Mosquitoes are known to be carriers of deadly diseases like yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and malaria. Numbers provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) state that mosquito bites are the reason behind 1 million deaths each annually.
However, modifying their sex genes may be possibly the new way to keep mosquitoes away. It is known that female mosquitoes are the ones responsible for transmitting dengue and other diseases. They need the blood to sustain their developing eggs.
With the goal of determining DNA difference between male and female mosquitoes, the research team at the Fralin Life Science Institute at Virginia Tech analyzed thousands of pieces of mosquitoes’ DNA. They found 165 similar and 65 different genes during the course of the study. They also identified a gene that can be used to change sex in female mosquitoes, which carry yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya viruses.
Dubbed Nix, scientists identified the genetic switch in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which is responsible for determining the sex of a mosquito. Nix was injected into mosquito embryos and it was found that nearly two thirds of the female mosquitoes developed genitals and testes in a few days. The female-turned male mosquitoes reverted back to females as Nix was eliminated. The study provides valuable insight about containing mosquito population and even completely eradicating the fatal diseases spread by female mosquitoes.
Zhijian Jake Tu, a professor of biochemistry said “Nix provides us with exciting opportunities to harness mosquito sex in the fight against infectious diseases because maleness is the ultimate disease-refractory trait.”
“We’re not there yet, but the ultimate goal is to be able to establish transgenic lines that express Nix in genetic females to convert them to harmless males,” stated Zach Adelman, a professor of entomology.
The findings of the study have been published in the journal Science Express.
However, modifying their sex genes may be possibly the new way to keep mosquitoes away. It is known that female mosquitoes are the ones responsible for transmitting dengue and other diseases. They need the blood to sustain their developing eggs.
With the goal of determining DNA difference between male and female mosquitoes, the research team at the Fralin Life Science Institute at Virginia Tech analyzed thousands of pieces of mosquitoes’ DNA. They found 165 similar and 65 different genes during the course of the study. They also identified a gene that can be used to change sex in female mosquitoes, which carry yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya viruses.
Dubbed Nix, scientists identified the genetic switch in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which is responsible for determining the sex of a mosquito. Nix was injected into mosquito embryos and it was found that nearly two thirds of the female mosquitoes developed genitals and testes in a few days. The female-turned male mosquitoes reverted back to females as Nix was eliminated. The study provides valuable insight about containing mosquito population and even completely eradicating the fatal diseases spread by female mosquitoes.
Zhijian Jake Tu, a professor of biochemistry said “Nix provides us with exciting opportunities to harness mosquito sex in the fight against infectious diseases because maleness is the ultimate disease-refractory trait.”
“We’re not there yet, but the ultimate goal is to be able to establish transgenic lines that express Nix in genetic females to convert them to harmless males,” stated Zach Adelman, a professor of entomology.
The findings of the study have been published in the journal Science Express.
via Smart Health Shop Forum http://ift.tt/1FUSUo6
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