Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Not all mosquitoes can transmit malaria

Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Nov, 2014 12:46 PM
    A genetic study has revealed that certain species of mosquitoes have evolved to better transmit malaria than even some of their close cousins.
     
    The study may advance understanding about the biological differences between mosquitoes that transmit malaria, and ultimately, how species might be more precisely controlled to stop transmission.
     
    "With the availability of genome sequences from Anopheles mosquitoes of divergent lineages, we now have the opportunity to significantly improve our understanding of these important malaria vectors and develop new strategies to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases," explained Zhijian Tu, professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
     
    Of about 450 different species of mosquitoes in the Anopheles genus, only about 60 can transmit the Plasmodium malaria parasite that is harmful to people.
     
    The team chose 16 mosquito species that are currently found in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, but evolved from the same ancestor approximately 100 million years ago.
     
    Today, the 16 species have varying capabilities for transmitting malaria and adapting to new environments.
     
    The researchers sequenced their genomes to better understand the evolutionary science behind the differences.
     
    In a second related study, researchers found that the most dangerous species, Anopheles gambiae, is able to increase its transmission capabilities by swapping genes at the chromosome level.
     
    A genetic process called introgression, where genes from one species flow into another, plays a role in evolution, in this case by enhancing the capacity of mosquitoes to transmit the malaria parasite, the findings suggested.
     
    The research in the second paper was led by Matthew Hahn, professor at Indiana University.
     
    Both the studies appeared in the journal Science.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives
    Researchers from Britain have identified the effect of honey used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases, on pathogenic fungi that can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people.

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives

    Mechanism linked to stroke damage identified

    Mechanism linked to stroke damage identified
    Researchers have discovered the mechanism linked to stroke damage and brain function, thus paving the way to develop a new drug target to block brain damage....

    Mechanism linked to stroke damage identified

    Ebola virus detected in semen three months after symptoms end

    Ebola virus detected in semen three months after symptoms end
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned Friday that the semen of men recovering from Ebola can contain the deadly virus up to three months after the symptoms disappear...

    Ebola virus detected in semen three months after symptoms end

    Gateway to human memory in brain identified

    Gateway to human memory in brain identified
    An international team has successfully determined with a level of precision never achieved before the location in the brain where memories are generated....

    Gateway to human memory in brain identified

    Bitter wild fruits can help treat cancer

    Bitter wild fruits can help treat cancer
    The compounds that give bitter flavour to wild cucurbits - cucumber, pumpkin, melon, watermelon and squash - have the potential to treat cancer and...

    Bitter wild fruits can help treat cancer

    Why autistic people see faces differently

    Why autistic people see faces differently
    People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) gain different perceptions from peoples' faces as the way they gather information - not the judgement process itself ...

    Why autistic people see faces differently

    PrevNext