Toxic Masculinity

Scientists at Australia’s Macquarie University are developing a novel genetic approach to combatting deadly mosquito-borne diseases.

Their proposal is to reduce the lifespan of female mosquitoes through the “Toxic Male Technique” (TMT), according to a new study.

“By targeting the female mosquitoes themselves rather than their offspring, TMT is the first biocontrol technology that could work as quickly as pesticides without also harming beneficial species,” Beach said in a statement.

Study authors Sam Beach and Maciej Maselko said the method works by engineering male insects to produce venomous proteins in their semen.

Once transferred during mating, these proteins significantly shorten female lifespans, curbing their ability to bite and transmit diseases.

Laboratory tests with fruit flies showed that females mated to TMT males had their lifespans cut short by as much as 60 percent compared with those paired with unmodified males.

Traditional methods of controlling mosquitos, such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), focus on reducing mosquito populations by releasing sterilized males. However, these approaches rely on the next generation to see population effects, leaving female mosquitoes alive to continue spreading diseases.

In contrast, TMT aims for immediate results. Computer models predict as much as a 60 percent reduction in blood-feeding rates for species known to transmit diseases, such as Aedes aegypti – known for transmitting a myriad of deadly pathogens, including Zika and Dengue.

“There are about 3,500 species of mosquito, but there are only about five to 10 or so that spread disease in humans,” Beach told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The team believes the proposed method is also environmentally friendly because the venom proteins will target invertebrates exclusively, minimizing risks to mammals and non-target species.

“We still need to implement it in mosquitoes and conduct rigorous safety testing to ensure there are no risks to humans or other non-target species,” Maselko said.

Though the technology is still in its early stages, the authors envision a global impact: Facilities could mass-produce and freeze genetically modified mosquito eggs for quick deployment in outbreak-prone areas.

“We think there’s a lot of good that can be done overseas,” Beach told the Australian broadcaster. Mosquito-borne diseases kill more than a million people annually, mostly in lower-income countries.