Qian Jiashu

Scientific progress often leads to discussions about ethics and feasibility, especially when addressing global health crises. Recently, using shRNA technology to kill mosquitoes and fight arboviruses has become a hot topic.

Mosquitoes are considered one of the deadliest animals in the world, causing millions of deaths each year due to diseases like malaria and dengue fever. These diseases are spread through mosquito bites and affect people globally, including in Shenzhen. Traditional mosquito control methods, such as insecticides and physical barriers, are limited in effectiveness and can lead to resistance in the insects.

As someone who has frequently been affected by mosquito bites, I am personally invested in finding an effective solution to this problem.

I joined a team to research an innovative way to kill mosquitoes using small interfering RNA (shRNA). Researchers have successfully targeted key mosquito genes with shRNA, affecting their survival and reproduction.

The main advantage of shRNA technology is its efficiency and specificity. This technology uses the RNAi mechanism to silence essential genes for mosquito survival, like 5-HTR1, leading to their death. Although the exact mechanisms are still under study, we believe this method can effectively reduce mosquito numbers and lower disease transmission risks.

Our project, called Moskilla, aims to attract and kill mosquitoes. For sugar-loving mosquitoes, we use attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB) to kill mosquitoes. We also add HMBPP to the bait, which attracts blood-feeding mosquitoes. The main killing factor is shRNA. HMBPP acts as a feeding attractant for blood-feeding mosquitoes, activating their olfactory receptors and making them more likely to be attracted to our devices.

However, shRNA technology faces challenges. Firstly, delivering shRNA safely and effectively to mosquitoes poses a technical problem. Secondly, the long-term ecological impact of this gene interference technology is unclear and requires further research and evaluation.

Using shRNA technology to control mosquito populations raises ethical and legal questions. The widespread use of gene interference technology may have unforeseen effects on ecosystems.

Despite these challenges, shRNA technology shows great potential in controlling mosquito-borne diseases. Through scientific progress and collaboration, we hope to achieve this goal in the future.

In conclusion, shRNA technology represents a promising approach in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. With continued research, ethical considerations, and community engagement, we aim to contribute to a healthier, mosquito-free future.

(The author is a student from dreamers Education.)