2006
Prof. Frank Hadley Collins, Dir., Cntr. for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Univ. of Notre Dame
This 2006 photograph depicted a female Aedes aegypti mosquito while she was in the process of acquiring a blood meal from her human host, who in this instance, was actually the biomedical photographer, James Gathany, here at the Centers for Disease Control. The feeding apparatus consisting of a sharp, orange-colored “fascicle”, which while not feeding, is covered in a soft, pliant sheath called the "labellum”, which retracts as the sharp stylets contained within pierce the host's skin surface, as the insect obtains its blood meal. The orange color of the fascicle is due to the red color of the blood as it migrates up the thin, sharp translucent tube. Note the distended abdominal exoskeleton, which being translucent, allowed the color of the ingested blood meal to be visible.
DF and DHF are primarily diseases of tropical and sub-tropical areas, and the four different dengue serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4), are maintained in a cycle that involves humans and the Aedes mosquito. However, Aedes aegypti, a domestic, day-biting mosquito that prefers to feed on humans, is the most common Aedes species. Infections produce a spectrum of clinical illness ranging from a nonspecific viral syndrome to severe and fatal hemorrhagic disease. Important risk factors for DHF include the strain of the infecting virus, as well as the age, and especially the prior dengue infection history of the patient.If there was ever a time for humanity to not test their luck, you would think we are currently living in it. Recently, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) announced that they have been working on a project to release genetically modified mosquitoes into the wilderness…I’m just going to assume that they have never seen Jurassic Park.The plan set in place is to release millions of genetically-altered, male mosquitoes to mate with the current female population in the area.IF all goes to plan, the male mosquitoes, which don’t bite, would contain a genetic change that would render any female offspring unable to survive — thus reducing the population of the insects that transmit disease.The project has already received heavy criticism from researchers around the country. Max Moreno, an expert in mosquito-borne diseases at Indiana University, said:“The mosquitoes created in a lab have not gone through a natural selection process, in which only the fittest survive and mate. Once they are released in the natural environment, will they be as fit as the naturally occurring males and able to outcompete them for mates?”“An ecosystem is so complicated and involves so many species, it would be almost impossible to test them all in advance in a lab.”According to Moreno, there are too many uncontrolled variables to go ahead with the project.“What happens if a spider, frog or bird eats the mosquito, will the modified protein have any effect on the predator?”Regardless, members of the board voted in favor of the project.“The science is there. This is something Monroe County needs. We’re trying everything in our power, and we’re running out of options.” -Jill Cranny-Gage (Keys Mosquito Board Member)Whelp, I don’t know how this one is going to play out. But judging by our record (and every fucking movie ever made)… 2020 isn’t over yet.First, it was Murder Hornets, now it’s Mutant Mosquitoes. This 2020 lineup is lit. Someone get the flamethrower!Snag the Fuckin Murder Hornets tee HERE!
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