Genetically modified fungus kills 99% of mosquitoes

3 Jun 2019

Image depicting What's in a word - Malaria/ dengue fever

Genetically modified fungus kills 99% of mosquitoes

Genetically modified fungus kills 99% of mosquitoesScientists from the University of Maryland (UMD) published a study in the journal Science, showing that a genetically engineered Fungus can be used to reduce the mosquito populations effectively.

Metarhizium pingshaense which is used for the study is a naturally occurring fungus.
 	It can infect insects in the wild and kills them slowly.
 	It has been used to control various pests in agricultural lands and plantations.

Metarhizium pingshaense is now genetically modified (GM) to produce a spider toxin to kill mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes spread parasites which cause Malaria.
 	Scientists have tested the GM fungus in a fake village-setting in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
 	They found that more than 99% of the mosquito population was killed by the fungus.
 	The study is relevant because no current measures are effective enough to control the mosquito population.
 	Also, Metarhizium pingshaense will not destroy any other pests other than mosquitoes, making it environmentally safe.

Image Credits: picryl.com

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Scientists from the University of Maryland (UMD) published a study in the journal Science, showing that a genetically engineered Fungus can be used to reduce […]

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