Dengue virus makes the blood thirstier

A new study shows that mosquitoes themselves are blood sucking machines, but when carrying the dengue fever virus, the blood becomes more thirsty.

>>>Breakthrough in the treatment of dengue

Through mosquito analysis (before and after) when dengue virus is present, the researchers found a change in 147 genes involved in the production of proteins involved in the transmission of the virus, the immune system. . More dangerous, it causes mosquitoes to crave blood and activate the sense of smell to find the food of mosquitoes containing dengue virus.

Mosquitoes containing dengue virus will be thirsty and likely
search for more food (Photo: Livescience)

However, dengue virus does not harm its Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. When mosquitoes bite people, it spreads dengue fever through the foam gland. According to the World Health Organization statistics, there are 50 million to 100 million cases of dengue infections each year.

The above case adds an example of the control of parasites and benefits from the host that it lives. Previously, scientists also found a fungus that relies on ants, or caterpillars to attack other hosts.