Medical Discovery News
Science permeates everyday life. Yet the understanding of advances in biomedical science is limited at best. Few people make the connection that biomedical science is medicine and that biomedical scientists are working today for the medicine of tomorrow. Our weekly five-hundred-word newspaper column (http://www.illuminascicom.com/) and two-minute radio show provide insights into a broad range of biomedical science topics. Medical Discovery News is dedicated to explaining discoveries in biomedical research and their promise for the future of medicine. Each release is designed to stimulate listeners to think, question and appreciate how science affects their health as well as that of the rest of the world. We also delve into significant biomedical discoveries and portray how science (or the lack of it) has impacted health throughout history.
Medical Discovery News
Controlling Mosquitos Through a Toxic Relationship
965 Controlling Mosquitos Through A Toxic Relationship
Welcome to Medical Discovery News. I’m Dr David Niesel.
And I’m Dr. Norbert Herzog.
Among the things that come with warmer weather is the sound of mosquito spraying trucks in your neighborhood.
It’s a way for health officials to protect us from the infectious diseases mosquitos carry, such as West Nile, Dengue, and Zika.
Scientists are testing biological control approaches beyond pesticide spraying to control mosquito numbers because some insects are starting to grow resistant.
An increasingly effective method is to disrupt mosquito procreation through genetics. One involves infecting Aedes aegypti mosquitos’ eggs with the bacterium, Wolbachia. These male mosquitoes are grown into the millions in the lab before they’re released into the environment.
When they mate with the biting female, the bacteria-infected eggs don’t hatch, dramatically cutting their population. Quick note, only female mosquitos bite to produce their eggs.
In another approach, genetically modified males pass on genes to females during mating that prevent their offspring from maturing.
In Australia, scientists have introduced genes for spider and sea anemone venom into males. When they mate with females, the genes produce venom proteins that kill the female. Talk about a toxic relationship!
Field tests show these methods are eco-friendly, safe for humans, and lower mosquito numbers. As our climate warms, they’ll pose a greater public health threat, and no doubt biological control will be increasingly important.
We are Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, at UTMB and Quinnipiac University, where biomedical discoveries shape the future of medicine. For much more and our disclaimer go to medicaldiscoverynews.comor subscribe to our podcast. Sign up for expanded print episodes at www.illuminascicom.com
