Bioengineered Fungus: A Sexually Transmitted Weapon Against Malaria-Spreading Mosquitoes

University of Maryland entomologists have bioengineered a deadly fungus that spreads sexually in Anopheles mosquitoes, effectively creating a sexually transmitted infection for them. This modified Metarhizium fungus, producing potent neurotoxins, boasts a nearly 90% mortality rate in female mosquitoes within two weeks of mating with infected males—a stark contrast to the wild-type's 4% rate. Crucially, the fungus is harmless to humans and allows infected males to spread spores for up to 24 hours, making it an environmentally viable solution to combatting increasingly drug-resistant mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. This innovative approach leverages the mosquitoes' own biology to control their populations, offering a new weapon in the ongoing arms race against mosquito-borne illnesses.