Brazilian researchers develop seaweed with insecticide action

Researchers at the Federal University of Ceara and the University of Brasília, both in Brazil, has developed genetically-modified microalgae with insecticide action.

 

The transgenic organism combats the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is a vector for diseases, such as dengue, zika, chikungunya fever and yellow fever.

 

According to Larissa Queiroz, a member of the Biotechnology Department of the Federal University of Ceara, the goal is to make the microalga (specie Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) “to excrete a toxic protein for the mosquito larvae, which would end up dying. And there would not be any risk for humans or animals in case they consumer water.”

 

Originally from sweet water, the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was chosen because it has a sequenced genome and has high potential, surviving even in a saline environment. The staff will await the conclusion of a genetic transformation of microalga with the interest genes until October.

 

The Federal University of Ceara has also entered a partnership with the Minho University in Portugal to amplify studies of the microalgae. The procedure was already tested earlier with bacteria, yeast and plant cells.