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Scientists develop genetically-modified mosquitoes that can't spread Malaria

According to a new study, scientists have genetically modified mosquitoes that will die before the malaria parasite can develop inside them. This move is expected to stop the rapidly increasing spread of the deadly malaria disease.

Ashima Sharda Mahindra

Updated Sep 24, 2022, 23:41 IST

These mosquitoes are expected to die before the malaria parasite can even develop inside them, to help prevent transmission of the disease to humans.

New Delhi: Scientists have genetically modified mosquitoes in a series of experiments conducted to slow down the growth of vector-borne diseases like malaria that kill millions across the world every year.

These mosquitoes are expected to die before the malaria parasite can even develop inside them, to help prevent transmission of the disease to humans. A study says that the modified mosquitoes produce compounds that hamper the growth of the parasites, which are then unlikely to reach the mosquitoes’ salivary glands and be passed on in a bite as the insects die before that.

Researchers from the Institute for Disease Modeling at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have claimed to develop a model which can assess the impact of such modifications to be used in many countries where it rains a lot and standing water, floods and pollution gives rise to vector-borne diseases.

What happens when mosquitoes bite?

When a mosquito bites you, while it is feeding it sucks your blood while injecting its saliva into your skin. Your body reacts to the saliva resulting in a bump and itching.

The bite can cause different reactions in different people, some of which include a reddish bump, a rash, itchiness, dark spots that resemble bruises, and even blood.

Scientists experiment on Anopheles gambiae

A team of researchers at Imperial College London also genetically modified the Anopheles Gambiae, a main malaria-carrying species of mosquito in sub-Saharan Africa successfully eliminating the malaria-causing parasite.

“We need to develop innovative new tools because mosquitoes and the parasites they carry are becoming resistant to available interventions such as insecticides and treatments, and funding has plateaued,” said the author of the study, Tibebu Habtewold.

“Delaying the parasite’s growth in the mosquito has opened many more opportunities to block malaria transmission from mosquitoes to humans,” said study co-first author, Astrid Hoermann.

Use of gene drive technology

Scientists feel that the success of the lab needs to be taken a level further into the wild and the existing gene drive technology can successfully help spread the modification.

Gene drive can be added to mosquitoes that would cause the anti-parasite genetic modification to be preferentially inherited, making it spread more widely among any natural population.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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