A new study from the University of Missouri and Colorado State University outlines the application of CRISPR gene-editing technology to produce mosquitoes that are unable to replicate Zika virus, rendering them unable to infect humans.
The Zika virus epidemic is a pressing public health emergency. In Brazil for example, there has been a 10-fold increase in newborns with microcephaly since October 2015, compared with previous years. Researchers have wrestled with various strategies for controlling the spread of Zika virus, which is transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites.
One approach, which was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in May, will release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitos into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. These “suicide mosquitos” are genetically-altered to produce offspring that die before emerging into adults and therefore cannot bite humans and spread disease.
Suicide mosquitos may prevent the spread of Zika virus
In 2016, the World Health Organization called the Zika virus epidemic a public health emergency of international concern due to the virus causing birth defects for pregnant women in addition to neurological problems. Since then, researchers have wrestled with different strategies for controlling the spread of Zika virus, which gets transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites.
One approach, which was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in May, will release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitos into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. These suicide mosquitos are genetically-altered to produce offspring that die before emerging into adults and therefore cannot bite humans and spread disease.
Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, researchers have produced mosquitoes unable to replicate Zika virus and therefore also unable to infect a human through biting.
In 2016, the World Health Organization called the Zika virus epidemic a “public health emergency of international concern” due to the virus causing birth defects for pregnant women in addition to neurological problems.
Since then, researchers have wrestled with different strategies for controlling the spread of Zika virus, which gets transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites.
One approach, which the Environmental Protection Agency approved in May, will release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. These “suicide mosquitoes” are genetically-altered to produce offspring that die before emerging into adults and therefore cannot bite humans and spread disease.
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IMAGE: Dr. Alexander Franz is an associate professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. view more
Credit: MU College of Veterinary Medicine
COLUMBIA, Mo. - In 2016, the World Health Organization called the Zika virus epidemic a public health emergency of international concern due to the virus causing birth defects for pregnant women in addition to neurological problems. Since then, researchers have wrestled with different strategies for controlling the spread of Zika virus, which gets transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites.
One approach, which was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in May, will release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitos into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. These suicide mosquitos are genetically-altered to produce offspring that die before emerging into adults and therefore cannot bite humans and spread disease.