Natural Killers Fungi to be Genetically Engineered to Combat Malaria

Highlights:

• Mosquito resistance to chemical insecticides remains the major cause of failure to effectively control mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria.
• Genetically altered fungi capable of producing lethal toxins when the fungal spore comes in contact with mosquito can kill them, thus acting as biological pesticides.

Novel genetically engineered fungi made to produce spider and scorpion venom makes them lethal to disease carrying mosquitoes and could emerge as highly effective biological pesticides to control mosquitoes in the future, according to a recent study from the University of Maryland, and colleagues from Burkina Faso, China and Australia.

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03399-0Source: Medindia

‘Engineered fungal spores are highly effective and lethal against disease carrying mosquitoes but safe for humans and other beneficial insects such as honey bees.’

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