Image: Lee R. Haines
In a groundbreaking new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine (with the article Breakthrough discovery: Nitisinone transforms human blood into mosquito to fight malaria, scientists want to poison mosquitoes with human blood), các Researchers have introduced a new approach to the fight against malaria using the drug nitisinone. The drug, which is prescribed to treat rare genetic disorders, has shown the potential to make human blood toxic to mosquitoes, particularly Anopheles gambiae, which is known to transmit malaria in African countries. This innovative strategy avoids the negative impacts associated with traditional insecticides and offers an environmentally friendly solution to the fight against malaria.
Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death in many regions, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa. Traditional methods of controlling mosquito populations rely heavily on the use of powerful insecticides, which, while effective, can cause significant environmental damage and lead to the development of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. This alarming trend has prompted the search for alternative methods to manage the insect and protect vulnerable communities from malaria.
Ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic drug that has been widely used to treat parasitic infections in humans and animals, is a currently used therapy that works in a similar way. Although it has proven effective in reducing malaria transmission through mosquito control, concerns remain about its environmental toxicity and the risk of developing resistance if used excessively. The risk of resistance in mosquitoes could reduce the effectiveness of IVM and complicate malaria control (MCR), making the search for new solutions urgent.
The innovative discovery from this study shows that nitisinone (NTN), with the chemical formula C14H10F3NO5, could have a dual benefit: It could not only help control malaria‐transmitting mosquito populations, but also provide a unique way to reduce dependence on traditional insecticides. By making blood toxic to mosquitoes, NTN could significantly reduce their lifespan and thus limit their ability to spread malaria. The researchers revealed that NTN affects mosquito metabolism in a similar way to its function in the human body, where it inhibits a key enzyme involved in the metabolism of certain amino acids.
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| Bulletin board onYoutube: Malaria Breakthrough: Nitisinone Makes Human Blood Deadly to Mosquitoes | WION Fineprint | https://x.com/firstpost/status/ Study illustrates how human blood is more toxic to mosquitoes |
Nitisinone inhibits the activity of the enzyme 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), which is responsible for the breakdown of tyrosine ‐ an essential amino acid for many biological functions. When mosquitoes feed on blood containing this drug, their ability to metabolize and digest food is impaired, leading to rapid death. This new approach introduces a specific approach to targeting bloodsucking insects, making this drug a potential solution for vector control.
In their study, the scientists conducted extensive analysis to determine the dosage needed to achieve optimal mosquito control. They found that NTN outperformed IVM, with greater efficacy in killing both insecticide‐resistant and susceptible mosquito populations. This is especially important in areas where insecticide resistance has become widespread, reducing the effectiveness of traditional strategies.
In addition, the study also showed that NTN persists in human blood longer than IVM, meaning that its mosquito‐killing activity lasts longer in the body. This feature is important for practical application, as it can enhance the efficacy of the drug while improving safety and reducing costs.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine worked closely with the Robert Gregory National Centre for Alkaptonuria to collect human blood samples. By analysing the blood of people treated with NTN, they confirmed that the blood was lethal to mosquitoes, demonstrating the practical application of the laboratory findings. This collaboration highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research and the potential for repurposing existing drugs for innovative purposes.
This study promises to open new directions for malaria control strategies, especially in geographically isolated communities where access to traditional insecticides is limited. Notably, the use of NTN may provide dual benefits by increasing drug production capacity and reducing costs for patients with tyrosine metabolism disorders. The broader implications of this study extend beyond malaria control and may improve the lives of patients who require NTN for medical reasons.
Although the results are promising, further research and field trials are needed to determine optimal dosages and assess the long‐term effects of NTN use in a variety of environmental settings. The scientists are optimistic about moving to semi‐field trials to test how NTN affects mosquito populations under more realistic conditions. Such trials will ensure that the current research can be effectively translated into practice in malaria‐endemic areas.
This research has received great attention from global health organizations and advocacy groups working to eradicate malaria. As excitement about the potential benefits of NTN grows, there is hope that adopting such innovative strategies will lead to long‐term control of malaria‐carrying mosquito populations, saving millions of lives.
Overall, the groundbreaking discovery of NTN as a potential tool in malaria control underscores the importance of continued research to find new solutions to combat infectious diseases. With the growing threat of resistance to current treatments, this discovery comes at a timely time when global health needs new interventions more than ever.
Efforts will undoubtedly continue as scientists advance their goals, aiming to solidify NTN’s role as a key player in malaria prevention. With continued support from numerous research councils and organizations around the world, the medical field is on the cusp of revolutionary change to address the pressing challenges posed by malaria. This innovative study not only demonstrates the convergence of pharmacological research and urgent public health needs, but also underscores the critical importance of sustained investment in scientific discovery. In the future, collaboration between researchers, health workers, and public health organizations will play a key role in reshaping effective malaria control strategies that are relevant to an ever‐changing world.
Scientists want to poison malaria mosquitoes with human blood
Malaria kills more than 600,000 people every year and is just one of many deadly diseases spread by mosquitoes. But what if we could turn our blood into poison for the parasites that crave it? While it may sound like science fiction, the idea isn’t as far‐fetched as it sounds. A drug approved to treat rare genetic diseases in humans can kill mosquitoes in low doses. Scientists say the discovery could be a powerful new tool in disease prevention.
In a study published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine, scientists reported that a drug called NTN can make human blood toxic to mosquitoes. Specifically, at low doses, the drug causes mosquitoes to die within hours of feeding on blood from a patient. Notably, the drug’s effectiveness lasts up to 16 days after the first dose. It is important to note, however, that NTN does not directly protect people from malaria. Instead, it works by killing mosquitoes before they have a chance to lay eggs, thereby reducing the number of mosquitoes that transmit the disease and potentially breaking the chain of transmission.
Like a herd immunity vaccine, the new tool focuses not on protecting individuals from malaria, but on communities working together to stop an outbreak. The researchers emphasize that it is not intended to completely eradicate mosquito‐borne diseases, but could be useful when combined with other measures such as insecticide‐treated bed nets, malaria prevention drugs, or existing vaccines. It is particularly effective in areas where mosquitoes have become resistant to other treatments. “What’s exciting is that we’re using an FDA‐approved drug that was originally developed to treat rare genetic diseases,” said Álvaro Acosta Serrano, a parasitologist, vector biologist, and co‐author of the study.
Nitisinone, a drug originally developed from the poison of the Australian bottlebrush plant, was intended as a herbicide. It works by targeting tyrosine, an important amino acid in the body. However, scientists later discovered its medical potential while studying rare genetic diseases such as tyrosinemia type I and alkaptonuria, which occur when the body cannot break down tyrosine normally. Because of its therapeutic effects, NTN was approved for human use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992.
“This is the only thing that keeps children with tyrosinemia type I alive,” says Acosta Serrano, an expert in the field. “It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the only option available.” However, he notes that NTN has many side effects, especially in patients who need high doses. Interestingly, these doses are much higher than those needed to control a completely different problem — insect control.
In 2016, two Brazilian researchers, Marcos Sterkel and Pedro Oliveira, discovered that blood‐sucking insects such as fleas, flies, and mosquitoes have evolved to process tyrosine very quickly after feeding. More importantly, they realized that if this process is interrupted, the insects die. Knowing that Acosta Serrano’s lab at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK) had studied Tsetse flies ‐ another blood‐sucking insect that transmits diseases, they contacted him to explore whether NTN could be applied in this field. From there, the research team expanded the experiment, studying the effects of NTN on mosquitoes, opening up a promising new direction.
There is no simple solution to malaria
Because NTN has already passed rigorous safety standards, repurposing it to treat mosquito‐borne diseases could require less approval, says Acosta Serrano, an author at the University of Notre Dame. For example, NTN is already approved for use in infants and young children, and no side effects have been reported in pregnant women, making the findings promising.
“I think it’s very exciting,” said George Dimopoulos, a molecular biologist who studies mosquito‐borne diseases at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He said the idea of using NTN to fight mosquito‐borne diseases is novel. Notably, NTN appears to have fewer side effects than IVM, another drug that has been shown to block the spread of malaria, and has been shown to be more effective. But Dimopoulos also pointed out some limitations. “Malaria is a disease that is linked to poverty,” he said. “Any solution that is too expensive or too costly is going to be difficult to implement, especially something like this, where the goal is not to protect individuals from malaria, but to protect entire communities.”
Because the diseases NTN treats are so rare, the cost of the drug is still too high for widespread use. However, Acosta Serrano hopes that with more research, the cost of NTN could be reduced by up to 80%, opening up greater opportunities for application. Indirect PCSR is also a challenge. “It’s always difficult to convince people to take a drug that doesn’t directly protect them,” Dimopoulos notes. However, he believes that in the future, NTN could be combined with another antimalarial drug to increase its effectiveness. Additionally, administering the drug to livestock near populated areas where mosquitoes are often attracted could be a way to improve disease prevention.
Additionally, since mosquitoes not only feed on blood but also on nectar, scientists have experimented with creating nectar sacs containing insecticides. This method targets mosquitoes without harming other pollinators. “In theory, you could use NTN in this technology to kill mosquitoes without having to apply it directly to humans,” Dimopoulos said. One concern, however, is the potential for mosquitoes to develop resistance to insecticides, which is common with any control method. Only time will tell whether mosquitoes can evolve to resist the poison.
Whatever NTN’s potential, both Acosta Serrano and Dimopoulos agree that it will be most effective when used as part of a diverse strategy tailored to each specific community. “In some places, combining drugs with vaccines may be a good option. In others, spraying insecticides or new technologies like genetically modified mosquitoes may be more effective,” Dimopoulos explains. “It’s like a personalized medicine approach.”
“There is no perfect solution to malaria elimination,” he stressed. “And I don’t believe there will ever be a single solution that completely solves this problem.”
