The mosquito is the deadliest animal species in the world. Although the species found in Europe, and particularly in France, are harmless, this is not the case in other regions of the world. For example, they can transmit dengue fever, the Zika virus and yellow fever in Africa. The situation could finally change thanks to a discovery made by scientists, making it possible to limit the reproduction of these insects!
Fewer mosquitoes thanks to this biological change
In detail, a study carried out by researchers at the University of California (Santa Barbara – United States) made it possible to limit the population by modifying one of the mosquitoes' abilities: hearing. By making the males deaf, they explain that they have succeeded in preventing them from mating with female mosquitoes, which de facto reduces the population of this harmful species.
This is explained by the fact that mosquitoes breed in the air, and the males rely directly on the wingbeats of the females. By not hearing them, they cannot reach their target. To achieve this feat, it was necessary to affect a specific gene called trpVa, which plays an essential role in mosquito hearing.
Mute mosquitoes to get rid of them
Thus, researchers created genetically deaf mosquitoes using gene editing technology: CRISPR-Cas9. The results thus show that the disinterest in reproduction of males of mating age. Excellent news when we know that each male mates several times with females.
The sense of hearing is thus the most strategic for the mosquito reproduction process, which makes the researchers' solution an incredible opportunity to limit the species. Faced with this more than conclusive experience, the researchers believe that they could reproduce the process on mosquito species around the world.
A solution not yet perfect
Important fact to note: only female mosquitoes spread diseases, since they are the ones that bite. “So this method is not so much about stopping females from making people sick as it is about reducing the overall mosquito population, thereby reducing the chance of bites,” Vice explains.
The media also adds in passing that associated with other techniques, such as that of the sterile insect (SIT), this could help to further reduce the transmission of diseases from mosquitoes to humans. As a reminder, the latter consists of releasing sterile males so that they can mate in vain with females.
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