Microbes against virus vectors
Scientists want to use bacteriological weapons against mosquitoes
Alex Kudrin, Hi-News
The US may soon become the first country to use bacteriological weapons against mosquitoes that spread viruses such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accepts applications from biotech companies for the implementation of a project to use Wolbachia pipientis bacteria against the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). It is expected that wolbachia will work as a pesticide, destroying only harmful mosquitoes and leaving the rest of the insects alive.
The plan, dubbed "MosquitoMate", involves growing mosquitoes infected with a special strain of wolbachia and then launching them into the natural environment. As a result of mating infected males with females from the wild, insects will lay non—viable eggs - violations in male chromosomes will make it impossible for larvae to appear. By releasing more and more batches of infected males, scientists hope to gradually eliminate the population of tiger mosquitoes.
Currently, cases of microcephaly and other birth defects suspected to be caused by the Zika virus have been reported in eight countries. "The more effective tools we have in our hands, the better, so we will definitely give Wolbachia a chance. Of course, the plan for the use of this tool should be developed in every detail," said Tom Scott, an entomologist from the University of California, who is involved in the project.
During the "MosquitoMate" project over the past three years, wolbachia has been tested against mosquitoes in three states already. An entomologist from the University of Kentucky, Stephen Dobson, claims that in the areas where the technology was tested, the mosquito population decreased by more than 70%.
The MosquitoMate project has not met serious resistance among the American public, which cannot be said about its British counterpart, which is being developed by Oxitec. Residents of the kingdom launched a broad campaign on the Internet and the media, and also filed a petition against the use of genetically modified mosquitoes — unlike the American project, the Oxitec strategy includes changing the mosquito genome, which should prevent the reproduction of insects.
Article by Dutra et al. Wolbachia Blocks Currently Circulating Zika Virus Isolates in Brazilian Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe; on the EurekAlert website! you can read the press release of Cell Press Inheritable bacterium controls Aedes mosquitoes' ability to transmit Zika – VM
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31.05.2016