Genetically Modified Mosquitoes: What does this mean to the population?

Mosquitoes are one of those insects which have caused a lot of havoc in communities and societies. This insect not only has a painful bite but also through the bite, it transmits some of the most dangerous infectious diseases on the planet. Not all mosquitoes transmit diseases.

Scientifically living things are classified or grouped systematically for easy identification and comparison with other living things just as we humans use names, and other unique features to identify ourselves.  As such if we use our day to day scenario, every living thing belongs to a clan, and in this clan there are families, and each family is known by its own name (surname) and then the families have children or offspring, who have their own unique names. Scientifically living things are also classified in a similar manner, each plant or animal belongs to a “clan” know as a FAMILY, and the “families” in the “clan” are known as GENUS, which like the “surname” of the family  and the “unique names” of the children and offspring is what is known as SPECIES. So when we say that malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum,  all we are trying to say is that the parasite belongs to the GENUS- Plasmodium and the SPECIES falciparum.

The reason why I had to take you back to this systematic class of biology, where we learn how living things are classified, is because today’s article will involve some of these terminologies that I just introduced.

As I mentioned earlier, some mosquitoes transmit diseases which are and have been big Public health problems.  When it comes to diseases in the tropics and subtropical regions, mosquitoes from the genus Aedes and Anopheles transmit some of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world.

Some of the species of Aedes transmit Dengue fever, yellow fever, and human lymphatic filariasis.  Aedes aegypti causes yellow fever and a lot of research has been done to understand this mosquito. With the advancement in technology, scientists have sequenced the DNA (which contains all the information of how and what a living thing is made up of (Genome)) from these mosquitoes in order to find ways and means to understand them better and also how they carry and transmit these diseases.

Anopheles is another genus of mosquitoes which is well known with transmission of diseases. Of the 460 known species of Anopheles, 100 can transmit human malaria. Anopheles are vectors (transmit the parasites, bacteria, viruses,and worms which cause disease) for canine heart worm, Wuchureria bancrofti (which causes filariasis), Brugia malayi and viruses e.g. those that cause O’nyong’nyong fever.

Just as Aedes aegypti, the sequence for Anopheles gambie genome, the worlds most important malaria vector has been published.

As technology is advancing by the day, hour, minute, scientists have and are working hard manipulating the genomes of sequenced vectors in order to stop them from transmitting the diseases. The genetic manipulations also known as genetic modifications involve playing around with parts of the genome in order to either sterilize the vector, stop the vector from further reproduction (suicide genes) and many more.

Some weeks back there was a story where a biotech company has released genetically modified mosquitoes into the environment. These mosquitoes carry a “suicide” gene where if they mate with the female mosquitoes they will not be able to produce offspring and the mosquito population will die out. As simple as it sounds the consequences in the long term are unknown and that is where the danger is.

Most of the genetic modifications are done in controlled environments in laboratories, where these experimental animals are monitored. But when these insects are released in the environment we have no idea, what mutations (changes in the DNA which may result in changes in behavior of a plant or animal) may come up.  How will the companies monitor or follow these mosquitoes once released? Are they tagged so that they could easily trace their movements? Flying insects can easily cross borders into other regions is there any awareness in the communities where the mosquitoes have been released and the neighbouring communities which could be victims of these mosquitoes? What dangers do these genetically modified mosquitoes present to society?

What are the long term effects?

There are many questions we can ask.

Is it worth it to have these genetically modified insects released in our societies when we don’t fully know the consequences they will have in our environments? Yes we have diseases which are killing our populations and we are desperate to get rid of them, but is this the right way? Are we not adding another complicated problem on top of an already existing problem?

I am not against advances in science but let us not use desperate situations as a reason to try out unfinished products. Developing countries have been a dumping ground of many experiments whose long term effects are unknown. Infectious diseases are already causing havoc in developing countries let us not add more problems, but let us find ways to solve these problems.

Have your say, I would like to hear your opinions on this.

Can Stigma be Conquered?

The first time I heard of the word stigma was at the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This word was everywhere, on the radio, in newspapers, in brochures and posters but I did not understand what it meant.

With time I began to get the idea what this word was all about. It was a word that brought fear in every one who was HIV positive and to those who were not sure whether they had the disease or not.

So what is stigma?

AIDS-related stigma and discrimination is described as prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS.

Different societies and cultures have shown varying levels of stigma and discrimination and these in turn have instilled fear in people of being discriminated against. This fear has resulted in people running away from knowing their HIV status and disclosing their HIV status if they know it.

Governments and non-governmental organizations are working hand in hand with many African countries where the disease has caused a lot of havoc, to bring awareness on the disease.

In the beginning it was not easy to break the cultural barriers and talk about issues concerning sexuality which are considered as taboo. But as the disease claimed more lives and infections sky rocketed people resorted to opening up and bringing the truth about HIV/AIDS into the open. HIV/AIDS has created thousands and thousands of orphans in Africa and as such communities are working hard to bring awareness of the disease to both young and old.  In Malawi for example, children in primary school (between the age of 5 and 12) and in secondary school (12-18years of age) are taught about the danger of HIV/AIDS and how they can contract it as well as avoid infection. In the rural areas, health personnel and social workers are working hard to bring awareness on HIV/AIDS.

But how has this awareness affected the issues of stigma and discrimination in these societies?

Uganda was badly hit by the pandemic but the country embarked on huge HIV/AIDS awareness campaign which showed remarkable results in the society, their perception of the disease as well as stigma and discrimination.

In Malawi, I noticed that people are more open to talk about their HIV status, they are also open to tell their friends and family members to go for HIV testing if they suspect the disease. The interesting thing that I noted was people will say “ it is better to go and get these free medication and stay alive than hide the disease and die from it”. This attitude has helped many people to come in the open and get treatment. There are still some who do not want to know their HIV status and even if they see all the symptoms leading to HIV/AIDS they would still deny being tested.

A study in Botswana showed that stigmatising attitudes lessened three years after the introduction of the national program providing access to treatment.  A reduction in stigma was also observed in Tanzania with the introduction of the antiretroviral treatment (ART).

The Secretary general of the UN, Ban Ki Moon said and I quote “ Stigma remains a single most important barrier to public action. It is a main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment if so. It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear social disgrace, of speaking about it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world.”

So can stigma be conquered? I believe the answer lies with each and every one of us. If we have to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we need to work together against stigma and discrimination.