Successfully created mutant mosquitoes that fight malaria

American scientists claim to have successfully bred a genetically modified mosquito that is resistant to malaria transmission.

Malaria is a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted from person to person through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Asia and Africa.

About 3.2 billion people, or nearly half the world's population, are at risk of malaria infection.

Using mosquito nets and using insect repellents or sprays can prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of malaria, while those who do get the disease can be cured with medication. Despite this, malaria still kills nearly 580,000 people worldwide each year.

Scientists are constantly researching new ways to fight malaria. In a new breakthrough, researchers from the University of California (USA) announced that they have successfully bred a genetically modified mosquito that is resistant to the transmission of this disease.

The team used Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes in India for their experiments. They then inserted a new malaria “resistance” gene into the mosquitoes’ DNA, using a gene editing method called Crispr.

When these genetically modified mosquitoes mate, they produce offspring that are nearly 100% malaria-resistant. Remarkably, the ability to resist malaria parasites is inherited to up to three generations of the original mutant mosquitoes' descendants.

In theory, if the genetically modified mosquitoes bite humans, they would not be able to transmit the Plasmodium parasite to us. If the lab technique proves effective in clinical use, it could provide a new way to prevent mosquitoes from spreading malaria to humans.

According to Vietnamnet