Researchers
at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have genetically
modified a bacterium commonly found in the mosquito's midgut and found
that the parasite that causes malaria in people does not survive in
mosquitoes carrying the modified bacterium. The bacterium, Pantoea agglomerans,
was modified to secrete proteins toxic to the malaria parasite, but the
toxins do not harm the mosquito or humans. According to a study
published by PNAS, the modified bacteria were 98 percent effective in reducing the malaria parasite burden in mosquitoes.
"In the past, we worked to genetically modify the mosquito to resist
malaria, but genetic modification of bacteria is a simpler approach,"
said Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, PhD, senior author of the study and a
professor with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "The
ultimate goal is to completely prevent the mosquito from spreading the
malaria parasite to people."
