Using+Genetics+to+Fight+Malaria

[]

**Using Genetics to Fight Malaria**

Some time ago, our classes studied various types of protists and viruses. One topic that we discussed more thoroughly than the others was the topic of malaria. We learned that Malaria was a disease that caused countless problems for many African countries. We also learned that mosquitoes are in integral part of the process Malaria uses to spread. For years, many people have been researching ways to overcome the disease with various methods. This article details the most recent method that scientists are using to fight malaria: infecting the infector. Their newest approach uses a bacteria named Wolbachia, that infects the reproductive capabilities of mosquitoes. The goal is to genetically engineer Wolbachia to affect mosquitoes in such a way that the mosquitoes that have malaria can't reproduce.

This particular article is about the discovery of two of the genes that Wolbachia affects when it infects an insect. Discovering the genes that Wolbachia affects is important, because scientists will be able to manipulate the infection process more easily when they know how the bacteria works. The article begins by introducing the Wolbachia bacteria and saying how it affects the reproductive systems of 80% of all the insects on Earth. This quality intrigued scientists because of its prevalence and because it affects certain insects differently. Currently they are in the process of studying how Wolbachia works, but it is diffifult to isolate outside of an insect's body, and the changes it makes inside of an insect are very subtle. This is why discovering what genes it affects was such an amazing discovery; it brought scientists one step closer to altering Wolbachia to block the reproduction of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. If this research ever comes to fruition, then its benefits to mankind will be obvious: Malaria will be cured!

Joshua Harris March 14, 2010