Data from: Blocking the evolution of insecticide-resistant malaria vectors with a microsporidian

Finding a way to block the evolution insecticide-resistance would be a major breakthrough for the control of malaria. We suggest that this may be possible by introducing a stress into mosquito populations that restores the sensitivity of genetically resistant mosquitoes and that decreases their longevity when they are not exposed to insecticide. We use a mathematical model to show that, despite the intense selection pressure imposed by insecticides, moderate levels of stress might tip the evolutionary balance between costs and benefits of resistance towards maintaining sensitivity. Our experimental work with the microsporidian parasite Vavraia culicis infecting two lines of resistant mosquitoes and a sensitive line suggests that it may indeed be possible to stress the mosquitoes in the required way. The mortality of resistant mosquitoes 24h after exposure to the insecticide was up to 8.8 times higher in infected than in uninfected ones; if mosquitoes were not exposed to the insecticide, resistant mosquitoes infected by the microsporidian lived about half as long as uninfected ones and insecticide-sensitive mosquitoes (with or without the parasite). Our results suggest that biopesticides or other insecticides that interfere with the expression of resistance may help to manage insecticide-resistance in programs of malaria control. restored sensitivity of RSP colonyText file, columns separated with commas. – Data from the experiment to measure restored sensitivity to permethrin of mildly permethrin-resistant mosquitoes (RSP colony). Some mosquitoes were exposed to the parasite Vavraia culicis. They were exposed to permethrin 0, 15 or 30 minutes. The data are organized according to testing tube, so the column 'Mosquitoes' gives the number of mosquitoes in the tube, the column 'Dead' gives the number of mosquitoes in the tube s that died within 24h. restored.RSP.txtrestored sensitivity of ZANU colonyText file, columns separated with commas. – Data from the experiment to measure restored sensitivity to DDT of DDT-resistant mosquitoes (ZANU colony). Some mosquitoes were exposed to the parasite Vavraia culicis. They were exposed to permethrin 0, 45, 90 or 135 minutes. The experiment was run in blocks given by 'replicate'. The data are organized according to testing tube, so the column 'Mosquitoes' gives the number of mosquitoes in the tube, the column 'Dead' gives the number of mosquitoes in the tube s that died within 24h. restored.ZANU.txtincreased cost of resistanceText file, columns separated with commas. – Data from the experiment to measure how infection by Vavraia culicis increases the cost of insecticide-resistance. The mosquito lines are RSP (permethrin resistance), ZANU (DDT-resistant) and S (Kisumu, sensitive). Longevity is measured in days; if the mosquito lived more than 16 days, it was censored at 16. cost.txt