The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded ReVector program Phase 1 contracts to Stanford University and Ginkgo Bioworks to initiate microbiome modification initiatives in order to reduce mosquito-transmitted diseases.
DARPA maintains mosquitos are of concern to the Department of Defense because they transmit pathogens causing such diseases as chikungunya, Zika, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever and malaria.
The ReVector program seeks to maintain the health of military personnel operating in disease-endemic regions by reducing attraction and feeding by mosquitos while limiting exposure to mosquito-transmitted diseases.
DARPA said the two organizations would develop precise, safe and effective technologies modulating the profile of skin-associated volatile molecules by altering the organisms present in the skin microbiome and/or their metabolic processes.
“The efforts that were selected have assembled teams with expertise in synthetic biology, human microbiome, and mosquito studies,” Linda Chrisey, ReVector program manager, said. “The cross-disciplinary make-up of the teams enables the broad knowledge and skill set needed to address ReVector challenges and positions them to create an innovative solution to protect warfighters from mosquitos.”
Phase 1 of the ReVector program, which is slated to last 18 months, per officials, will focus on modifying in vitro microbiomes. Phase 2, which will also be 18 months in duration, will focus on modifying microbiomes of animal models for 12 months Phase 3 will target clinical tests.
Final products from each of the three phases will be tested and evaluated by domestic government laboratories for ability to repel mosquitos.