Infecting Mosquitoes With Genetically Altered Fungus Curbs Malaria Parasite
To combat malaria, why not skip the step of A, href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-10/science-wages-war-against-mosquitoes-genetic-engineering-lasers-and-nano-attacks" target="_blank">genetically altering mosquitoes and try some transgenic fungus instead? In a new study, researchers sprayed mosquitoes with a fungus that had been modified to deliver compounds that target the malaria parasite. They found the treatment could reduce disease transmission to humans by at least five-fold. Researchers at the University of Maryland, who were funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, say the method could be an effective treatment against malaria, especially as mosquitoes increasingly evolve to resist insecticides. Even better, the fungus modification can be targeted to almost any disease-carrying insect, potentially allowing fungus-based prevention for maladies like Lyme disease or dengue fever. The study was reported today in the journal Science. Related ArticlesWhat Could Possibly Go Wrong: Genetically-Modified MosquitoesGenetically Engineered Mosquitoes Are 100 Percent Resistant to Malaria ParasiteIn New Trial, Mosquitoes Spread Malaria VaccineTagsScience,...