Malaria causing mosquitoes soon to be extinct?

[Grant Johnson]

From: Sci-Dev.net

"A major stumbling block to using GM mosquitoes engineered to stop transmission of malaria may have been solved with a new genetic technique to ensure that they survive and propagate in natural environments.

The first genetically modified (GM) mosquito was produced in 2000 by scientists at Imperial College London, United Kingdom. Subsequent studies have shown that such modifications could be used to create mosquitoes with a reduced ability to transmit the deadly Plasmodium parasite responsible for malaria..."

more at Sci-Dev.net
and the full story at: Nature

[lynch180]

[John Kane]

That's good news

[markharf]

The plasmodium parasite has demonstrated much better adaptability than have scientists. For a historical perspective, consider that the invention of DDT was supposed to be the death knell for malaria.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Mark

[mark manley]

It would be good for everybody if they could eradicate malaria, it seems even our favourite repellant doesn't work.

BBC News - Mosquitoes ignore repellent Deet after first exposure

[anonymous1]

Crikey the mozies are so thick round here at the moment I'm running around slapping ankles and arms, so much so a bloke could be mistaken for a Scotsman doing the highland fling

In all seriousness I think funds and resources would be better put into eradicating the mosquito!

[mark manley]

Originally Posted by Drwnite

In all seriousness I think funds and resources would be better put into eradicating the mosquito!

There was a scientist on the radio a couple of years ago saying they have the capability to do just that but went on to say, as the Chinese discovered when they tried to wipe out the sparrow these things can have unforseen and sometimes disasterous effect, which is why they are just trying to get rid of the malaria parasite itself.

China’s Worst Self-Inflicted Environmental Disaster: The Campaign to Wipe Out the Common Sparrow

[lynch180]

Originally Posted by mark manley

There was a scientist on the radio a couple of years ago saying they have the capability to do just that but went on to say, as the Chinese discovered when they tried to wipe out the sparrow these things can have unforseen and sometimes disasterous effect, which is why they are just trying to get rid of the malaria parasite itself.

China’s Worst Self-Inflicted Environmental Disaster: The Campaign to Wipe Out the Common Sparrow

The poor sparrows

[Walkabout]

Meantime, there may be a vaccine on the way to deal with the malarial parasite - maybe in two more years:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ine-news-71841
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24431510




Ok, it doesn't have a 100% "hit rate", but that is better than a zero hit rate.

[ElisabethBrown]

Great news, mosquito bites are terrible for me even when just usual mosquito bite, I can't imagine how bad the malaria feels then. Hopefully it will work.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by Walkabout

Meantime, there may be a vaccine on the way to deal with the malarial parasite - maybe in two more years:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ine-news-71841
BBC News - UK firm seeks to market world's first malaria vaccine




Ok, it doesn't have a 100% "hit rate", but that is better than a zero hit rate.

The news item did not have much to say about the economics of this new vaccine: it certainly is intended for the youth of Africa (to be distributed at the cost price + 5%) but does that mean it will be available to those from rich countries, and at what price?
A moral dilemma.

[sparks07]

that's really good news

[mococaman]

That might be but now they have one just as bad called dengue fever that is all over brazil and probably the rest of south america.

[Tony LEE]

Originally Posted by mococaman

That might be but now they have one just as bad called dengue fever that is all over brazil and probably the rest of south america.

And a fair bit of the rest of the world too

from wikipedia

"Dengue is common in more than 110 countries.[7] It infects 50 to 528 million people worldwide a year, leading to half a million hospitalizations,[2][3] and approximately 25,000 deaths.[8] For the decade of the 2000s, 12 countries in Southeast Asia were estimated to have about 3 million infections and 6,000 deaths annually.[42] It is reported in at least 22 countries in Africa; but is likely present in all of them with 20% of the population at risk.[43] This makes it one of the most common vector-borne diseases worldwide.[33]"

[mococaman]

I didnt know it was that many countries but I thought most of them between the tropics.

Thanks for the info.