Researchers have developed a novel technique to block mosquito mating signals, which could reduce the terrible diseases they spread.#Science #Iowa #News #IowaCityIA
IOWA CITY, IAA Scientists may have a new weapon against mosquitoes, one of humanity’s most deadly enemies, according to a discovery developed in Iowa City. In a breakthrough that may result in fewer mosquitoes and fewer fatal diseases conveyed by them, researchers from the University of Iowa and Nagoya University in Japan have discovered a method to perhaps mute the insects’ mating rituals.
Uncovering a Genetic Weak Spot
The study concentrated on a gene that regulates how fruit fly females perceive the unique sound of male wingbeats, which is a crucial mating cue. According to scientists, the same gene, called Shal, is also present in mosquitoes and may be altered to prevent them from reproducing.
According to Daniel Eberl, a professor in the University of Iowa’s Department of Biology and the corresponding author of the study published in eNeuro, mosquitoes actually have a mechanism that is very similar to that of fruit flies, a type of active tuning, which may have implications for preventing the spread of numerous diseases. Therefore, knowing how fruit flies and mosquitoes hear and mate could have significant health implications for people.
How Mating Sounds Drive Reproduction
Researchers looked at the wingbeat songs of male fruit flies to investigate the relationship between sound and mating. The vibrations, which the female’s antennae pick up when a possible mate is close by, were recorded by tiny microphones. However, each species creates a unique frequency that females are tuned to detect, thus not all songs are created equal.
“I think a key point for us is that in closely related species, their songs are a little bit different,” Eberl said. Each species has a different interval between pulses. They want to mate with a member of their own species, which is why it’s crucial. Thus, the song aids in their recognition of the same species.
Silencing the Signal
The research focused on the Johnston’s organ, a sensory organ found in fruit fly antennae, and found that sound detection depends on a potassium ion channel regulated by the Shal gene. Female flies were unable to detect the male’s mating song when this gene was silenced.
Eli Gregory, an undergraduate majoring in human physiology who conducted the gene-canceling tests, stated that it loses its ability to tune in the absence of the Shal gene. The antenna can no longer be tuned to that frequency by the female. As a result, when you mate with that girl, you have this decreased response.
Potential to Control Mosquito Populations
Researchers think mosquitoes could also be targeted by this genetic process. The ability of mosquitoes to receive mating signals may be impaired if the Shal gene is disabled, which could result in a sharp drop in reproduction.
By blocking that gene or potassium channel, we might theoretically stop mosquitoes from mating as efficiently as they do, which could lead to fewer mosquitoes and, consequently, fewer health issues for people, Eberl added.
Fighting Disease with Science
Mosquitoes are known to transmit diseases like Zika, Eastern equine encephalitis, and the West Nile virus. Genetically modifying them to decrease their population might revolutionize public health.
The Japan Science and Technology Agency FOREST program, Nagoya University, the University of Iowa Office for Undergraduate Research, JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan, and the U.S. National Science Foundation provided funding for the study.
Associated Subjects: Science | Iowa | Animals
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