The Anopheles gambiae, mosquito feeding on human flesh. Copyright:  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

A baby suffering from malaria at Nigeria’s Garki General Hospital in Abuja.Copyright:  WHO/Pierre Virot

 

Children

Copyright: WHO/Pierre Virot

INSECT CONTROL

 A.  MR-08 INSECT REPELLENT PROGRAM

Overview

Malaria, a debilitating, often fatal disease transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito, continues to be one of the world’s most infectious killers well into the 21^st century. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers fighting malaria among its highest priorities alongside the AIDS pandemic and tuberculosis. 2001 to 2010 is the United Nations Decade to Roll Back Malaria.

WHO estimates that 40 percent of the world’s population, especially in the world’s poorest countries in sub-tropical and tropical regions, is threatened by malaria. Two million die from it, most of them children under the age of five. 

A  mosquito-net treated with insecticide

in a hut in the village of Kiyi, near Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.Copyright: WHO/Pierre Virot

Other mosquito-borne diseases plaguing the world today are dengue fever, which infects 50 million every year, and causes deaths among five percent of victims; and yellow fever, which infects 200,000 people and kills more than 30,000 worldwide. The West Nile virus, carried by the mosquito species Culex pipiens, causes high fevers, neurological problems and even death. This virus killed 284 people in the United States in 2002. 

Unlike the vaccine against yellow fever, potent vaccines against malaria, dengue fever, and the West Nile virus have yet to be discovered.

The malaria parasite has proven to be insidious, managing to mutate and resist drugs and insecticides created to fight it. Scientists engaged in discovering a cure for malaria admit that it may be impossible to create a vaccine that provides total protection. But they hold out hope that at least a vaccine that can accelerate the ability of humans to develop immunity against the fast-changing parasite can be realized. “If you can reduce blood parasite levels by 20 percent, that will translate into reductions in mortality and improved health,” Ross Coppel, a malariologist and vaccine researcher with Monash University in Melbourne told New Scientist magazine (“Endgame”, New Scientist, 5 July 2003 issue).

Poseidon’s MR-08

Recent studies conducted by leading medical entomologists show that the chemical DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) found in varying concentrations in most mosquito repellents on the market today is still the most effective in driving away mosquitoes, and the concerns over its safety have diminished. However, repellents containing DEET tend to be sticky, have an unpleasant smell, burns when it gets into eyes and on lips, and tend to melt plastic objects and synthetic fabrics that it comes into contact with. Repellents based on plant extracts such as Citronella, perform poorly in keeping away mosquitoes and bugs.

In collaboration with research institutions worldwide, Poseidon have been conducting research of developing improved materials from natural sources to prevent mosquitoes from biting.

Initial laboratory screening of Poseidon’s chemical compound, MR-08, have revealed that the active ingredient performed better than most products containing DEET, IR3535 or Citronella. The protection time (the time from application of the repellent to the time until the first bite) of Poseidon’s product when incorporated in a cosmetic lotion base at 5% (w/w), was approximately 300 minutes, similar to the performance of SC Johnson’s OFF! Deep Woods^® repellent, which contains 23.8 percent DEET.

Recent studies also demonstrated that Poseidon’s repellent technology could be useful to other nuisance insect species, such as ants.  When a surface is coated with MR-08, Poseidon also has demonstrated that a single application of MR-08 is effective in preventing infestation by red ants (Pharaoh ants, Monomonium pharaonis).

The active ingredient in MR-08 is menthol propyleneglycol carbonate, a FEMA GRAS  (generally regarded as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration) chemical in current use as a food ingredient primarily as a cooling agent in toothpastes, chewing gums and cosmetic products.  As a nontoxic, safe product for human consumption, the use of this material in insect control opens new market opportunities where insect control is essential and where contact with human skin and food items are involved.

To learn more about MR-08 and its applications, please click the icon below:

Intellectual Property (IP)

An international patent for the use of MR-08 in insect control has been published by the World Intellectual Property Organization and can be seen HERE.  Patent protection has been filed in the key countries to protect the IP.

References:

World Health Organization/Roll Back Malaria program (www.rbm.who.int)

Gambusia affinis also known as mosquito fish.  Copyright:  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

B. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Overview

Prevention of disease transmission by mosquitoes and other insects can also be achieved by the use of predators that prey on mosquito larvae in stagnant pools.  The use of larvivorous fishes (fishes that feed on larvae, such as Gambusia affinis), has been employed successfully for many decades.  However, Gambusia is an aggressive fish that has displaced many indigenous fishes, thus causing environmental concern in areas where they are introduced. Using larvivorous fishes is an approach employed only in countries where Gambusia has already been introduced or is naturally present.  Another drawback of using conventional fishes is that mosquitoes primarily breed in stagnant bodies of water which dry up seasonally.  The introduction of Gambusia is effective only during the wet season and will require restocking after the dry season passes and the next rainy season sets in.

 

Annual Killifishes

Poseidon promotes the use of a different larvivorous fish, called annual killifishes.  These fishes are found in freshwater and can maintain permanent populations even in temporary bodies of water.  Adult and juvenile annual fishes die during the dry  season and reappear when the rainy season starts.  Killifishes are able to maintain stable populations because of a unique development cycle in which the embryos laid during the wet season can undergo a state of suspended animation, thus allowing them to survive adverse conditions such as drought and high temperatures.  Populations of these fishes have been found in pools as small as imprints made by elephant hooves and in areas that previously experienced drought lasting as long as five years.  Annual killifishes feed on the larvae of mosquitoes, which also hatch  during the rainy season.  With an adequate fish population in temporary pools, it is theoretically possible to produce adequate biological control in special bodies of freshwater.

Besides their unique life cycle, there are advantages to the use of annual killifishes:

·      Their small size (approximately five to seven cm.) enables them to seek predators in shallow corners of the pool and under/in between the leaves of water plants. 

·      Their size also makes them less suitable as a food source by local human population that co-inhabit these areas.

·      They are not aggressive and have never been found to develop permanent populations in bodies of freshwater. 

·       The sturdy eggs can be mass-produced, thus making it possible to carry millions of embryos for dissemination in difficult terrain usually found in malarious areas.

Research on understanding the mechanisms that control the onset of duration of arrested development (also known as suspended animation or diapause) has been undertaken by Poseidon scientists for several decades. The level of knowledge about the biology of these fishes has reached the stage where it is now possible to mass produce annual species for biocontrol trials.

Poseidon’s goal is to embark on mass production of annual killifishes to support future use of these fishes for biological control of mosquitoes and insects. The control of suspended animation also has major implications in studies on health, disease, and aging.  Mass production will also enable the company to support the expansion of research in this area for possible applications in biomedical sciences.

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