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. 2025 Jan 16;15(1):2181.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83242-5.

Transmission of transgenic mosquito-killing fungi during copulation

Etienne Bilgo #  1   2 , Brian Lovett #  3 , Abel Souro Millogo  4   5   6 , Issiaka Sare  4   5   7 , Edounou Jacques Gnambani  4   5 , Raymond St Leger  8 , Abdoulaye Diabaté #  9   10
Affiliations

Transmission of transgenic mosquito-killing fungi during copulation

Etienne Bilgo et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi engineered to express insect-specific neurotoxins have demonstrated potential as microbial control agents against malaria mosquitoes. Currently, the primary application method is via direct contact of spores with indoor resting mosquitoes. However, many malaria-transmitting mosquitoes feed and rest outdoors. To target these, we have developed an alternative application method that exploits the lethality of transgenic fungi as a sexually transmitted mosquito disease. This approach has both a wider interdisciplinary significance and important implications for preventing mosquito-borne diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Survival curves of female mosquitoes after delayed experimental mating with males infected with wild-type spores (expressing RFP), transgenic spores (expressing hybrid toxin and GFP), or a control with no spores, measurexd at intervals ranging from 1 to 48 h post-infection (HPI) in the laboratory.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Survival of male and female mosquitoes following overnight mating in semi-field compartments. Male mosquitoes were treated with wild-type spores (expressing RFP), transgenic spores (expressing Hybrid toxin and GFP) or a control with no spores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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