Controlling Mosquitoes With Bacteria (broadcast Friday, January 2nd, 2009)

A female Aedes aegypti mosquito feeding. Courtesy Stewart Gould

Mosquitoes are known for spreading infections like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. Now, however, a team of researchers reports using a bacterial infection to help control mosquito populations. The scientists infected the mosquitoes associated with dengue fever with a bacterial parasite, Wolbachia. They report this week in the journal Science that the bacterial infection cut the lifespan of the mosquitoes in half -- a finding that may help control the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses.

Guests

Andrew Read
Professor of Biology and Entomology,
Eberly College of Science Distinguished Senior Scholar
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA