In the ongoing battle against mosquito-borne diseases, scientists have developed new gene-editing tools that show promise in controlling and potentially eradicating disease-carrying mosquitoes. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue, West Nile, and yellow fever cause over 700,000 deaths annually, posing a significant global health threat.
Factors such as global trade and climate change have facilitated the spread of disease-carrying mosquito species to regions like Florida, California, and Texas. The emergence of locally-acquired malaria cases in parts of the United States has raised concerns, with Florida and Texas reporting cases for the first time in decades, and Maryland also experiencing a case.
Amid these challenges, bioengineering offers a potential solution. Scientists have developed tools aimed at controlling and potentially eliminating mosquitoes that transmit diseases like dengue and malaria. Andrea Leal, the head of mosquito control in the Florida Keys, expressed optimism about the emerging technologies, stating, ‘The good news is we’ve got these emerging technologies that show great promise in reducing Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.’
One such initiative involves a partnership between the Florida Keys mosquito control agency and Oxitec, a company conducting trials for a new mosquito control method. Oxitec has utilized gene editing to create male mosquitoes that, when they reproduce, give rise to female offspring that do not survive to adulthood. Since female mosquitoes are the ones that bite and spread diseases, this approach has the potential to significantly reduce disease transmission.
Over the past three years, Oxitec has conducted limited releases of its bioengineered male mosquitoes in the Florida Keys, with the results of these trials yet to be disclosed. However, a 2022 study in Brazil demonstrated that the technology led to a population reduction of over 90% in certain areas, prompting Brazil’s approval for commercial marketing of the solution.
The development of these gene-editing tools marks a significant step in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases, offering hope for effective control and potential eradication of disease-carrying mosquito populations.
