The Only Bad Thing About Summer

An article was published by Science Daily, which summarizes a research study where a discovery was made which could save thousands of lives. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Arizona led by Jun Isoe. The report was published in PLoS Biology January 8th 2019. During this study, the researchers searched for genes which were exclusive to mosquitoes. To execute this task they utilized a technique known as bioinformatics. Through this process they discovered proteins which were unique to only mosquitoes. This was a crucial discovery due to the current pesticides on the market being non specific and killing off beneficial insects such as honey bees. 40 proteins were discovered, however only one contained the capability of effecting reproduction. They named this protein Eggshell Organizing Factor 1 (EOF-1). The name stemmed from its function during eggshell synthesis. RNA interference was used as a means of inhibiting this protein function which led to a unsuccessful eggshell formation resulting in death of the embryo. After further testing it was confirmed that the creation of a drug which targets EOF-1, would be an effective pesticide which could prevent the occurrence of diseases spread by mosquitoes.

It is safe to say we all hate mosquitoes. Unlike virtually any other insect, there are no friends lovers of mosquitoes. However, there is information which could pursued one to not wish to completely eradicate them. Although pests and even deadly to humans, certain plants and animals utilize mosquitoes for survival. That being said, I believe funding and research should be increased in this area especially for the purpose of eliminating the mosquitoes which are vectors for disease. 

How Mosquito Genes Could be the Key to a Bite-Free Summer

A recent article published in the Los Angeles Times claims that genetic research being conducted with mosquitoes could be leading to a breakthrough we have all been waiting for. A team of researchers led by Dr. Matt DeGennaro at Florida International University are currently analyzing the genes in mosquitoes that help them find and bite them. Mosquitoes have the potential to carry many different harmful diseases, such as Zika Virus, Malaria, and Yellow Fever. The ability to isolate the genes responsible for their ability to hunt down and potentially infect humans would be a step in the direction of preventing these deadly diseases from being spread. Through his work with a species of mosquito known as Aedes aegypti, Dr. DeGennaro has determined that mosquitoes rely on a wide variety of cues to locate humans. They are known to have the ability to detect both carbon dioxide and lactic acid in the air to locate humans, and can even taste a human with their legs by landing on their skin. These uncanny abilities are possible because of certain genes the mosquito possesses. DeGennaro has done extensive research on the role the IR8a scent receptor in Aedes aegypti that detects carbon dioxide and lactic acid, and has found a way to disrupt the gene that codes for this key receptor. DeGennaro's research shows that mosquitoes without this receptor did have a significantly lower response to human chemical signatures. Overall, a much lower percentage of mosquitoes without the IR8a gene were able to detect human blood and odor than normal mosquitoes with the IR8a gene. This discovery is likely the first step in devising a strategy to deactivate this gene in mosquitoes and stop the spreading of deadly diseases such as Yellow Fever.

I think that this article and the research being conducted by Dr. DeGennaro and his team is very promising. The ability to isolate one of the genes that help mosquitoes track and bite humans is a very useful discovery. In the not-so-distant future, I would expect this information to lead to a new type of insecticide that specifically targets the IR8a gene in mosquitoes. This may seem very unlikely right now, but science progresses very quickly, and it would not surprise me if this type of insecticide was possible in the next few decades. However, the disruption of the mosquitoes' IR8a gene would do more than stop them from biting humans. The inability to detect carbon dioxide would likely impair their ability to locate any potential prey. This would cause the death of many mosquitoes and cause the entire ecosystem to be thrown out of balance. Before this is done, ecologists must determine what kinds of effects a dwindling mosquito population would have on the environment and weigh the risks and rewards associated with this scientific breakthrough.

Test of Zika-Fighting Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Gets Tentative F.D.A. Approval

The federal government on Friday moved to clear the way for the release of genetically engineered mosquitoes into the wild for the first time in the United States, tentatively approving a field test that might help slow the spread of the Zika virus. The Food and Drug Administration said it had determined that the field trial of the mosquitoes was unlikely to cause any harm to people, animals or the environment.

         The mosquitoes, developed by a British company, Oxitec, contain a gene that kills the insect. Male mosquitoes containing the gene are released to mate with wild females. Offspring from such matings die before they reach adulthood, which would suppress the population of wild mosquitoes that spread Zika. The field test, to be conducted by Oxitec and the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, would take place in Key Haven, a small community outside Key West. Theses genetically modified mosquitoes would be released up to three times a week for as long as 22 months, to assess whether the population of wild mosquitoes is reduced. These mosquitoes are unlikely to cause harm to people because the male mosquitoes being released do not bite, they said. 

This article is important because traditional methods of controlling mosquitoes like spraying insecticides and removing standing water where the insects breed have not been sufficient and I agree that new methods must be tried. I hope these genetically engineered mosquitoes help with the Zika Virus because it would really benefit so many people. 

Why Do Mosquitoes Prefer Your Blood Over Others?

Ever wonder why mosquitoes bite you and not your friend sitting next to you? A recent study that was published in the journal PLOS ONE addressed this mystery.The study tested the level of attraction that mosquitoes had towards fraternal and identical twins. The  female species of mosquitoes involved in this study were Aedes aegypti which are the main transmitters of the yellow fever virus, and the dengue virus. Female mosquitoes bite humans because they need protein from the blood to produce their offspring. Once the female obtains a sufficient meal of blood, she rests until her eggs develop and then goes on a quest in search for a new host. Male mosquitoes do not feed off of human blood; they depend on the sugars from flower nectar as their food source. Typically, female mosquitoes have a preference for certain individuals with a distinct smell since they can detect strong chemicals emitted by the human body. Since body odor can be genetically controlled, Logan and his colleagues decided to  examine whether or not there are certain genes responsible for the attraction of mosquitoes. To determine if the attractiveness to mosquitoes has heritable factors, the fraternal and identical twins hands were placed in a Y-shaped olfactometer. In each trail, a new set of mosquitoes were used and their response to the body odors from the hands of each twin was measured. The results from the experiment demonstrated that mosquitoes can detect a genetic difference through odors when selecting a host. However, it is still unknown whether the differences among monozygotic and dizygotic twins is due to the presence or absence of attractive and repellent chemicals. Even though they were unable to decipher what exact genetic components are responsible for attracting mosquitoes, they are one step closer in identifying the genes that influences attractiveness.

In my opinion, the genetic research being conducted on mosquitoes has many benefits in helping eliminate the transmission of malaria, yellow fever, and other dangerous viruses, If researchers can determine which genes that are responsible for the attractiveness of mosquitoes; then that valuable information can be used to design better strategies in protecting the people. Additionally, company's can develop stronger and more efficient repellents that contain a certain chemical formula based off the genetic findings in research.

Engineering Mosquitoes’ Genes to Resist Malaria

Two teams of biologists in Irvine campus of the University of California work in a basement behind five protective doors. They engineered a new breed of mosquitos that is suppose to eliminate malaria. The scientists incorporated two genetic modifications, one to release antibodies to the presence of malaria parasites. The second called a gene drive, should propel the malaria-resistance genes throughout a natural mosquito population. Taking into account Mendel’s law of genetics, the inserted genes should rapidly take over a wild population in as few as ten generations or a single season.

No mosquitos have been let out into the wild mosquito population yet. Biologist are keen to avoid surprises that might arouse public hostility. They believe the public is not ready to such a novel technology. Other concern arises like if the genes will start to develop mutations that might impair their inheritance or natural selection.

In my point of view its fascinating how we have the ability to corrected or edit certain genes. Especially when it comes to malaria, a life threatening illness. From another prospective I totally disagree with engineering mosquitos. I disagree for the only reason that the outcome of releasing the modified mosquitos are not something measurable or controlled. This might have a great impact, perhaps devastating event to happen to our ecosystem.

'Gene drive' mosquitoes engineered to fight malaria

         


         Malaria is the number four leading cause of death in Africa.  Accounting for 6% of deaths in sub-saharan Africa. Scientists however may have recently cracked the case to wipe out the disease in some regions for good.  Malaria is spread almost entirely through mosquitoes.  In Africa the mosquitoes that spread Malaria are infected with a parasite of the Plasmodium genus.  Every time a mosquito bites a human it injects some of the parasite into their blood stream.  Scientist have been studying the mosquito's genome intensely to discover a way to fight Malaria.
           The idea was that if scientists could engineer the mosquito's genome so that it would be resistant to the parasite than the mosquito would no longer spread the disease.  However the problem was that it is nearly impossible to genetically engineer a whole wild population of mosquitos with the same gene.
            Insert the concept of "gene drive".  Gene drive basically is a way to alter the inheritance pattern to favor the inheritance of one particular gene.  This would allow the genetically engineered mosquitos to pass on its resistant genes to all of its offspring rather than just half.  Anthony James a molecular biologist at the University of California Irvine wrote a paper suggesting that this method of gene drive could affectively wipe out malaria.  He recently was contacted by other biologists who successfully engineered a gene drive in fruit flies.  James used their same method a gene editing system called CRSPR-Cas9 in mosquitos and found that 99% of the offspring received the resistant gene.
           In my opinion I am a bit skeptical by engineering entire populations of mosquitos, because we do not know any other side affects of the gene drive or transgenic material in the mosquito.  However I am amazed that there is a method that scientist have come of with that has the capability to completely wipe out a disease in Malaria that has plagued third world countries for centuries.

Original Post

CRSPR-Cas9

Mosquitoes and Genes

It has been speculated that the attractiveness of mosquitoes could be linked to the blood type of an individual. New studies, however,  show that genes could potentially be a factor in the attraction of mosquitos. In this study researchers at the London school of hygiene and Tropical Medicine tested 18 sets of identical male twins along with 19 sets of female twins. Scientist used identical twins due to the fact that they share the same genetic sequence.  

The way researchers conducted this study was quite simple. The set of twins placed their hands in the tips of a "Y" shaped tube while researchers placed mosquitos on the bottom end of the tube and analyzed which hand they would go for. The study showed that mosquito attractiveness was more predominant over identical twins than non-identical twins showing that genes do in fact play a role with whether or not you are chosen to be "eaten"  by mosquitos.