A groundbreaking biopesticide derived from bacteria has shown remarkable success in eliminating malaria-carrying mosquitoes, including those resistant to conventional chemical pesticides, according to initial field trials conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
This innovative biopesticide is a powder formulated from the deceased cells of a common soil bacterium. Researchers demonstrated its effectiveness in killing both ordinary and pesticide-resistant mosquitoes when incorporated into standard baits. Even at sub-lethal doses, the biopesticide hinders malaria transmission and makes mosquitoes more susceptible to traditional chemical pesticides.
The promising results from these initial trials in West Africa suggest that larger-scale field tests could pave the way for widespread use of this new biopesticide in malaria-prone regions worldwide.
The study, published online December 4 in Science Advances, highlights the potential of this biopesticide as a powerful weapon against malaria.
“This biopesticide has a unique set of features that suggest it might very well be a powerful new weapon against malaria,” says study senior author George Dimopoulos, PhD, deputy director of the johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.
Malaria, a parasitic disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organization estimates that there are approximately 250 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually, primarily affecting children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. While malaria vaccines have been developed,their availability is limited,and their effectiveness in preventing the disease is not optimal.Chemical pesticides have been the most effective tool against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, but these insects have developed important resistance to these compounds. The urgent need for new antimalarial strategies is clear.
The progress of this biopesticide stems from a project initiated by Dimopoulos and his team in Panama over a decade ago. The team collected wild mosquitoes and analyzed the bacterial species present in their digestive tracts to determine if any could influence the mosquito’s ability to harbor and transmit pathogens. Their research led them to discover a species of Chromobacterium that, at low doses, inhibits the insects’ ability to transmit pathogens like the malaria parasite and dengue virus. At higher doses,it effectively kills both adult and larval mosquitoes. This finding marked the potential for this bacterium to be the first biopesticide for use against disease-transmitting mosquitoes.
To simplify the application process, the researchers developed a powder formulation made from dead, dried cells of the bacterium. They found that the powder retained the bacterium’s mosquito-killing properties and boasted a long shelf life and extraordinary heat stability.
These findings represent a significant breakthrough in the fight against malaria, offering a promising new tool to combat this deadly disease and perhaps save countless lives.
A groundbreaking new biopesticide derived from the bacterium Chromobacterium shows immense promise in the fight against malaria, offering a potentially game-changing solution to insecticide resistance.
Developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins bloomberg School of Public Health, this innovative biopesticide has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, even those resistant to conventional chemical insecticides. Early laboratory tests revealed no toxic effects on mammalian cells,indicating its safety for humans and other animals.
“It was never my intention to focus on biopesticides,” said Dr. George Dimopoulos, the led researcher, whose primary research interest lies in malaria mosquito immunity. “But that’s how these discoveries have worked out, and it’s exciting that we’ve identified something novel with malaria control potential.”
The biopesticide’s efficacy was further validated in “MosquitoSphere” facilities in Burkina faso, large, enclosed spaces mimicking village and agricultural settings. Here, the biopesticide successfully eliminated both laboratory-bred and wild-caught Anopheles mosquitoes, including those resistant to various chemical pesticides. Even at lower doses, the biopesticide substantially hampered the mosquitoes’ ability to seek blood meals, and in cases where they did feed on malaria-infected blood, the parasite’s ability to infect the mosquito was drastically reduced.
The researchers believe the biopesticide works by disrupting a key detoxification enzyme in mosquitoes, essentially turning their own defense mechanisms against them. This unique mode of action explains its potent synergy with chemical pesticides, overcoming the growing problem of insecticide resistance.
Mathematical modeling based on the MosquitoSphere trials suggests that the biopesticide could dramatically reduce local mosquito populations in real-world conditions. Encouraged by these results, the research team is now pursuing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval for the biopesticide and planning larger-scale field tests to further assess its impact on malaria incidence.
further research is also underway to pinpoint the specific components of Chromobacterium responsible for its potent anti-mosquito effects. This breakthrough discovery offers a beacon of hope in the ongoing battle against malaria, a disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
Reference: Tikhe CV, Issiaka S, dong Y, et al. Chromobacterium biopesticide overcomes insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes.Sci Adv. 2024;10(49):eads3658.doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ads3658
## World Today News Exclusive: “Bacteria-Based Biopesticide Could Be Game Changer in Malaria Fight”
**World Today News:** Today we are joined by Dr. George Dimopoulos, renowned malaria expert and deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, to discuss exciting new developments in the battle against malaria.
Dr. Dimopoulos, thanks for joining us.
**Dr. Dimopoulos:** ItS a pleasure to be here.
**world Today News:** Your team has been working diligently on a groundbreaking biopesticide derived from a common soil bacterium. Can you tell our readers about this innovative approach to malaria control?
**Dr. Dimopoulos:** For over a decade, our team has been investigating the microbial communities within mosquitoes, looking for hidden allies in the fight against malaria. We discovered a bacterium called *Chromobacterium* that, in its pure form, can inhibit the malaria parasite’s development within mosquitoes or even kill the mosquitoes outright.
**World Today News:** That’s engaging! How does this new biopesticide work compared to traditional chemical insecticides?
**Dr. Dimopoulos:** Traditional insecticides have become less effective as mosquitoes have developed resistance, presenting a meaningful challenge to malaria control efforts. Our biopesticide boasts unique advantages. It can be formulated into a powder made from dead bacterial cells, offering long shelf life and remarkable heat stability, making it ideal for use in resource-limited settings. We have shown it to be effective against both ordinary and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes.
Even at sub-lethal doses, the biopesticide hinders malaria transmission, making mosquitoes less capable of spreading the disease.
**World Today News:** This sounds incredibly promising. What were the initial field trial results in West Africa like?
**Dr. Dimopoulos:** We were thrilled wiht the outcomes. The biopesticide demonstrated remarkable success in eliminating both insecticide-susceptible and resistant mosquito populations. These findings are highly encouraging and suggest that larger-scale field testing could pave the way for widespread use of this biopesticide in malaria-prone regions worldwide.
**World Today News:** This development has the potential to revolutionize malaria control. What are the next steps for your team?
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**Dr. Dimopoulos:** Our team is dedicated to pushing this research forward. The next stage involves scaling up production and conducting larger-scale field trials in multiple malaria-endemic regions to assess its efficacy and safety under diverse environmental conditions. We are also exploring different delivery methods to ensure the most effective and sustainable submission.
**World today News:** Dr. Dimopoulos,thank you for sharing this groundbreaking news with us today.This advancement holds immense promise for reducing the global burden of malaria and possibly saving countless lives.
**Dr. dimopoulos:** Thank you. I am incredibly optimistic about the potential of this biopesticide to make a significant and lasting impact in the fight against malaria.
