Scientists Develop Genetically Engineered Mosquito STD to Help Fight Malaria

Mosquitoes have been one of humanity’s deadliest foes for millennia, responsible for more deaths than any other animal. As mosquitoes grow increasingly resistant to conventional control strategies, scientists are turning to novel solutions to fight mosquito-borne illnesses.

Genetically Modified Fungus Targets Malaria-Carrying Mosquitoes

At the University of Maryland, entomologists have genetically modified a fungus to act as a lethal, sexually transmitted infection in Anopheles mosquitoes—the primary carriers of malaria. This fungus, Metarhizium, naturally produces insect-specific neurotoxins strong enough to kill female mosquitoes, which are responsible for spreading the disease. By coating male mosquitoes with engineered fungal spores, researchers have effectively created an STI that targets and kills female mosquitoes through mating.

This isn’t the first time scientists have tapped into mosquito mating behavior to reduce their numbers. In recent studies, researchers engineered male mosquitoes to release toxic proteins in their semen, killing females after mating.

Enhanced Effectiveness in the Field

Although the Metarhizium fungus was already known to spread through sexual contact, its natural strains caused minimal death rates. However, field trials in Burkina Faso, West Africa, revealed that the genetically modified version was significantly more effective—nearly 90% of female mosquitoes died within two weeks of mating with infected males, compared to just 4% with the wild-type fungus. Importantly, the infection didn’t discourage females from mating with infected partners.

Despite its lethality to mosquitoes, the engineered Metarhizium poses no threat to humans. Infected male mosquitoes can pass the fungal spores to multiple females over a 24-hour period, making it a practical and efficient tool for environmental release.

“What makes this fungus so promising is that it works with mosquito behavior instead of trying to override it,” explains study co-author Raymond St. Leger. “Unlike chemical pesticides, which mosquitoes can become resistant to, this approach turns their natural biology into a delivery system for the control agent.”

Why are such innovative tactics necessary? Because mosquitoes are incredibly adaptable. Many have evolved resistance to insecticides and antimalarial drugs, and some now avoid indoor spaces with treated nets or repellents by resting outdoors instead.

“It’s truly an arms race,” says St. Leger. “As mosquitoes keep adapting to our defenses, we must keep coming up with smarter, more creative ways to fight back.”

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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