<p>Scientists have created a new strain of 'super-infected' mosquitoes that could potentially help fight dengue fever and the Zika virus.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Researchers created a strain of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the lab that has been infected with two types of Wolbachia - a bacterium that can reduce the risk of dengue spreading to humans.<br /><br />The new strain is more effective at blocking dengue than the singly-infected insect, researchers from University of Melbourne said.<br /><br />This strain could also be useful in preventing the dengue virus from developing resistance to Wolbachia, 'ABC News' reported.<br /><br />"It would be a higher hurdle for the virus to get over the top of," said Cameron Simmons from University of Melbourne.<br /><br />Wolbachia biocontrol could be useful for other viruses carried by Aedes aegypti, including Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever virus, Simmons said.<br /><br />Wolbachia is transmitted through the females to the next generation, which means the bacterial infection can spread rapidly through mosquito populations.<br /><br />Previously, scientists have found they can limit the replication of these viruses in mosquitoes by injecting mosquitoes with a strain of Wolbachia called wMel.<br /><br />Studies have shown that when a mosquito bites an infected person, the ability of the virus to spread throughout the Wolbachia-infected insect's tissues is limited.<br /><br />If no dengue virus makes it to the salivary glands of the mosquito, the insect cannot pass the virus on to humans.<br /><br />"It is a dead end essentially for the virus. The Wolbachia stops the mosquito being able to onward transmit the virus to a human host," said Simmons.<br /><br />The findings were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.</p>
<p>Scientists have created a new strain of 'super-infected' mosquitoes that could potentially help fight dengue fever and the Zika virus.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Researchers created a strain of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the lab that has been infected with two types of Wolbachia - a bacterium that can reduce the risk of dengue spreading to humans.<br /><br />The new strain is more effective at blocking dengue than the singly-infected insect, researchers from University of Melbourne said.<br /><br />This strain could also be useful in preventing the dengue virus from developing resistance to Wolbachia, 'ABC News' reported.<br /><br />"It would be a higher hurdle for the virus to get over the top of," said Cameron Simmons from University of Melbourne.<br /><br />Wolbachia biocontrol could be useful for other viruses carried by Aedes aegypti, including Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever virus, Simmons said.<br /><br />Wolbachia is transmitted through the females to the next generation, which means the bacterial infection can spread rapidly through mosquito populations.<br /><br />Previously, scientists have found they can limit the replication of these viruses in mosquitoes by injecting mosquitoes with a strain of Wolbachia called wMel.<br /><br />Studies have shown that when a mosquito bites an infected person, the ability of the virus to spread throughout the Wolbachia-infected insect's tissues is limited.<br /><br />If no dengue virus makes it to the salivary glands of the mosquito, the insect cannot pass the virus on to humans.<br /><br />"It is a dead end essentially for the virus. The Wolbachia stops the mosquito being able to onward transmit the virus to a human host," said Simmons.<br /><br />The findings were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.</p>