Scientists in Australia breed mosquitoes with ‘toxic’ semen to curb diseases

Australia Mosquito Population Researchers Could Develop Genetically Modified 'Toxic Males' to Kill Females by Mating With Them

In Australia, researchers are considering how genetic engineering could allow mosquitoes to produce venom proteins, like those produced by spiders and sea anemones, in their sperm to transfer the poison to female mosquitoes when mating. In a study led by Macquarie University, researchers first used genetically modified fruit flies to test what has been dubbed the “toxic male technique,” which makes it possible for the insects to produce venom in…

Recombinant venom proteins in insect seminal fluid reduce female lifespan

The emergence of insecticide resistance has increased the need for alternative pest management tools. Numerous genetic biocontrol approaches, which involve the release of genetically modified organisms to control pest populations, are in various stages of development to provide highly targeted pest control. However, all current mating-based genetic biocontrol technologies function by releasing engineered males which skew sex-ratios or reduce off…

"Toxic male technique" uses poison semen to control insects

Scientists have found a way to use toxic masculinity for good. Australian researchers have successfully genetically engineered insect semen to be poisonous, reducing the number of female insects able to breed. A new technique inserts proteins from spider and sea anemone venom into the reproductive system of fruit flies, poisoning the female during mating. — Read the rest The post "Toxic male technique" uses poison semen to control insects appea…

New genetic biocontrol to reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in a test tube. Credit: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Getty Images Researchers have developed a new pest control method known as the Toxic Male Technique (TMT), which works by genetically engineering male insects to produce venom proteins in their semen.  Males transfer the insecticidal proteins when they mate with females, significantly reducing the females’ lifespans. The approach could be used to reduce the threat of dise…

'Toxic' Semen Could Turn Mosquito Mating Deadly to Curb Disease Spread

Genetically engineered mosquitoes with toxic semen could be a new weapon against tropical disease, Australian scientists said after trialling the novel pest control method.The "toxic male technique" aims to breed mosquitoes that express venomous proteins in their semen, killing off females after mating. Female mosquitoes are targeted because only they bite and drink blood, thereby spreading diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.Scien…

Mosquitos with 'toxic' semen may be used to curb deadly diseases: Study

The World Health Organization (WHO) said mosquitos are responsible for millions of deaths globally each year through the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue fever and more. Now, a new effort is aiming to reduce bites from disease-spreading mosquitos, by genetically modifying male mosquitos to make their semen deadly to female mosquitos. The experiment, from researchers with Macquarie University in Australia, is first using genetically modifi…