Solution to kill disease-causing mosquitoes with sweet radish

Swedish scientists have found a new way to create fake blood from poisoned sweet radish to kill malaria-causing mosquitoes.

In a report in the journal Communications Biology last week, the team from startup Molecular Attraction said they had successfully isolated a molecule called HMBPP , which is present in blood infected with the malaria parasite. HMBPP produces an odor that attracts mosquitoes and encourages them to drink more blood.

"It turns out that HMBPP can make mosquitoes drink anything, as long as the pH is right," said Molecular Attraction CEO Lech Ignatowicz.

Ignatowicz and his colleagues tested the combination of HMBPP with beetroot juice and some toxic phytochemicals. Unexpectedly, this fake blood easily deceives disease-causing mosquitoes, causing all those who drink it to die soon after.

Fake blood from beetroot juice and HMBPP can attract malaria-causing mosquitoes. (Photo: Andrey Elkin)

A great advantage of HMBPP is that it does not attract other insects and animals, so can be used passively to lure mosquitoes into eating the poison. "The unique composition of HMBPP is only really attractive to five species of Anopheles mosquitoes. They are all vectors for the transmission of the malaria parasite," added Ignatowicz.

HMBPP is also more environmentally friendly. Due to its attractive properties, we only need a small amount of beetroot juice containing HMBPP to lure them into the trap. This is much safer than toxic sprays across the board, or use mosquito products need power and emissions of CO ₂ .

Molecular Attraction wants to commercialize their method of killing mosquitoes with fake blood and is determined to make it "more accessible and affordable" to help countries vulnerable to malaria.

Every year, millions of people around the world are infected with this dangerous disease and about 400,000 people die, including children under 5 years old. Victims often develop flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, chills, body aches, nausea and vomiting.