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Technique to block transmission of dengue virus to humans developed LAHORE: Entomologists of the Government College University, Lahore, have successfully genetically modified the aedes aegypti mosquito to block the transmission of dengue virus to humans.The Zoology Department of the varsity believes this research has potential to completely eradicate dengue vectors and viruses from Pakistan.According to the varsity, a team of GCU entomologists led by Zoology Department`s former chairperson Prof Dr Nusrat Jahan has used Wolbachia, a genus of bacteria, as a biological agent for the genetic modification of the laboratory-reared aedes aegypti mosquitoes.The Wolbachia-based techniquemakes the mosquito incapable of carrying and transmitting dengue viruses.The research team also included PhD scholar Muhammad Sajjad Sarwar, M.Phil scholars Falak Batool and Sozaina Khan, and BSc (Hons) students Zayeema Zainab, Fatima Shahbaz and Ammara Naeem.The GCU has conducted the research in collaboration with Dr Zhiyong Xi, a professor in Michigan State University and director of SYSU-MSU Joint Center of Vector Control for Tropical Diseases, and developed this technology in Pakistan.

The team established 21 generations, a locally-isolated Wolbachia strain (WAlbB) from the wild collecte d aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the laboratory-reared aedes aegypti, population by embryo microinjection.Using the Wolbachia-based technology the established Wolbachia strain was tested for the potential to suppress aedes aegypti popula-tion and block dengue transmission,

the department said, adding initially various strains of Wolbachia were detected with molecular characterization and isolated from different species of locally-collected insects; endosymbiont Wolbachia live naturally in 60 per cent population of insects but not in aedes aegypti which is a major dengue vector in Pakistan.

A preliminary data indicated that established WAlbB strain in males aedes aegypti when mated with non-infected females gave 100pc suppression of aedes aegypti population in a laboratory. No progeny hatched in this case due to cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), Prof Nusrat Jahan said.He said this approach was especially useful for controlling wild population of dengue vector in our environment with mass release of Wolbachia carrying males.

Male mosquitoes do not bite or transmit disease. Other experiments on aedes aegyti mosquito cell line (developed for the firsttime in Pakistan in GCU tissue culture laboratory) and also in caged mosquitoes showed that established Wolbachia reduced the ability of aedes aegypti mosquitoes to transmit dengue viruses.Laboratory results showed that Wolbachia-carrying female mosquitoes have a lower transmission potential for dengue viruses as compared to non-Wolbachia carrying mosquitoes.Prof Jahan said that Wolbachiacarrying aedes has been released in many countries, such as, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam, with no negative impact on public health and ecology.Wolbachia provides a safe strategybecause the bacteriaarenaturally presentin alarge population of insects. This is the only novel approach for the sustainable controlofdengue diseaseinPakistan.This approach is economic (reduces insecticide cost and problem of resistance in vector mosquitoes) and environment friendly.:clap: “http://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=15_10_2016_177_002

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