Scientists create flightless mosquitoes to control dengue feverFebruary 23rd, 2010 - 1:08 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Feb 23 (ANI): UC Irvine and British scientists have developed a new strain of mosquitoes in which females cannot fly.
According to the scientists, the new breed may help curb the transmission of dengue fever.
Dengue fever causes severe flulike symptoms and is among the world’s most pressing public health issues. The dengue virus is spread through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and there is no vaccine or treatment.
UCI researchers and colleagues from Oxitec Ltd. and the University of Oxford created the flightless females which are expected to die quickly in the wild, curtailing the number of mosquitoes and reducing - or even eliminating - dengue transmission. Males of the strain can fly but do not bite or convey disease.
When genetically altered male mosquitoes mate with wild females and pass on their genes, females of the next generation are unable to fly. Scientists estimate that if released, the new breed could sustainably suppress the native mosquito population in six to nine months. The approach offers a safe, efficient alternative to harmful insecticides.
“Current dengue control methods are not sufficiently effective, and new ones are urgently needed,” said Anthony James, Distinguished Professor of microbiology & molecular genetics and molecular biology & biochemistry at UCI and an internationally recognized vector biologist. “Controlling the mosquito that transmits this virus could significantly reduce human morbidity and mortality.”
Study results appear in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for the week of Feb. 22. (ANI)
- Can GM mosquitoes wipe out dengue? - Oct 24, 2010
- Malaysia release of GM insects 'may create uncontrollable new species' - Jan 27, 2011
- Genetically engineered mosquitoes thwart dengue spreaders - Nov 12, 2010
- Coming soon: A trap to trick pregnant mosquitoes! - Dec 26, 2010
- Chemistry of mosquito sex could be key to controlling dengue fever - Mar 20, 2011
- GM mosquitoes released to fight dengue in Cayman Isles - Nov 14, 2010
- Brazil to breed mosquitoes to fight dengue - Jul 09, 2012
- Pakistan to get insecticide from India to fight dengue - Sep 21, 2011
- Male mosquitoes' proteins may affect females' behaviour, physiology - Mar 16, 2011
- Mosquitoes home in on human body odour - Oct 02, 2011
- GM mosquito trials raise concern in India - Jul 23, 2009
- 'Travel, urbanisation have led to 50-fold rise in dengue cases' - Sep 17, 2012
- Microbial 'mosquito net' to aid in fight against mosquito-borne disease - Dec 25, 2009
- Making mosquitoes pay for every bite - Jul 20, 2011
- Lahore dengue toll rises to 127 - Oct 02, 2011
Tags: aedes aegypti, biologist, british scientists, dengue virus, genetics and molecular biology, insecticides, male mosquitoes, molecular genetics, morbidity and mortality, mortality study, mosquito, mosquito population, mosquitoes, national academy of sciences, new breed, proceedings of the national academy, proceedings of the national academy of sciences, public health issues, uc irvine, university of oxford