Hyris Launches Technology to Combat Insecticide Resistance in Mosquitoes

Hyris, in collaboration with international researchers, has developed a prototype system to monitor real-time insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes. This system, which can be deployed in the field, allows for diagnosing a mosquito's resistance to insecticides within three hours or less after capture. This significant advancement reduces the current analysis time, which can extend up to six months, as samples need to be transported to centralized laboratories for testing.

The development and field testing process was led by a research team headed by Professor George Dimopoulos from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, in collaboration with Professor Charles Wondji at the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This project is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Hyris™ system stands out for its use of pre-filled cartridges and a battery-powered portable device, simplifying the diagnostic workflow. Stefano Lo Priore, CEO of Hyris, highlights the benefits of this test that does not require a cold chain for transportation, facilitating its distribution in remote areas.

This innovation represents a key step towards a more effective malaria control strategy, particularly in sub-Saharan regions heavily affected by the disease. The nationwide deployment of this insecticide resistance monitoring system in Cameroon is currently under review.