Controlling vector-borne diseases by releasing modified mosquitoes

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 16; no. 8; pp. 508 - 518
• Main Authors: Flores, Heather A., O’Neill, Scott L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/326/2522; 631/326/596/1413; 631/326/596/2563; Aedes; Aedes - genetics; Aedes - microbiology; Animals; Aquatic insects; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Control methods; Culicidae; Dengue fever; Disease transmission; Fever; Genetic Engineering; Genetic modification; Genetically modified organisms; Global health; Health; Health aspects; Infection control; Infectious Diseases; Innovations; Insecticides; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Mosquito Control; Mosquito Vectors - genetics; Mosquito Vectors - microbiology; Mosquitoes; Parasitology; Prevention; Review Article; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Virology; Virus Diseases - prevention & control; Yellow fever
• ISSN: 1740-1526; 1740-1534
• DOI: 10.1038/s41579-018-0025-0

Aedes mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya, are becoming major global health emergencies while old threats, such as yellow fever, are re-emerging. Traditional control methods, which have focused on reducing mosquito populations through the application of insecticides or preventing breeding through removal of larval habitat, are largely ineffective, as evidenced by the increasing global disease burden. Here, we review novel mosquito population reduction and population modification approaches with a focus on control methods based on the release of mosquitoes, including the release of Wolbachia- infected mosquitoes and strategies to genetically modify the vector, that are currently under development and have the potential to contribute to a reversal of the current alarming disease trends. Flores and O’Neill review novel approaches to control mosquito-transmitted diseases, with a focus on control methods that are based on the release of mosquitoes, including the release of Wolbachia -infected mosquitoes, and strategies to genetically modify the vector.