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- Yellow fever
- Elephantiasis
- Dengue fever
- Malaria
- Zika
The NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney disease(NIDDK) recently supported a research aimed at developing insecticides that target the mosquitoes' kidney.
The research was carried out by scientists from Vanderbilt University Medical center, Ohio State University and University of Nebraska Medical Center.
During the research, various compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit a specific potassium channel called Kir1 involved in urine production.
A compound Known as VU041 rapidly blocked Kir1 channel activity. The mosquitoes were treated with VU041 by topical application.
It was observed that after a blood meal, the abdominal diameter of mosquitoes increased and then decreased within 24 hours.
When the mosquitoes were treated, their abdominal diabetes increased after a blood meal but did not decrease suggesting that kidney function was impaired.
"When mosquitoes take in a blood meal, they can double or triple their body weight. The blood provides nutrients but also contains an excess of salt such as potassium chloride.
Mosquitoes have kidneys that excrete excess salt and water from their body fluid. As they take in a blood meal, they urinate to dispose of the waste products."-National Institutes of Health
THE COMPOUND MADE THE MOSQUITOES INFERTILE
The result of the study was that the mosquitoes could barely lay eggs after treatments with VU041 as a consequence of impaired kidney function.
Vector borne diseases kill millions of people yearly.
Although the impact of this potent compound on humans and its methods of toxicity is yet to be determined by further research, this study is a breakthrough in the control of insect vectors that spread diseases and endanger the quality of human life.
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