Mosquitoes infected with “toxic” sperm could stop tropical diseases such as dengue, according to study

Mosquitos Genetically modified organisms with toxic sperm could become a weapon against tropical diseases, Australian scientists reported in a study published Tuesday.

Their “toxic male technique” seeks to breed mosquitoes whose sperm contains poisonous proteins that are fatal to females after copulating.

The technique targets females because they are the ones that bite and suck blood, thereby spreading diseases such as malaria and dengue.

Scientist Sam Beach of Macquarie University in Australia commented that the method “could work as quickly as pesticides without harming beneficial species.”

The first tests used fruit flies, a species commonly used in laboratories due to their short lifespan of two weeks.

Female flies crossed with “toxic” males had a significant reduction in their lifespan, according to the scientists.

Researcher Maciej Maselko said the team will test the method on mosquitoes with rigorous methods to “ensure there are no risks to humans.”

Genetic engineering has been used for years to control populations of disease-spreading mosquitoes.

The study was published Tuesday night in the journal Nature Communications.