Nitisinone Identified as Promising Mosquito-Killing Tool in Malaria Fight
New research demonstrates nitisinone's ability to kill mosquitoes via human blood, offering potential advantages over existing methods like ivermectin.
- A study by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine found that nitisinone, a drug for rare genetic disorders, kills mosquitoes within 12 hours of feeding on treated human blood.
- Nitisinone works by blocking an enzyme in mosquitoes, disrupting their digestion and causing death, while remaining safer for humans and pollinating insects compared to ivermectin.
- The drug has a longer half-life in human blood than ivermectin, maintaining its effectiveness against mosquitoes for extended periods.
- Initial findings suggest nitisinone can kill insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and older mosquitoes, which are more likely to transmit malaria.
- Researchers are now conducting further studies to determine optimal dosages, evaluate ecological impacts, and explore integration into malaria control programs.
The Independent 
