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New Bacteria To Control Dengue Fever
"The results show we can completely transform local (mosquito) populations in a few months," said Michael Turelli, a biologist at the University of California at Davis. "It's natural selection on steroids."
Dengue affects between 50 and 100 million people in the tropics and subtropics each year, causing fever, muscle and joint ache as well as potentially fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
The disease is caused by four strains of virus that are spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. There is no vaccine, which is why scientists are focussing so intensely on mosquito control.
In 2009, Turelli and others hit on the idea of inserting a naturally-occurring bacterial parasite called Wolbachia to shorten the mosquito's lifespan so that the virus would not have enough time to develop.
Initial excitement was followed by disappointment. The strain of Wolbachia they used was somewhat virulent and knocked out the mosquitoes before they had the chance of spreading into the wild mosquito population.
Going back to the drawing board, the scientists found a non-virulent strain of Wolbachia in the fruitfly Drosphila -- a standard choice for laboratory research -- and believed they had the answer.
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More News on: Dengue Fever, Dengue / Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Mosquito Diseases, Shigellosis, Botox, Dengue and Homeopathy, Chikungunya and Homeopathy, Febrile Fits / Febrile Convulsions , Chikungunya , Dengue
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