Researchers from Macquarie University have found a way to create toxic male mosquitoes.
It’s hoped the ‘Toxic Male Technique’ can be used to reduce the species’ population, limiting the spread of viruses to humans.
Mosquitoes
Certain mosquito species carry dangerous viral diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever.
These can then be transferred to humans through female mosquitoes’ bites.
The World Health Organisation recorded 263 million cases of malaria and nearly 600,000 deaths in 2023.
Further, recent research has shown mosquitoes are building a resistance to pesticides, meaning new ways to control the population need to be developed.
Toxic Male Technique for mosquitoes
A team of researchers at Macquarie University have now developed the Toxic Male Technique (TMT) for insects like mosquitoes.
TMT involves genetically engineering male insects to produce poisonous proteins in their semen. When these insects mate, the poison is transferred to the female, reducing their lifespan and their ability to spread disease.
So far, the researchers have tested the procedure on fruit flies. They found mating with modified male flies reduced the lifespan of female flies by up to 64%.
Testing
Following the fruit fly experiment, researchers used computer models to test how TMT could be applied to mosquitoes.
Associate Professor Maciej Maselko said TMT still needs to be tested on mosquitoes in a real environment.
Lead study author Sam Beach said TMT “could transform how we manage pests, offering hope for healthier communities”.
