Researchers from Australia’s Macquarie University have developed a novel approach to combat these pests called the 'toxic male technique” (TMT).
Mosquito es pose a grave threat to human health. They are vectors for devastating diseases like dengue fever and Zika, impacting millions of lives worldwide.
“By targeting the female mosquitoes themselves rather than their offspring, TMT is the first biocontrol technology that could work as quickly as pesticides without also harming beneficial species,” said Sam Beach, the lead author. TMT surpasses other genetic biocontrol methods by swiftly reducing the number of female mosquitoes capable of biting and transmitting disease.
Experiments with fruit flies showed that females mating with TMT males experienced a substantial decrease in lifespan. A lifespan reduction of 37% to 64% was observed in females mated with TMT males compared to those mated with unmodified males. These venoms are specifically designed to target only invertebrates, meaning they pose no significant risk to mammals, including humans.This research demonstrates the feasibility of this innovative approach for suppressing pest populations.
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