Researchers from the ARC Center of Excellence in Synthetic Biology at Macquarie University have developed a pioneering genetic biocontrol strategy called Toxic Male Technique (TMT) to combat insect pests and mosquito-borne diseases. This innovative approach involves genetically engineering male insects to produce insect-specific poisonous proteins in their sperm..

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After mating, the proteins produced dramatically reduce the lifespan of female insects by up to 60% and prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika.. TMT represents a potentially revolutionary alternative to traditional pesticides, say the authors of a study published in the journal Nature Communications.

As insecticide resistance increases in insects and environmental damage from chemical methods continues, biocontrol is becoming an increasingly attractive scientific solution.. Unlike modern genetic approaches such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), TMT reduces the population of disease-carrying females faster and with fewer resources..

Lead researcher Samuel Beach emphasized that the technology aims to deliver rapid, targeted effects comparable to pesticides, but without the associated environmental damage.. One of the significant advantages of TMT is its effectiveness against mosquito life cycles. Female mosquitoes become infectious just a few days after contracting the virus, allowing a short period of time to interrupt disease transmission.

By reducing the lifespan of females by 60-80%, TMT effectively stops the spread of the virus. This approach is even more promising for agricultural pests, which have a much longer lifespan than mosquitoes, allowing for greater effect in reducing crop damage. Despite its potential, there are problems with implementing this method.

Tony Ovalla of Med Biotech Laboratories highlights practical challenges such as scaling up the release of genetically modified males in large regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, a malaria hotspot.

In addition, before widespread implementation, it is necessary to conduct thorough testing for the safety of the method in humans, create an infrastructure for mass breeding and develop a regulatory framework.

Beach remains optimistic, however, predicting that TMT could become a global, sustainable solution within a few years.

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