Scientists Genetically Modify Fungus To Kill Mosquitoes That Spread Malaria
"In the hope of finding a new way to fight malaria, scientists have used a
spider gene to genetically engineer a fungus to produce a venom that can quickly kill mosquitoes."
"The modified fungus was a highly effective mosquito killer in the first tests mimicking conditions in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria remains a major public health problem, researchers reported Thursday in the journal Science."
"'We're very excited,' says Raymond St. Leger, a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland who led the research. 'The results are very good. This could save many lives.'"
"Other researchers who are not involved in the research praised the advance."
"'I think it's an important step forward,' says Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 'We need something new to combat malaria.'"
"But others worry the approach may be unsafe."
"'Fighting malaria is something that everybody should do. But fighting malaria through genetic engineering is dangerous,' says Nnimmo Bassey of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, an advocacy group based in Nigeria."