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January 9, 2025 – Australian scientists have proposed an innovative and potentially game-changing method for tackling tropical diseases by introducing genetically engineered mosquitoes with ‘toxic’ semen. This new pest control strategy is designed to significantly reduce the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
The method, known as the “toxic male technique,” involves breeding mosquitoes that carry venomous proteins in their semen. When these mosquitoes mate, the toxic proteins are transmitted to females, killing them after reproduction. Since only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals, spreading disease in the process, the approach specifically targets them in an effort to cut down the transmission of harmful pathogens.
Sam Beach, a scientist at Macquarie University in Australia, explained that the technique could be as effective as traditional pesticides but with a major advantage: it would not harm other species essential to the ecosystem. “This innovative solution could transform how we manage pests, offering hope for healthier communities and a more sustainable future,” Beach stated.
The first successful proof-of-concept trials were conducted on fruit flies, a commonly used laboratory species with a short life cycle of just two weeks. In these trials, female fruit flies that mated with males carrying the toxic semen experienced a significantly reduced lifespan, demonstrating the method’s potential for population control.
While the results were promising, researcher Maciej Maselko emphasized that further trials are needed, particularly on mosquitoes, to ensure the method’s safety. “We still need to implement it in mosquitoes and conduct rigorous safety testing to ensure there are no risks to humans or other non-target species,” he said.
To ensure the mosquitoes would only express the toxic semen once released into the wild, the team plans to use conditional expression techniques. These techniques allow specific genes to be turned on or off in response to chemical or biological triggers, ensuring the modified mosquitoes will only express the venomous traits in controlled environments.
Genetic engineering has long been used to control mosquito populations, primarily by releasing genetically modified males that are sterile, reducing reproduction rates. However, computer models suggest that actively killing female mosquitoes may prove even more effective in the long term, offering a more direct and efficient method of pest control.
The research team’s work, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, marks a significant step toward using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to address global health challenges. If successful, the “toxic male technique” could provide a powerful new tool for combating the spread of dangerous diseases and contribute to a more sustainable approach to pest management.
The full study, titled Recombinant Venom Proteins in Insect Seminal Fluid Reduce Female Lifespan, can be accessed in the latest issue of Nature Communications.
For further reading: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54863-1
