I read an interesting article today on a new biological control agent for mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.

It revolves around infecting mosquito eggs with the organism Wolbachia.

Wolbachia inside insect cell.

It has been known for a long time that mossies infected with this agent don’t live as long, or transmit disease as often. The new research suggests that major immune up-regulation is the reason for both these observations.

Wolbachia is also interesting because it is an inherited infection – bacteria are present in eggs and are passed on to the female insect’s offspring.

Malaria Control by Bacteria?

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