A new genetic approach for disease-carrying mosquitoes and agricultural pests has been unveiled.
Scientists at Macquarie University have introduced the “Toxic Male Technique” (TMT), a breakthrough in pest control that is both faster and more effective than traditional methods while sparing beneficial species.
Published in Nature Communications, the method involves genetically modifying male insects to produce venom proteins. These proteins are passed to females during mating, reducing their lifespan and limiting their ability to transmit diseases.
Insects like Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, whose females spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika, pose significant health risks. TMT offers a promising solution to combat these threats and protect agriculture from pest-related damage, which costs billions annually.
Lead author Sam Beach explains:
“As we’ve learned from COVID-19, reducing the spread of these diseases as quickly as possible is important to prevent epidemics. By targeting the female mosquitoes themselves rather than their offspring, TMT is the first biocontrol technology that could work as quickly as pesticides without also harming beneficial species.”
source Scimex
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