Genetically modified mosquitoes may be anti-malarial allies

Enemies of our enemies can become allies in fighting a global health crisis.

Close to the date of malaria prevention April 25, new findings suggest that mosquitoes themselves may be the most active ally in the fight against malaria.

A new study shows that although it is always considered harmful, mosquitoes have an immune system that can kill up to 80 to 90% of malaria parasites when these parasites enter the mosquito's body.

This new finding is part of an international community's effort to create a new therapeutic system for malaria.

Genetically modified mosquitoes are resistant to malaria, or even antibodies that are injected into human bodies are then transplanted back into mosquitoes, which could one day control malaria more effectively than mosquito rackets. people still use it today.

The prospect of fighting malaria has tripled

When the malaria parasite is in the mosquito's body, their number decreases. Therefore, some experts think it will be more effective to attack malaria immediately in insects before they enter the carrier's body.

Understanding the immune system of the mosquito's immune system is an important part of putting this plan into practice.

Now, researchers say, they have found the mechanism of action of defense in mosquitoes.

In the blood of mosquitoes containing the complex of 3 proteins, they encircle a malaria parasite, pierce its protective membrane and control all other important components - according to George Christophides, home Biology at the Royal College of London, co-author of the report presented in the journal Science on April 10.

Previous researchers have also identified these three proteins and note that one of them may be similar to proteins that kill bacteria and bacteria in humans and other animals.

Operation mechanism

With the use of mosquitoes to control malaria, it is feasible in the long term - researchers say. There are several ways to do this.

In a scenario, scientists can create genetically modified strains of mosquitoes.They have an immune system that is expected to kill malaria parasites.

 

(Photo: Jim Gathany / CDC)

It is important to find the mechanism of gene generation - the factor that gives the anti-malaria genes the selective advantages and helps them spread quickly in the natural mosquitoes through reproduction - Mr. Gregory Lanzaro, director of the University of California's Vector Genetics Laboratory said.

No one has found a way to do this for mosquitoes. However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested a similar theory for aphids sucking on blood as a way to prevent the spread of the deadly disease of Chagas, Lanzaro said.

Another option is to develop antibodies that can fight off parasites from the early stages, then transplant these antibodies into insects through human blood.

According to Jacobs-Lerona, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Research Institute for Malaria, the mosquito's immune system cannot produce antibodies. By the time parasites enter the human body, they have matured and found a way to escape the human body's immune system.

However, when we inject anti-malaria antibodies into the human body, these antibodies can continue to be transmitted to mosquitoes when mosquitoes bite these people - Jacobs-Lorena said.
If combined with a second dose of vaccine, that possibility is possible .

'People are experimenting with vaccines that are partially effective in protecting people.' - Mr. Jacobs-Lorena said - however, such vaccines as well as other preventive vaccines cannot be 100% effective if not combined together.

Not yet able to apply immediately

Accessing techniques to prevent malaria patients according to the model of moving malaria parasites is not easy and cannot be done on day two.

This 3-protein complex mechanism is not the only factor related to mosquito's ability to fight malaria.And this new research has yet to give people a full picture.

This work, conducted using a parasite model, is a version of malaria that is more adaptable to rodents than humans - and experimental mosquitoes are often genetically different from their wild relatives. them .

Studies conducted in this way do not always accurately reflect what happens in the natural environment - Mr. Lanzaro at the University of California and Jacobs-Leorena of Johns Hopkins University share this view.

'Research in recent years has shown that mosquitoes react very differently to a strange parasite, in contrast to the parasites that mosquitoes are accustomed to adapting,' said Jacobs-Lorena.

He also stressed that this new finding is an important result, however, it still needs to be more definitely confirmed for human parasites.