Prama Ghosh, Amity University Kolkata
The Zika virus epidemic was a public health emergency, causing birth defects for pregnant women in addition to neurological problems. The virus gets transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites. Researchers have tried several techniques to eliminate the spread of the virus, one of which is the use of genetically modified mosquitoes. These genetically-altered mosquitoes are called suicide mosquitoes which produce offspring that die before emerging into adults and therefore cannot spread the disease by biting humans.
Produced with the help of CRISPR gene-editing technology, these mosquitoes have an artificial gene inserted into their genome that triggers one of the immune pathways in the midgut to recognize and destroy the RNA genome of the Zika virus. The disease cycle of these virus-resistant mosquitoes is interrupted so transmission to humans can no longer take place. Since genetic modification is inheritable, future generations of the altered mosquitoes would also be resistant to the Zika virus.
Alexander Franz, associate professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine collaborated with researchers at Colorado State University to plan strategies for controlling insect vectors like mosquitoes that transmit various viruses affecting human health. A toolbox with different approaches available to tackle a virus such as Zika is being explored. The unavailability of the Zika virus vaccine and the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides have made the researchers expand the toolbox that can provide a solution by genetically modifying the mosquitoes to become Zika-resistant while keeping them alive at the same time thus, preventing environmental complications and food chain disruptions.
The approach was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in May which will release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, this research can prevent another outbreak of Zika virus disease from occurring in the future.
Also read:Disease detection is now painless and cheap; microneedles being the IRONMAN
Reference: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210126140102.htm
One thought on “Genetically modified mosquitoes to control the Zika virus?”