Genetically Enhanced Fungus is Killing Malaria Mosquitos

Scientists have created a genetically modified fungus that produces spider toxin to rapidly kill malaria-spreading mosquitos.

Jun 4th, 2019

Malaria Carrier / Image: Medical News Today

Malaria Carrier / Image: Medical News Today

The pharmaceutical world has been obsessed with finding ways to ward off mosquitos and the diseases they carry. We’ve seen a pill that makes your blood lethal to mosquitos, Bill Gates’ genetically modified mosquitos that kill future generations of mosquitos, and even the use of dubstep music to deter mosquitos from feasting on flesh. A recent BBC article contained the latest trend: mosquito-killing fungus.

A team at University of Maryland identified a fungus that naturally infects Anopheles mosquitos that spread malaria. Next, they enhanced the fungus to produce a toxin found in funnel-web spider venom once it’s inside a mosquito, effectively killing it. The fungus was tested in a 6,500 sqft fake village, surrounded by a double layer of mosquito netting, that the researchers built in Burkina Faso in West Africa. In just 45 days, the mosquito population decreased 99%.

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Syntegon Opens OSD Customer Center in Waiblingen

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The combination of Flexi-Cap and Booklet-Label blinds the vial and offers ample space for product information in several languages.

CSL Behring Uses Specialty Label System to Blind Vials for Clinical Trials

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Pharma Packaging Innovations

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CPhI Festival of Pharma 2020 in October

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Liveo Research Announces Capacity Expansion

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Bormioli Pharma Invests in Type I Glass Vial Production for Injectable Medicines and Vaccines

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Covectra Enhances Drug Supply Chain Security

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Pharma Contract Manufacturer Expands Large Batch Production to 110,000 Capsules Per Hour

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Pharmapack Expert Recommends Holistic Approach to Sustainability

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