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Antibodies. Genes. Bacteria. Artificial Intelligence. Satellites. Drones. New technologies are being deployed in new ways in the fight against dengue. While some are halting the vector in its tracks, others are tackling the dengue virus. Some are already in use; others are experimental. Let\u2019s look at the dengue-fighting technology we can expect to see as we take on this killer virus \u2013 and its vector \u2013 in 2020. <\/em><\/p>\n New approaches based on genes<\/strong><\/p>\n Our first dengue-fighting technology stops Aedes aegypti<\/em> mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus from transmitting the virus to humans. Researchers in UC San Diego<\/a> have transferred genes from the human immune system to pass immunity to all four dengue serotypes to Aedes<\/em> mosquitoes. Female Aedes<\/em> are synthetically engineered to have the antibody, which is activated by feeding on blood. The antibody prevents the dengue virus replicating throughout her body, ensuring she can\u2019t pass it on. A gene dissemination system could spread the antibody to wild mosquito populations.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, an article in Science Daily<\/a> explores our second dengue-fighting technology: gene therapy that can prevent mosquitoes reaching maturity. The technique prevents a steroid hormone that insects require for sexual maturity from reaching the brain. The approach could limit mosquito maturity to somewhere between infancy and adulthood. They would die before they reproduce and remain in or on their food source rather than wander to feed.<\/p>\n The sterile insect technique bites back<\/strong><\/p>\n Last September, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced<\/a> a US$ 3.96 million grant from the US Government to overcome some of the challenges of sterile insect technique (SIT). SIT involves rearing, sterilising then releasing large numbers of a target pest into wild populations to suppress their number. It requires the females reared to be separated from the males, which is not easy. The IAEA is rearing Aedes<\/em> mosquitoes and sterilising them using radiation; this short animation<\/a> explains how it works. The grant will allow it to develop new ways of separating males from females.<\/p>\n