GM-mosquitoes fly to the rescue

Brazil to release transgenic mosquitoes to fight Zika virus

Alexander Kornev, Naked Science

The Brazilian authorities have allowed the release of genetically modified mosquitoes, which should reduce the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus.

According to Xinhua (Brazil to temporarily let loose transgenic mosquitoes to combat Zika), the Brazilian regulator ANVISA (The National Health Surveillance Agency) will grant permission for the use of transgenic mosquitoes to their creators – the British Oxitec, which is a subsidiary of the American firm Intrexon specializing in biosynthesis. Transgenic mosquitoes, also known as OX513A, according to representatives of the agency, have successfully proven themselves in the fight against the Zika virus. ANVISA also stressed that they are faced with the task of developing a regulatory framework for the use of such creatures both now and in the future. "We are talking about a completely new technology, different from all available now," the agency stressed. Approval for the use of transgenic mosquitoes in Brazil was also given by the National Technical Commission for Biosafety (CTNBio), recognizing the mosquitoes as "technically non-dangerous".

Oxitec explained that OX513A is a RIDL strain of mosquitoes (carrying dominant lethality), the so-called "live modified mosquitoes" (ZHI-mosquitoes). They cannot produce viable offspring. OX513A males fly out and mate with females carrying the Aedes aegypti Zika virus, the resulting offspring die at the stage of a late larva or pupa.

"The systematic launch of a sufficient number of RIDL males will reduce the mosquito population below the level necessary for the transmission of the disease," Oxitec said. Also, according to the company, the strain transmits a special DsRed marker, visible under certain lighting in the pupa, which allows you to control the process of destroying Aedes aegypti. Earlier, the test launch of the OX513A has already taken place in the Cayman Islands and Malaysia.

According to Xinhua, genetically modified mosquitoes will help in the fight not only against the Zika virus, but also against the Chikungunya arbovirus and Dengue fever. Since the epidemic was registered in Latin America last year, Zika has spread to all 27 regions of Brazil with a focus in the northeast of the country. In November 2015, the Brazilian government declared a state of emergency, sending the military to fight mosquitoes.

Zika is an acute infectious disease of monkeys that is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and is characterized by a fever with a benign course. The virus is most dangerous for pregnant women, as it is believed that it is the cause of the development of microcephaly in the fetus, accompanied by severe brain damage.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  13.04.2016