GM bacteria prevents malaria transmission

In a breakthrough, US. Scientists have genetically modified a bacterium to kill the parasite that causes malaria before it infects humans. Researches at Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute said their breakthrough could help prevent mosquitoes from transmitting malaria to humans. Malaria kills over 800,000 people worldwide every year, most of them are children. In the new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers modified the bacterium, called Pantoea agglomerans, to secrete proteins that are toxic to the malaria parasite, but not harmful to the mosquito or humans. The bacterium is commonly found in the mosquito’s midgut. It was  found that the modified bacteria were 98 per cent effective in reducing the malaria parasite burden in the insects, the researchers said.

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TIMES TRENDS JUNE 18,2012