Fungi against malaria
2005/07/04 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa
Chemical insecticides are mainly used against the mosquito that can carry the malaria parasite, the Anopheles mosquito, but also fungi can collaborate in this task. British researchers have used the Beauveria bassiana fungus as a biological insecticide and have obtained excellent results.
The spores of this fungus to kill mosquitoes spread in clothes, in the cloths of the house or in the walls; when placed on the mosquito, the spores germinate and the fungus grows inside the mosquito. According to researchers, most mosquitoes die before the malaria parasite develops, and probably fewer eggs put and cost them more to fly while they die.
Photo: H. H. Sturrock.
