Keywords: South/Central America
Evaluation of Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti suggests low prevalence and highly heterogeneous distribution in Medellín, Colombia
Tags: Aedes, Arbovirus, Population modification/replacement, South/Central America, Vector control, Wolbachiarley Calle-Tobón, Raúl Rojo-Ospina, et al., Acta Tropica, 260. 2024.
Dengue virus, transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, is a significant public health challenge in tropical and subtropical countries, with an incidence that is growing at an alarming rate. The release of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes has been suggested as a strategy to ...
10 myths and misconceptions around modified mosquitoes
Tags: Aedes, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Malaria, South/Central AmericaMilliam Murigi, k24, 2024.
In the fight against mosquito-borne diseases, scientists have turned to groundbreaking genetic technologies to reduce disease transmission. However, Genetically Modified (GM) mosquitoes have raised concerns and sparked myths and misconceptions around it. Abraham Isah, OFAB ...
Simulation-based economic evaluation of the Wolbachia method in Brazil: a cost-effective strategy for dengue control
Tags: Dengue, South/Central America, WolbachiaIvan Ricardo Zimmermann, Ricardo Ribeiro Alves Fernandes, Márcia Gisele Santos da Costa, et al, The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 35. 2024.
Dengue virus (DENV) is an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can cause severe conditions such as hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. These conditions are associated with adverse social, clinical, and economic consequences in Brazil. Herein, the ...
Biotech company implements controversial offspring-killing method to address dengue fever: ‘Will show a reduction of 20%’
Tags: Mosquitoes, Oxitec, South/Central AmericaJeremiah Budin, The Cool Down, 2024.
"We can get out of this state of emergency."
Brazil city deploys modified mosquitos to fight dengue surge
Tags: Dengue, Genetically modified mosquitoes, South/Central AmericaReuters, The Globe and Mail, 2024.
A British biotechnology company is betting on a solution to Brazil's surging dengue cases, involving the release of genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce the viral infection's spread.
Modified mosquitoes may save millions more lives in Latin America
Tags: Dengue, Genetically modified mosquitoes, South/Central AmericaMarina E. Franco, Axios, 2024.
A program that uses genetically engineered mosquitoes in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to reduce the prevalence of diseases that can be fatal may soon serve millions more people. Why it matters: Outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever —diseases carried by ...
The mosquito knows no borders: Regional challenges for global confrontation in the dengue battle
Tags: Field trials, Mosquitoes, South/Central AmericaBarçante JMdP, Cherem J, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18. 2024.
Dengue fever is a neglected disease with a global impact, and its incidence and geographical reach are rapidly expanding. Global warming marked by higher average temperatures, precipitation, and longer periods of drought could prompt a record number of dengue fever infections ...
Massive mosquito factory in Brazil aims to halt dengue
Tags: Aedes, Dengue, Population modification/replacement, South/Central America, WolbachiaM. Lenharo, Nature, 2023.
The non-profit World Mosquito Program (WMP) has announced that it will release modified mosquitoes in many of Brazil’s urban areas over the next 10 years, with the aim of protecting up to 70 million people from diseases such as dengue. Researchers have tested the release of ...
Turns Out Fighting Mosquitoes With Mosquitoes Actually Works
Tags: Genetic biocontrol, Oxitec, Self limiting, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)E. Mullin, Wired, 2022.
In the Brazilian city of Indaiatuba, an effort is underway to eliminate these pests before they have a chance to spread illness. The weapon: more Aedes aegypti mosquitoes—but ones genetically engineered to kill their own kind. Made by British biotechnology firm Oxitec, the ...
Fall armyworms with offspring-killing gene tested on farms in Brazil
Tags: Genetic biocontrol, Moths, Oxitec, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)M. Le Page, New Scientist, 2022.
Fall armyworms genetically modified to wipe out wild populations of the pests have been released in corn fields in São Paulo State in Brazil in the first farm trial of the new technology. The test was a success and is now being expanded, says Oxitec, the UK-based company that ...
IMPACTOS AMBIENTAIS DA TÉCNICA DE GENE DRIVE PARA O CONTROLE DE EPIDEMIAS: ALCANCES E LIMITES DO PRINCÍPIO DA PRECAUÇÃO
Tags: Gene drive, Policy, Risk and safety, Risk assessment, South/Central AmericaN. R. Furtado, PERI Revista de Filosofia, 13. 2022.
The paper discusses the application of the precautionary principle in the management of environmental risks arising from the use of gene drives to control epidemics. Gene drives consist of a technique for creating genetically modified organisms, which are released into an ...
Oxitec Announces Ground-breaking Commercial Launch of Its Friendly™ Aedes aegypti Solution in Brazil
Tags: Aedes, Genetic biocontrol, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)Oxitec, COSION, 2021.
Oxitec, the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests, announced today the landmark commercial launch of its Friendly™ Aedes aegypti solution designed specifically for use by homeowners, businesses, and communities to control the dengue-spreading Aedes aegypti ...
A Golden Menace
Tags: Biodiversity/Conservation, Gene drive synthetic, Invasive species, South/Central AmericaS. Moutinho, Science, 2021.
An even bigger catastrophe looms: the invasion of the Amazon and its tributaries, part of the largest drainage basin in South America, which spans eight countries and is one of the richest hot spots for biodiversity on the planet. Golden mussels have been documented in the ...
Next gen insect control
Tags: Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified organisms, Mosquitoes, Moths, North America, Oxitec, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)E. Unglesbee, Progressive Farmer, 2021.
Dubbed "self-limiting" insects by their makers, a UK-based biotechnology company called Oxitec, these insects are genetically modified (GM) with an inserted gene that permits only male offspring to survive. Once released into a pest community, the GM insects gradually lower the ...
Oxitec Receives Landmark Biosafety Approval for New Fall Armyworm Control Solution
Tags: Moths, Oxitec, Policy, Regulation, Risk and safety, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)Oxitec, Oxitec, 2021.
Approval of Oxitec’s Friendly™ fall armyworm technology by the Brazilian government’s regulatory agency CTNBio confirms that it is safe for people, animals and the environment. Oxitec’s Friendly™ fall armyworm is a new, safe, and sustainable solution to one of the ...
FKMCD and Oxitec Webinars
Tags: Aedes, Genetic biocontrol, Oxitec, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)Oxitec Ltd, FKMCD and Oxitec, 2020.
This FKMCD - Oxitec Public Educational Webinar, our ninth, shows how Oxitec's just-add-water technology helps control the Aedes aegypti mosquito population. The second half of the webinar includes questions and answers with attendees.
Vector-Focused Approaches to Curb Malaria Transmission in the Brazilian Amazon: An Overview of Current and Future Challenges and Strategies
Tags: Anopheles, Cytoplasmic incompatibility, Gene drive synthetic, Genetic biocontrol, South/Central America, WolbachiaE. M. Rocha, R. D. Katak, J. C. de Oliveira, M. D. Araujo, B. C. Carlos, R. Galizi, F. Tripet, O. Marinotti and J. A. Souza, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 5. 2020.
Here we present an overview on both conventional and novel promising vector-focused tools to curb malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. If well designed and employed, vector-based approaches may improve the implementation of malaria-control programs, particularly in ...
‘Just Add Water’ GM Mosquitoes Suppress Wild Population by 95%
Tags: Aedes, Genetic biocontrol, Oxitec, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)H. Alber, 2020.
In order to reduce the spread of dengue, Oxitec releases genetically modified male Aedes mosquitoes into the environment. Once in the wild, these insects breed with local female mosquitoes and pass on a gene that causes female offspring to die at an early age. This method was ...
Editorial Expression of Concern: Transgenic Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Transfer Genes into a Natural Population
Tags: Aedes, Arbovirus, Dengue, Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Oxitec, Risk and safety, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)B. R. Evans, P. Kotsakiozi, A. L. Costa-Da-Silva, R. S. Ioshino, L. Garziera, M. C. Pedrosa, A. Malavasi, J. F. Virginio, M. L. Capurro and J. R. Powell, Scientific Reports, 10:2. 2020.
Shortly after publication of this Article in September 2019, the Editors were alerted to concerns regarding the interpretation of the data and some of the conclusions.
Transgenic Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Transfer Genes into a Natural Population
Tags: Aedes, Arbovirus, Dengue, Genetic biocontrol, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Oxitec, Risk and safety, South/Central America, Sterile insect technique (SIT)B. R. Evans, P. Kotsakiozi, A. L. Costa-da-Silva, R. S. Ioshino, L. Garziera, M. C. Pedrosa, A. Malavasi, J. F. Virginio, M. L. Capurro and J. R. Powell, Scientific Reports, 9:6. 2019.
We genotyped the release strain and the target Jacobina population before releases began for >21,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic sampling from the target population six, 12, and 27-30 months after releases commenced provides clear evidence that portions of the ...