Not only is sweating gross, but it could actually leave you as susceptible prey to the world's most dangerous animal. That animal, my friends, is none other than the malaria-spreading Anopheles mosquito. The good news is that scientists may have discovered the tiny vampire's Achilles heel.
After examining the anatomy of a female mosquito, they discovered that it was her sense of smell that led her to human blood. These olfactory organs, called maxillary palps, work as human sweat detectors, leading the mosquito to you, her next meal.
The scientists are saying that if the maxillary palp was removed, or genetically modified with drugs, that they could affect the behavior of the mosquito and hinder it from finding human prey.
That could make one heck of a difference to world health! "Currently 40 per cent of the world's population are in danger of exposure to malaria with around 700,000 children dieing every year from the disease."
Malaria Cure Underway
Scientific Breakthrough
Trend Themes
1. Genetic Modification of Mosquitoes - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop genetic modification techniques to disable mosquitos' maxillary palps, preventing them from detecting human sweat and reducing the spread of malaria.
2. Mosquito Behavior Modification - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore ways to modify mosquitos' behavior by removing or altering their maxillary palps, potentially leading to a decrease in malaria transmission.
3. Sweat-based Mosquito Detectors - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create advanced sweat detection technology to develop effective mosquito traps that can help in controlling malaria-spreading mosquitoes.
Industry Implications
1. Biotechnology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Biotech companies can develop genetic modification techniques to target and alter mosquitos' maxillary palps, contributing to malaria prevention.
2. Healthcare - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Healthcare professionals can research and implement behavior modification techniques to reduce the risk of malaria transmission through mosquitos.
3. Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Technological advancements can be made in producing sweat detectors to aid in the development of effective mosquito control measures for malaria prevention.