'Toxic male technique' could reduce mosquito numbers by poisoning female mosquitoes during sex

Thanks to a method of poisoning female insects during sex, it may be possible to reduce diseases transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.

A Macquarie University team genetically modified male fruit flies to produce a toxic protein in their semen during mating.

They call this the “toxic male technique,” and the study found that it shortens the lifespan of female fruit flies by up to 60 percent.

But lead author and doctoral student Sam Beach said he wanted to improve this number.

“Ideally, it's very fast,” he said.

“We want to get it closer to 100%, like a faster behavioral response.”

According to the professor, female fruit flies lived for about six to seven days after mating with a poisonous male.

“You can do a lot of good things.”

A study published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that the technology could have a similar effect on mosquitoes.

“We're not trying to completely eradicate these species everywhere at any time,” Beach said.

“There are approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes, but only about five to 10 can spread disease to humans.”

The study found that reducing the number of mosquito species that transmit deadly diseases such as dengue and Zika can reduce the frequency with which mosquitoes feed on human blood by up to 60 percent.

Only females bite humans and suck blood.

“all [those species] “It has invaded outside of sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

“We're just trying to push them back from areas where humans introduced them.”

Beach said facilities around the world could mass-produce these genetically modified mosquito eggs and store them frozen for transport.

They will then be released into countries experiencing disease outbreaks or large insect population increases to help solve the problem.

“Mosquito-borne diseases are not so dire. [in Australia] It's the same as it is in many low-income countries,” he said.

“We think there is a lot we can do overseas.”

'Comprehensive' tests to investigate food chain effects

Mr Beach said he was confident the poisonous insect had no negative effect on predators.

“these [proteins] “It's very toxic when injected directly into animals,” he said.

“But we know that if you eat it, it's 10 to 100 times less toxic.”

He said researchers would conduct “comprehensive” tests to investigate how predators such as spiders, frogs and dragonflies would respond.

“We're pretty confident…you know, these guys [mosquitoes] It's really, really small, just milligrams. ”

But Beach said there is a long way to go before the research team can deploy this technology to help fight disease outbreaks.

“This is the first step in a very long process,” he said.

“We don't plan on releasing these mosquitoes into Australia any time soon.”

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