The Dhaka Times Desk A swarm of genetically modified mosquitoes has been released in Brazil. Which will help reduce the incidence of dengue fever by killing Aedes mosquitoes. Because these GM mosquitoes carry a lethal gene that kills Aedes mosquitoes.
Jacobina is a small farming village in the city of Bahia where dengue fever epidemics occur every year. This mosquito-borne disease is the most serious life-threatening threat in tropical regions of Brazil. A new species of Aedes aegypto has been genetically engineered to destroy its own species. Last year, 1.4 million people were infected with dengue in Brazil, many of whom could not be treated. As a result it went to the hemorrhagic stage in many. As a result, they bleed out, go into a coma and drop to death.
Franken-skater These genetically modified Aedes mosquitoes have been created in the laboratory. A lethal gene has been inserted into their body that will detect and kill non-genetically modified mosquitoes. In this way dengue growth can be easily prevented. "We had to think of an alternative way to kill dengue mosquitoes in Brazil," said Malavashi, president of GM mosquito company Moschamed. Because the effect of Aedes mosquito is very high here, many people are getting infected with dengue every year, many people are dying, many cannot work, a lot of money is being spent on its treatment.”
But on the other hand, opponents of GM insect production are strongly criticizing it. According to them, this results in the spread of new types of harmful insects that are genetically more powerful than the common natural insects. As a result, it is not right to release them into the environment without knowing for sure what kind of impact they will have on the environment in the future. As one of the parts of public health awareness, to prevent the breeding of dengue or Aedes mosquitoes, do not allow water to accumulate in flower pots at home. Because the Aedes mosquito lays eggs and breeds in clean water or stagnant water inside the house. According to WHO, the incidence of dengue has increased by about 30 percent in the last 50 years.
Malavasi and his team collaborated with the British biotechnology company Oxitech to develop this new species of Aedes aegypti. Their Oxy 513A is the world's first GM insect to be released into the environment. A small portion of which was released in the Cayman Islands and Malaysia. Oxitech says it is the first GM insect to be released on a large scale in Brazil. GM mosquitoes carry a lethal gene. Which is kept alive in their body with a type of antibiotic called tetracycline. When the mosquitoes reach the larval stage, male and female mosquitoes are separated. Female mosquitoes are destroyed. And the male mosquitoes are released into the environment. Male GM mosquitoes mate with wild-type female mosquitoes which introduce the lethal gene into their bodies and eventually lead to death. These GM mosquitoes are called living insecticides.
The Brazilian government has given permission for Moscamod to conduct an experimental deployment in the city of Jacobina. Moscamed hopes this will reduce about 90 percent of wild Aedes mosquitoes. As a result, the epidemic size of dengue fever will decrease.
Reference: Independent
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