Advances and challenges in synthetic biology for mosquito control.
Shih-Che Weng, Reem A Masri, Omar S Akbari
Trends in parasitology · 2024-Jan-24 · PMID 38000957 · DOI 10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.001Abstract
Mosquito-borne illnesses represent a significant global health peril, resulting in approximately one million fatalities annually. West Nile, dengue, Zika, and malaria are continuously expanding their global reach, driven by factors that escalate mosquito populations and pathogen transmission. Innovative control measures are imperative to combat these catastrophic ailments. Conventional approaches, such as eliminating breeding sites and using insecticides, have been helpful, but they face challenges such as insecticide resistance and environmental harm. Given the mounting severity of mosquito-borne diseases, there is promise in exploring innovative approaches using synthetic biology to bolster mosquitoes' resistance to pathogens, or even eliminate the mosquito vectors, as a means of control. This review outlines current strategies, future goals, and the importance of gene editing for global health defenses against mosquito-borne diseases.
Evidence profile
- Study type
- review
- Text reviewed by the copilot
- Full text is available
- Publication status
- published
- Corrections or retractions
- none
- Conflict statement
- Declaration of interests O.S.A. is a founder of Agragene, Inc. and Synvect, Inc. with equity interest. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of California, San Diego, in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. All other authors declare no competing interests.