Use mosquitoes to kill mosquitoes

A new strategy for killing Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that causes dengue fever is being carried out by scientists by altering the mosquito's DNA so that it cannot reproduce.

Scientists working at the lab near Oxford have found a way to modify the gene - making Aedes male mosquitoes into species enemies.

Scientists will spread a large number of mosquitoes that have been transformed into nature. They can still pair, but cannot reproduce. All fertilized eggs die before fully developing .

By transplanting a gene called OX513 , extracted from coral, into the DNA of mosquitoes, scientists believe that they can destroy all their descendants from their larvae. This safety and effectiveness measure has been applied in Malaysia, and transgenic mosquitoes have been transferred here by air for several years.

Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes pose a threat to humans.
(Photos: Wikipedia)

The creation of genetically modified mosquitoes was carried out 20 years ago, but only recently received the support of health officials. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation invested $ 38 million in this program.

Unlike other mosquitoes, Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes are a threat to humans because they survive in cold climates and proliferate in urban environments .

Dengue - a deadly disease (death rate of up to 20%) that they bring, is growing rapidly with more than 100 million people in 100 countries being affected each year. And now there is no preventive vaccine, special treatment or optimal solution to deal with this situation.

Besides, scientists are also adjusting the genome of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes - carrying malaria parasites, killing at least 1 million people each year. They hope that genetically modified mosquitoes with super strong immune systems will kill parasites or stop their growth.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading the testing of genetically modified mosquitoes to ensure that outside genetic resources do not have pathways to multiply. Three biosafety training centers have been established in Africa, Asia and Latin America, to maximize the effectiveness of this program.