Genetically modified mosquitoes containing toxic semen could become a new weapon against tropical diseases, Australian scientists say after trialling a new method of pest control.
The “toxic male technology” aims to breed mosquitoes that express toxic proteins in their semen and kill the females after mating.
Only female mosquitoes bite and suck blood, which spreads diseases such as: malaria and dengue fever.
Australian scientist Sam Beach macquarie university He said the method “could work as quickly as insecticides without harming beneficial species.”
“This innovative solution has the potential to transform the way we manage pests, offering hope for healthier communities and a more sustainable future,” said Beach.
Initial proof-of-concept testing used Drosophila melanogaster, a common laboratory species with a short two-week life cycle.
Scientists have found that the lifespans of female flies that were bred with “toxic” males were significantly reduced.
Researcher Maciej Maselko said the team now plans to test the method on mosquitoes.
He said: “We need to implement it in mosquitoes and conduct rigorous safety testing to ensure there is no risk to humans or other non-target species.”
Researchers said the mosquitoes would need to be genetically modified to express toxic semen only if released into the wild.
nature communications
This can be done through so-called “conditional expression” techniques, which use chemicals or other biological triggers to turn specific genes on or off at will.
This would allow venomous males to successfully mate with females in a laboratory setting and produce enough viable offspring to scale up this technique.
Genetic engineering has been used for many years to control mosquito populations that spread disease.
Typically, these approaches release swarms of genetically modified male insects that have been rendered sterile and slow reproduction.
The researchers said computer models showed that techniques that actively kill biting females could be far more effective.
The research is described in a paper published Tuesday night in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications.
of Mosquitoes have killed 50 billion people Through human existence.
Africa bears the brunt of malaria95% of deaths are recorded each year, and approximately 80% of these deaths occur in children under 5 years of age. The malaria parasite is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, causing early symptoms such as high fever, headache, and chills.
According to the World Health Organization, mosquitoes are responsible for millions of deaths annually from malaria, dengue fever and other diseases.
eastern equine encephalitis The virus can also be spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. last year, New York resident People who test positive for EEE have died, and in 2019, the CDC reported at least 15 deaths from the rare disease in the United States.
