In Brazil to produce genetically modified mosquitoes – TASS

RIO DE JANEIRO, October 27. /Offset. TASS Darya Yuryeva/. Private laboratory for the production of genetically modified mosquitoes, which are considered effective in preventing the spread of the virus, Zeke, has opened in the Brazilian city of Piracicaba (state of são Paulo). This was reported by the TV channel of the Globo.

According to him, in the walls of the room with a total area of 5 thousand square meters can be created to 60 million insects per week. We are talking about genetically modified Aedes aegypti species of mosquitoes which are carriers of dangerous viruses, zika, dengue and chikungunya. “We are ready to expand production to any extent to help to protect people in Brazil,” said Glen Slade, Director of the British biotech company oxitec mosquitoes oxitec, which owns the project. According to the company, its method of introduction of genetically modified mosquitoes leads to a substantial reduction of their population.

the fact that the progeny of the mutated insects die before reaching sexual maturity. Therefore, genetically modified males that do not bite and do not spread viruses, produce in the habitats of this mosquito species for mating with normal females. In the end, according to experts, the insect population over time is reduced by more than 90%. This is confirmed by the experiments that were conducted in Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands.

As explained by Slade, all mosquitoes released from the walls of the laboratory, in addition to a special gene that adversely affects the health of the offspring will receive a special fluorescent markings. This will allow to monitor the results of the experiment of their introduction into the environment.

the Value of the laboratory in Piracicaba, called “Aedes goodness”, of 20 million reais ($ 6.4 million). Another 3.7 million ($ 1.18 million) will be spent on the production of the first batch of insects are released into the vicinity of the institution. Thus, according to oxitec mosquitoes oxitec, we are not talking about a commercial project, and the company’s investment in research.

for the First time zika fever was identified in 1947 in Uganda. In this disease, as a rule, the temperature rises slightly, there is a fever, skin rash, marked fatigue, but often it can be asymptomatic. In recent months, scientists from several countries came to the conclusion that Zeke infection during pregnancy can lead to a significant reduction of skull size (microcephaly) of the fetus, and cause this severe neurological complication like Guillain-Barre syndrome. In February, the world health organization (who) has declared the spread of this fever in the Americas emergency medical situation on an international scale.