Genetically engineered male mosquitoes could be a game-changer in the quest to eradication of tropical diseases, Australian scientists reveal in groundbreaking research published in Nature Communications. By “engineering” venonomous proteins in the semen of male mosquitoes, scientists are leveraging a novel pest control method dubbed the “toxic male technique.”
This innovative approach specifically targets female mosquitoes, the primary vectors of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, solely responsible for spreading these diseases through their blood-feeding activities.
Researchers at Macquarie University, led by scientist Sam Beach, trialed the “toxic male technique” using fruit flies, a common laboratory species, as a proof-of-concept. The method, which proved successful in significantly reducing the lifespan of female flies that bred with the genetically modified males, will now be tested in mosquitoes.
This technique could transform how to manage pests, offering hope for healthier communities and a more sustainable future without the need for widespread pesticide use that can harm beneficial species. Computer models have demonstrated that actively killing biting females could be far more effective than traditional genetic engineering approaches that rely on releasing hordes of male insects that are genetically modified to be sterile.
One of the distinguishing aspects of this method is its potential to rapidly suppress outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, which affects approximately 390 million people worldwide annually. To ensure the safety of humans and non-target species, the mosquitoes would need to be genetically modified to only express the toxic semen once released into the wild, utilizing “conditional expression” techniques that allow specific genes to be turned on or off willfully.
While the road to implementing this technique in mosquitoes is still ahead, the breakthrough represents a promising milestone in the pursuit of novel solutions to combat mosquito-borne diseases effectively.
More information:
Beach, S.J., Maselko, M. Recombinant venom proteins in insect seminal fluid reduce female lifespan. Nat Commun 16, 219 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54863-1