Science develops mosquito resistant to dengue virus

American researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health have developed a mosquito in the laboratory that can use your immune system to fight the dengue virus. The changes made by the experts have succeeded in increasing the production of antiviral factors, preventing the mosquito from being contaminated by the virus. Thus, the mosquito stops transmitting dengue to humans.

When the mosquito sucks the blood of someone contaminated, it also acquires the disease and begins to spread it by stinging other people. Of course, the mosquito produces its antivirals to fight the disease, but in a minimal amount, which is not effective to eliminate the virus.

In the discovery of the scientists, for the first time it was possible to stimulate this natural reaction of the mosquito organism with the help of genes that act on the area of ​​fat of the insect, something equivalent to the human liver in the insect.

With this, the researchers noticed that a great part of the mosquitoes managed to be free of the virus and, the small amount that remained infected, had a low viral level in the salivary glands, whereby the disease is transmitted to humans.

Aedes is also a transmitter of zika and chikungunya viruses, but the researchers' finding does not apply to these diseases. Further tests and adaptations are still needed to apply the principle in these cases.

Scientists also point out that these modified insects live as much as wild ones, but produce fewer eggs, which makes them more difficult to proliferate, one of the main points to combat the disease. As they multiply, insects breed more and pass on their genetics to more mosquitoes. For the project to work, it would be necessary to release millions of mosquitoes in the affected areas.

Poor air quality affects the health of your entire body

Especially in large metropolises, the poor quality of the air we breathe is worrying. Experts point to it as one of the great villains responsible for not only respiratory but also cardiovascular diseases. The burning of fossil fuels releases a number of particles harmful to health and, the smaller they are, the more dangerous.

(Health)

Pollution of the air, especially in large capitals, is a major cause of death in the United States. responsible for causing numerous health problems. However, a recent study by the University of Lancaster in England found that pollution also harms the brain.

Scientists have done brain tests of people living in Mexico City, one of the most polluted places in the world. In these small samples nanoparticles of magnetite, an iron oxide, were found. "We have identified millions of pollution p

With all this, there is still the unproven suspicion that magnetite particles may be able to break connections between brain cells, as with Alzheimer's, for example. "This study shows for the first time that particles of pollution can stop in the brain." Obviously this is very important, but there is still no evidence of their role in the Alzeihmer, "said Clare Walton of the Alzheimer Society.

(Health)