Researchers at Harvard University have proposed a novel way to treat mosquitoes for malaria by giving them the disease itself. The approach involves coating bed nets with a combination of two drugs that can kill malaria parasites in mosquitoes when absorbed through their legs. This method could provide a long-lasting and cheap alternative to insecticides, which have become less effective due to mosquito resistance.
The scientists analyzed malaria’s DNA to identify potential weak spots and tested 22 possible drugs on female mosquitoes infected with the parasite. The results showed that two highly effective drugs killed all parasites in 100% of the mosquitoes. Even if a mosquito survives contact with a bed net, the parasites within it are still killed, preventing the transmission of malaria.
The effect of the drugs lasts for a year on the nets, making them a promising solution to combat malaria. The approach has been proven in laboratory tests and is planned to be tested in Ethiopia in real-world conditions. With at least six years of studies needed to confirm its effectiveness, this new method could potentially revolutionize the fight against malaria.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j554pgjgko