25 April 2013 Lights Up, Transmission Down World Malaria Day shines a light on efforts to control malaria – a parasitic disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, that kills almost a million people every year. Strategies to control both the parasite and its insect hosts have floundered, and scientists are turning to genetics to engineer a break in transmission. They are modifying mosquitoes to resist the malaria parasite – GM ‘mozzies’ that could in future replace their malaria-carrying mates in the wild. Like its wild counterparts this mosquito pupa (pictured) dwells beneath the water surface before transforming into a flying syringe. But unlike the mini-bioterrorists that collect and deliver their deadly parasite cargo as they take a blood meal, this shiny specimen cannot transmit malaria. The orange hue (seen under UV light) tells scientists it has incorporated a genetic ‘docking station’ into its DNA that accepts a ‘play-list’ of genes conferring malaria resistance that could interrupt malaria transmission. Written by Caroline Cross — Paul Eggleston Keele University, UK Originally published under a Creative Commons Attribution license Published inPLoS ONE 8(3): e59264
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25 April 2013

Lights Up, Transmission Down

World Malaria Day shines a light on efforts to control malaria – a parasitic disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, that kills almost a million people every year. Strategies to control both the parasite and its insect hosts have floundered, and scientists are turning to genetics to engineer a break in transmission. They are modifying mosquitoes to resist the malaria parasite – GM ‘mozzies’ that could in future replace their malaria-carrying mates in the wild. Like its wild counterparts this mosquito pupa (pictured) dwells beneath the water surface before transforming into a flying syringe. But unlike the mini-bioterrorists that collect and deliver their deadly parasite cargo as they take a blood meal, this shiny specimen cannot transmit malaria. The orange hue (seen under UV light) tells scientists it has incorporated a genetic ‘docking station’ into its DNA that accepts a ‘play-list’ of genes conferring malaria resistance that could interrupt malaria transmission.

Written by Caroline Cross

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Neglected Bacteria When it comes to their human impact, mosquitoes punch way above their weight. These tiny parasites spread many human diseases, including dengue fever, which infects up to 100 million people every year. Mosquito-borne diseases are notoriously hard to control, however, a new approach using Wolbachia, a common bacterium that infects the majority of insects, offers hope. Wolbachia is a selfish guest, and doesn’t like sharing. Like squatters laying their claim, the bacteria lock the door to any new tenants looking for a place to stay inside cells. And so mosquitoes already carrying Wolbachia very rarely become infected with devastating dengue virus. Areas, such as these eye cells, riddled with dengue (stained red) are virus-free when Wolbachia (stained bright green on the right) is present. Combined with the fact that Wolbachia cuts a mosquito’s lifespan in half, this enemy of the insect world could turn out to be our best friend. Written by Jan Piotrowski — Scott O’Neill The University of Queensland, Australia Copyright Elsevier 2009 Published in Cell 139(7): 1268-1278
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Neglected Bacteria

When it comes to their human impact, mosquitoes punch way above their weight. These tiny parasites spread many human diseases, including dengue fever, which infects up to 100 million people every year. Mosquito-borne diseases are notoriously hard to control, however, a new approach using Wolbachia, a common bacterium that infects the majority of insects, offers hope. Wolbachia is a selfish guest, and doesn’t like sharing. Like squatters laying their claim, the bacteria lock the door to any new tenants looking for a place to stay inside cells. And so mosquitoes already carrying Wolbachia very rarely become infected with devastating dengue virus. Areas, such as these eye cells, riddled with dengue (stained red) are virus-free when Wolbachia (stained bright green on the right) is present. Combined with the fact that Wolbachia cuts a mosquito’s lifespan in half, this enemy of the insect world could turn out to be our best friend.

Written by Jan Piotrowski

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Published in Cell 139(7): 1268-1278