This New Drug Turns Human Blood into Mosquito Killer

ISLAMABAD: Recent research has revealed that nitisinone, a drug originally used to treat rare genetic conditions, can fatally disrupt a mosquito’s digestion process after it feeds on human blood containing the substance. According to Science Alert and the University of Notre Dame, the key lies in the drug’s ability to block a vital enzyme in mosquitoes called 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD).

Without this enzyme, mosquitoes cannot properly digest blood meals, leading to their death. This approach is effective even against insecticide-resistant strains, such as the Tiassalé variant of Anopheles gambiae, making it a promising addition to current vector control methods.

Advantages Over Traditional Methods

Nitisinone offers several benefits that position it as a standout in mosquito control. It works faster than existing alternatives like ivermectin, killing mosquitoes within a day of ingestion. Furthermore, it remains active in the bloodstream for extended periods, allowing for long-lasting protection.

It affects mosquitoes of all ages, including older ones that are more likely to transmit malaria. The drug’s ability to eliminate both insecticide-susceptible and resistant strains is a big feat for combatingmalaria-transmitting mosquito species which have wreaked havoc in the past few decades across various countries in Asia.

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Potential Impact on Malaria Control

The implications for malaria prevention are significant. By turning human blood into a vector control tool, nitisinone introduces a unique and powerful way to reduce mosquito populations.

Lee R. Haines, an associate research professor at the University of Notre Dame, believes the drug could be a “promising new complementary tool for controlling insect-borne diseases like malaria.” Its ability to target resistant mosquito strains and older vectors makes it especially useful in regions where conventional interventions are losing effectiveness.