The Fight Against Dengue and Malaria

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Public Health National Institute (INSP) investigators used advance technology to modified genes by infusing scorpion’s venom molecules into the Aedes Aegypti and Anopheles Albimanus mosquito’s eggs; in order to learn more about the characteristics of Dengue and Malaria vectors, and thus contribute to its eradication.

Ailments Transmitted by Vectors represent a big problem to public health. Malaria and Dengue are among the worst in Mexico and Latin America, explained researcher Humberto Lanz Mendoza.

The Information Agency, Conacyt, in a press release, informed that both, Dengue and Malaria, are transmitted by mosquitos’ bites: the Aedes aegypti causes Dengue and Anopheles Albimanus Malaria.

To eradicate this type of mosquitoes, a group of researchers from the National Institute of Public Health, residing in Cuernavaca, Morelos, developed a kind of genetically modified mosquito, resistant to the virus that causes these diseases and that could be used in combination with other control strategies in Mexico.

Lanz Mendoza indicated that they selected a toxic molecular that does not allow either the Dengue virus or the Malaria parasite to develop in the mosquitoes.

The selected Molecules were the scorpina –the venom from the scorpion- and serpina. The genes of these molecules were microinjected in the mosquitos’ egg by Oxitec Company. After that, they were put in a secure place at the National Institute of Public Health, where they will remain until reaching adult age.

The modified mosquitoes presented a fluorescent gene, which allow to be differentiated from others.

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