LITE: Liverpool Insect Testing Establishment

LITE helps commercial and academic partners test insecticide-based vector control products against fully characterised susceptible and resistant mosquito colonies.

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A female researcher wearing blue scrubs, glasses, and protective gloves observes a mosquito rearing cage in a laboratory. She has red hair tied back in a ponytail and is looking intently at the mesh-sided container, which houses numerous mosquitoes used for research. Several other mosquito cages and lab equipment are visible in the background, highlighting entomology and vector-borne disease studies.

Welcome to LITE

The Liverpool Insect Testing Establishment, known as LITE, tests insecticide-based vector control products for commercial and academic partners.

We test products against a collection of fully characterised insecticide-susceptible and resistant mosquito colonies.

Established by LSTM’s Vector Biology Department, LITE supports product development from early-stage screening through to post-market performance assessment. We work with partners including the Innovative Vector Control Consortium.

Enquire about working with LITE
Logo for LITE: Liverpool Insect Testing Establishment, featuring bold 'LITE' text and orange curved shapes.

What LITE offers

Standardised bioassays

We conduct established testing methods, including:

  • WHO tube bioassays
  • WHO cone bioassays
  • CDC bottle bioassays
  • topical and tarsal testing
  • larvicide evaluation

Product performance testing

We test the performance and durability of vector control products through:

  • net regeneration studies\
  • wash-resistance studies
  • track sprayer application
  • Peet Grady chamber testing
  • free-flight room studies
  • arm-in-cage testing

Behavioural assessment

Our video-based quantitative behavioural assays capture detailed mosquito responses to chemical exposure. These findings can help partners understand product performance and inform product design.

Characterised mosquito colonies

We maintain a collection of insecticide-susceptible and resistant strains across Anopheles, Aedes and Culex. These colonies have known resistance mechanisms and verified phenotypes.

Chemical analysis

We quantify insecticides using high-performance liquid chromatography, including CIPAC-approved procedures for insecticide-treated nets.

Bespoke assay development

We can develop new biological and behavioural tests around a partner’s product, research question and testing requirements.

Resistance profiling and genotyping

We verify mosquito species and screen colonies for known insecticide resistance alleles.

LITE’s laboratories and insectaries are part of the UK Good Laboratory Practice compliance monitoring programme.

Mosquito colonies

LITE maintains fully characterised insecticide-susceptible and resistant mosquito colonies for on-site testing.

We control environmental conditions within our insectaries, including day length, lighting, temperature and humidity.

All colonies undergo regular quality control. This includes genotyping to verify species identity and monitor the prevalence of known resistance alleles.

We maintain resistant colonies under regular insecticide selection pressure and profile them using discriminating doses to confirm their resistance phenotype.

Mosquito colonies currently maintained by LITE
Species Strain Origin Phenotype
Anopheles arabiensis Gaoua-ara Burkina Faso Resistant
Anopheles gambiae Kisumu Kenya Susceptible
Anopheles gambiae Tiassalé Côte d’Ivoire Resistant
Anopheles coluzzii VK7 Burkina Faso Resistant
Anopheles coluzzii Tiefora Burkina Faso Resistant
Anopheles funestus Fang Angola Susceptible
Anopheles funestus FuMoz Mozambique Resistant
Aedes aegypti Cayman Grand Cayman Resistant

Additional resistant strains maintained by LSTM’s Vector Biology Department may be available on request.

LITE can also acquire and rear a colony of interest for testing. Subject to material transfer agreements, we may be able to provide mosquito eggs or testing-age adults.

Working with LITE

We work with commercial and academic partners from early product development through to performance assessment, providing access to specialist mosquito colonies, established testing methods and bespoke assay development.

Contact our team to discuss your product, the evidence you need and the most appropriate testing approach.

Enquire about working with LITE
A researcher wearing blue gloves handles a mosquito collection device inside a mesh enclosure filled with mosquitoes.

Related links

Enquire about working with LITE