Abstract

WOLBACHIA – BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGAINST DENGUE TRANSMISSION

Dr. E. N. Siju*, Purnima M.K, Minil M, Dr. Hariraj N, Rahul K. and Dr. Rajalakshmi G.R.

ABSTRACT

Dengue fever has known to affect one half of the world’s population for centuries. The major mode of transmission of the dengue virus is the mosquito Aedes aegypti. As potential vaccines and antiviral measures are not yet available, vector control is now being explored as the major mode of prevention. The use of insecticides for vector control has lead to evolution of insecticide resistance, environmental pollution and non target effects on other insects. Novel biological control has lead to the introduction of a bacterial strain Wolbachia into the vector to provide pathogen protection to the mosquito that is protection from dengue virus. The mosquitoes transfected with these bacteria were found to produce progeny which carried the bacteria or when Wolbachia-infected males were mated with uninfected females; eggs that do not hatch were laid. The wMelPop strain of Wolbachia obtained from Drosophila melanogaster is studied for its life shortening effect on the dengue virus.

Keywords: Dengue fever, Vector control, Wolbachia.