**2.6 Functional genomics approaches**

Genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics studies have been complemented by studies using RNAi for gene silencing. RNAi allows characterization of genes *in vivo* which can later be targeted for transmission blocking studies. Boisson et al. [56] demonstrated the role of the gene AgApy, which encodes an apyrase, in the probing behaviour of *A. gambiae*. An RNAimediated gene silencing approach has also been used to assess the potential involvement of 10 selected *A. gambiae* salivary gland genes in regulating mosquito blood-feeding capacity [36]. Silencing of several salivary gland transcripts; D7L2*,* anophelin*,* peroxidase*,*  5'nucleotidase and SG2 precursor, produced a significantly lowered blood-feeding phenotype and increased probing time, confirming that these genes could play an important role in blood-feeding.
