Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using CRISPR gene editing technology, which could lead to the prevention of malaria spread by modifying a single gene in mosquitoes. According to researchers from UC San Diego, Johns Hopkins, and UC Berkeley universities, changing a single amino acid in mosquitoes can prevent them from transmitting malaria.
The current method of controlling malaria has failed due to resistance to insecticides and other drugs, infecting up to 263 million people yearly. However, the new CRISPR-Cas9 approach enables the creation of genetically modified mosquitoes that can still bite people with malaria but are unable to transmit it.
This system replaces an unwanted amino acid (allele) L224, which facilitates parasite transmission, with a benign version Q224. The resulting mosquito’s salivary glands can be blocked from receiving parasites, preventing infection in people or animals.
Researchers have successfully tested this technique without affecting the health and reproduction capabilities of mosquitoes. Moreover, their approach enables the spread of the modified gene through mosquito offspring, paving the way for real-world strategies to control malaria.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/science/crispr-can-stop-malaria-spread-by-editing-a-single-gene-in-mosquitos-133010031.html