The United States may soon become the first country to use bacteriological weapons against mosquitoes that spread viruses such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications from biotech companies for a project to use the bacteria Wolbachia pipientis against the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Wolbachia is expected to work as a pesticide, killing only harmful mosquitoes and keeping the rest of the insects alive.
The plan, dubbed "MosquitoMate", involves raising mosquitoes infected with a special strain of Wolbachia and then releasing them into their natural environment. As a result of mating of infected males with females from the wild, insects will lay non-viable eggs - abnormalities in the male chromosomes will make larvae impossible. By releasing new batches of infected males, scientists hope to gradually eliminate the tiger mosquito population.
Currently, eight countries have reported cases of microcephaly and other birth defects suspected to be caused by the Zika virus. “The more effective tools we have in our hands, the better, so we will definitely give Wolbachia a chance. Of course, a plan for the use of this tool must be developed in detail,”said Tom Scott, a University of California entomologist who is involved in the project.
The MosquitoMate project has tested Wolbachia against mosquitoes in three states over the past three years. University of Kentucky entomologist Stephen Dobson claims mosquito populations have declined by more than 70% in areas where the technology has been tested.
The MosquitoMate project has not met with serious opposition from the American public, which cannot be said about its British counterpart, which is being developed by Oxitec. The people of the kingdom have launched an extensive campaign on the Internet and in the media, and have also filed a petition against the use of genetically modified mosquitoes - unlike the American project, Oxitec's strategy includes changing the mosquito genome to prevent insects from reproducing.
ALEX KUDRIN