IIT Mandi, DBT-inStem Researchers Unveil Biochemistry Behind the Resilience of Dengue Mosquito Eggs

The collaborative team, through innovative experiments, deciphered the specific adaptations in larvae during dehydration, shedding light on the mechanisms behind their resilience. This research lays the foundation for innovative mosquito control methods, potentially reducing disease transmission.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, and the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine in Bengaluru, have discovered the biochemical processes that enable the eggs of the Dengue-causing mosquito to survive harsh conditions and rejuvenate when favourable conditions return.

Dr Baskar Bakthavachalu, the lead researcher from IIT Mandi, explained, “Life is fundamentally dependent on water. However, extreme environmental conditions have allowed organisms to find ways to survive without water. Each of these organisms finds its own unique way to overcome water loss. Our understanding of this fundamental process remains limited. Mosquito eggs, facing drying conditions, enter an altered metabolic state to significantly increase the production of polyamines, which play a crucial role in enabling the embryos to withstand the damage caused by water loss. Furthermore, they utilize high-calorie lipids as an energy source to complete their development once they are rehydrated.”

This research marks a significant stride in our battle against mosquito-borne diseases, offering hope for more effective vector control measures, said the official statement. 

The collaborative team reared Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, studying their eggs through a series of innovative experiments. By subjecting the eggs to dehydration and subsequent rehydration, they discovered that the developing larvae undergo specific metabolic changes required for survival.

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Mosquitoes, viral vectors for various diseases, deposit their eggs in water, where they hatch. The eggs of Dengue and Zika-carrying Aedes mosquitoes can endure extended periods without water, akin to plant seeds patiently waiting for germination in the absence of moisture. Despite the knowledge of this phenomenon, the molecular reasons behind the desiccation tolerance and post-rehydration survival remained a mystery until now.

The implications of this research are far-reaching. Understanding these survival mechanisms provides a foundation for innovative mosquito control strategies.

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