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Scientists genetically modify mosquitoes in the hope of stopping the spread of malaria.

The technique, which uses genes taken from the bee and the African frog, blocks the normal growth of the parasite of malaria inside the mosquito.

This would mean a mosquito bite in regions of the world where the disease is endemic no longer condemned to a potential death sentence.

The World Health Organization says there were nearly 600,000 deaths malaria In 2023, three -quarters of them in children under the age of five.

Dr. Nikolai Windbichler, geneticist at Imperial College in London, said that GM mosquitoes could work when other malaria control attempts have failed.

“The advantage is that no one needs to do anything,” he said.

“For example, with a bed fillet, you must soak it with insecticide and put it in place when you fall asleep. It forces people to do something to be effective.

“But this technology is purely genetic, so nobody will have to do anything so that it is beneficial.”

Sky News was authorized to enter the Imperial College insectary, where thousands of mosquitoes are raised as part of the revolutionary zero transmission project.

The first step in the process of creating the GM mosquito injects the insect egg with genes from other species that make toxic proteins for the parasite of malaria.

They slow down the normal development of the parasite inside the mosquito stomach.

When the female insect bites someone to take blood – it needs to make eggs – the parasite is too immature to infect them and cause a disease.

In a second crucial step, researchers use another genetic technique to ensure that all the descendants of GM mosquitoes bear the same antimalauric line.

Dr. Windbichler said that the technique meant that only a relatively low number of modified mosquitoes should be released in the wild so that the whole population becomes effectively resistant to malaria.

“The trait is self-popain,” he said.

“Over time, it will become more and more common in the population.

“It will also spread geographically so that ultimately each malaria which transmits mosquitoes in Africa can wear this.”

Research is done in collaboration with scientists in Tanzania and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

There are now two malaria vaccines, but they are expensive and only moderately effective. Medicines are also available, but the parasite develops resistance to some of them.

The genetic technique, however, is relatively inexpensive. After the initial laboratory work, GM mosquitoes do all the work effectively.

Find out more:
Half of the world could be at risk of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes
Why some people are really “mosquito magpies”

Professor George Christophides, specialist in infectious diseases at Imperial College, said that GM mosquitoes should probably be released in nature.

“We have to prove in the laboratory that it works, and it works in the way we want it to work,” he said.

“And then we must prove that he is sure and that this causes no involuntary damage, both to people and to the environment.

“It must be accepted by local communities and regulators before testing them in the field.”

Scientists genetically modify mosquitoes in the hope of stopping the spread of malaria.

The technique, which uses genes taken from the bee and the African frog, blocks the normal growth of the parasite of malaria inside the mosquito.

This would mean a mosquito bite in regions of the world where the disease is endemic no longer condemned to a potential death sentence.

The World Health Organization says there were nearly 600,000 deaths malaria In 2023, three -quarters of them in children under the age of five.

Dr. Nikolai Windbichler, geneticist at Imperial College in London, said that GM mosquitoes could work when other malaria control attempts have failed.

“The advantage is that no one needs to do anything,” he said.

“For example, with a bed fillet, you must soak it with insecticide and put it in place when you fall asleep. It forces people to do something to be effective.

“But this technology is purely genetic, so nobody will have to do anything so that it is beneficial.”

Sky News was authorized to enter the Imperial College insectary, where thousands of mosquitoes are raised as part of the revolutionary zero transmission project.

The first step in the process of creating the GM mosquito injects the insect egg with genes from other species that make toxic proteins for the parasite of malaria.

They slow down the normal development of the parasite inside the mosquito stomach.

When the female insect bites someone to take blood – it needs to make eggs – the parasite is too immature to infect them and cause a disease.

In a second crucial step, researchers use another genetic technique to ensure that all the descendants of GM mosquitoes bear the same antimalauric line.

Dr. Windbichler said that the technique meant that only a relatively low number of modified mosquitoes should be released in the wild so that the whole population becomes effectively resistant to malaria.

“The trait is self-popain,” he said.

“Over time, it will become more and more common in the population.

“It will also spread geographically so that ultimately each malaria which transmits mosquitoes in Africa can wear this.”

Research is done in collaboration with scientists in Tanzania and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

There are now two malaria vaccines, but they are expensive and only moderately effective. Medicines are also available, but the parasite develops resistance to some of them.

The genetic technique, however, is relatively inexpensive. After the initial laboratory work, GM mosquitoes do all the work effectively.

Find out more:
Half of the world could be at risk of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes
Why some people are really “mosquito magpies”

Professor George Christophides, specialist in infectious diseases at Imperial College, said that GM mosquitoes should probably be released in nature.

“We have to prove in the laboratory that it works, and it works in the way we want it to work,” he said.

“And then we must prove that he is sure and that this causes no involuntary damage, both to people and to the environment.

“It must be accepted by local communities and regulators before testing them in the field.”

Scientists genetically modify mosquitoes in the hope of stopping the spread of malaria.

The technique, which uses genes taken from the bee and the African frog, blocks the normal growth of the parasite of malaria inside the mosquito.

This would mean a mosquito bite in regions of the world where the disease is endemic no longer condemned to a potential death sentence.

The World Health Organization says there were nearly 600,000 deaths malaria In 2023, three -quarters of them in children under the age of five.

Dr. Nikolai Windbichler, geneticist at Imperial College in London, said that GM mosquitoes could work when other malaria control attempts have failed.

“The advantage is that no one needs to do anything,” he said.

“For example, with a bed fillet, you must soak it with insecticide and put it in place when you fall asleep. It forces people to do something to be effective.

“But this technology is purely genetic, so nobody will have to do anything so that it is beneficial.”

Sky News was authorized to enter the Imperial College insectary, where thousands of mosquitoes are raised as part of the revolutionary zero transmission project.

The first step in the process of creating the GM mosquito injects the insect egg with genes from other species that make toxic proteins for the parasite of malaria.

They slow down the normal development of the parasite inside the mosquito stomach.

When the female insect bites someone to take blood – it needs to make eggs – the parasite is too immature to infect them and cause a disease.

In a second crucial step, researchers use another genetic technique to ensure that all the descendants of GM mosquitoes bear the same antimalauric line.

Dr. Windbichler said that the technique meant that only a relatively low number of modified mosquitoes should be released in the wild so that the whole population becomes effectively resistant to malaria.

“The trait is self-popain,” he said.

“Over time, it will become more and more common in the population.

“It will also spread geographically so that ultimately each malaria which transmits mosquitoes in Africa can wear this.”

Research is done in collaboration with scientists in Tanzania and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

There are now two malaria vaccines, but they are expensive and only moderately effective. Medicines are also available, but the parasite develops resistance to some of them.

The genetic technique, however, is relatively inexpensive. After the initial laboratory work, GM mosquitoes do all the work effectively.

Find out more:
Half of the world could be at risk of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes
Why some people are really “mosquito magpies”

Professor George Christophides, specialist in infectious diseases at Imperial College, said that GM mosquitoes should probably be released in nature.

“We have to prove in the laboratory that it works, and it works in the way we want it to work,” he said.

“And then we must prove that he is sure and that this causes no involuntary damage, both to people and to the environment.

“It must be accepted by local communities and regulators before testing them in the field.”