The World Health Organization (WHO) said mosquitos are responsible for millions of deaths globally each year through the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue fever and more. Now, a new effort is aiming to reduce bites from disease-spreading mosquitos, by genetically modifying male mosquitos to make their semen deadly to female mosquitos.
The experiment, from researchers with Macquarie University in Australia, is first using genetically modified fruit flies to produce toxic proteins in semen while mating. Dubbed the “toxic male technique,” the study found it cut female fruit flies lifespans by 60%, but researchers want to accelerate that result to 100%.
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The study, published in Nature on Tuesday, Jan. 7, suggested the method would also work in mosquitos, and they’ll reportedly move onto them next.
Scientists said they are not trying to “eradicate” an entire species. Instead, they say they are just trying to reduce populations of mosquito species carrying deadly diseases and decrease how often they feed on human blood by 60%.
The study targeted female mosquitos because they are the only ones that bite and consume blood.
The lead author of the study said the plan is to mass-produce eggs from genetically engineered mosquitos. The eggs would then be frozen for transport, and eventually released into countries with a disease outbreak, or boom in mosquito populations. These new mosquitos could then begin to tackle the problem.
Researchers said they are confident the toxic male mosquitos will not harm animals feeding on them, but said they are conducting additional tests to make sure.
The research team added the study has a long way to go until it can be practically applied, but say it may eventually reduce the need for pesticides as well.
