiness," or the point at which studies in containment may proceed, in sub-Saharan African settings. First, "compliance" for research with novel or non-native living organisms was defined as the fulfillment of all legislative and regulatory requirements. This is not limited to regulations regarding use of transgenic organisms. Second, the concept of "colony utility" was related to the characteristics of laboratory colonies being produced so that results of studies may be validated across time, sites, and strains or technologies; so that the appropriate candidate strains are moved forward toward field studies. Third, the importance of achieving "defensible science" was recognized, including that study conclusions can be traced back to evidence, covering the concerns of various stakeholders over the long term. This, combined with good stewardship of resources and appropriate funding, covers a diverse set of criteria for declaring when "facilities readiness" has been attained. It is proposed that, despite the additional demands on time and resources, only with the balance of and rigorous achievement of each of these organizing themes can collaborative research into novel strategies in vector or pest control reliably progress past initial containment studies.
利用经过改造的昆虫进行大规模害虫或病媒控制的遗传策略在非洲尚未投入使用，目前依赖于进口改造后的品系来开展初步的封闭式研究。参与国的研究团队尽早介入对于评估候选的实地干预措施至关重要。按照针对新策略推荐的分阶段方法，评估应从在封闭设施中的研究开始。为转基因蚊子研究准备设施并组建国际团队的经验揭示了撒哈拉以南非洲地区 “设施就绪” 概念（即封闭式研究可以开展的阶段）背后一些重要的组织主题。首先，对涉及新型或非本地活生物体的研究的 “合规性” 定义为满足所有立法和监管要求。这不仅限于有关转基因生物使用的法规。其次，“种群效用” 的概念与所培育实验室种群的特性相关，以便研究结果能够在不同时间、地点、品系或技术之间得到验证；从而使合适的候选品系能够推进到实地研究阶段。第三，认识到实现 “站得住脚的科学” 的重要性，包括研究结论能够追溯到证据，长期涵盖各利益相关方的关切。这一点，再加上对资源的良好管理和适当的资金投入，涵盖了宣布 “设施就绪” 时的一系列不同标准。有人提出，尽管对时间和资源有额外要求，但只有在平衡并严格实现这些组织主题中的每一个主题的情况下，病媒或害虫控制新策略的合作研究才能可靠地推进到初始封闭式研究之外的阶段。
