Australian and American scientists have bred genetically modified mosquitoes resistant to the dengue virus

CANBERRA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Scientists from the Australian Federal Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, have for the first time used
to develop an Aedes aegypti mosquito that can fight all four types of serotype dengue virus infection, which is expected to play an important role in effectively curbing the spread of the virus, the Australian Federal Scientific and Industrial Research Organization said in a communique.
, a scientist with the Federal Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research, said the team used the latest results of genetic engineering to successfully genetically engineer the Aedes aegypti mosquito to significantly reduce its ability to infect and transmit the dengue virus.
"This is the first (mosquito genetic modification) engineering method for all four types of dengue virus, which is essential for effective suppression of the disease. Pradka said.
scientists have previously tried to genetically adapt mosquito populations carrying the dengue virus to make them resistant to the virus, but these methods usually target only one or two dengue viruses, with limited effectiveness in preventing the spread of the virus,
said.
Omar Akbari, an associate professor at the University of California, San Diego, who was involved in the study, said the breakthrough means that for the foreseeable future, viable genetic modification methods may be available to control the spread of dengue virus, thereby reducing the number of illnesses and even deaths. The results could also have wide-ranging implications for controlling other mosquito-borne viruses.
papers have been published in the American Journal of Public Library of Science Pathogens.
dengue virus caused by acute infectious diseases mainly through mosquito vector transmission, human infection will appear after persistent fever, severe headache, muscle pain, joint pain and other symptoms, accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and rash, serious cases can lead to death.
, more than 390 million cases of dengue fever are reported globally each year, resulting in an estimated global economic loss of $27 billion. There is no particularly effective treatment, and the world's only dengue vaccine in use is only available to prevent re-infection, and people who have never been infected with the dengue virus can cause more severe symptoms if they are vaccinated.