Researchers have found that a medication used to treat rare genetic diseases could make human blood deadly for mosquitoes. This discovery may help in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, which affects millions worldwide each year.
The drug, called nitisinone, is usually prescribed for people with metabolic disorders. It works by stopping the breakdown of certain amino acids, preventing harmful substances from building up in the body. However, scientists have now discovered that it has an unexpected effect on mosquitoes—one that could change how we control the spread of deadly diseases.
How the Drug Kills Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes survive by feeding on blood. When they bite humans or animals that have taken nitisinone, the drug interferes with their digestive system. The enzyme they need to process blood stops working, which leads to their death.
Lee R. Haines, a research professor at the University of Notre Dame and co-lead author of the study, explained the significance of the findings.
“Our research shows that one way to stop the spread of diseases transmitted by insects is to make human and animal blood toxic to blood-feeding insects,” Haines said.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggests that nitisinone could be an effective tool to fight malaria. It not only kills younger mosquitoes but also affects older ones, which are more likely to spread the disease. Additionally, the drug worked on mosquitoes that have become resistant to traditional insecticides.
A Safer and Longer-Lasting Alternative to Ivermectin
Mosquito control efforts today include insect repellents, bed nets, protective clothing, and window screens. In some areas, health workers use ivermectin, a drug that kills parasites, to poison mosquitoes when they bite treated humans or livestock. However, experts worry about its long-term impact on the environment and the risk of mosquitoes developing resistance.
Nitisinone may be a better alternative. It stays active in the bloodstream for a longer time, making it more effective and reducing the need for frequent doses.
“Its performance was fantastic,” said Álvaro Acosta Serrano, a professor of biological sciences and a co-author of the study. “It has a much longer half-life in human blood than ivermectin, so it remains active for a longer period. That’s important for both safety and cost in real-world use.”
Since nitisinone is already approved for human use, it could be introduced as a mosquito-control method faster than a brand-new drug.
A Strategy to Reduce Drug Resistance
Experts suggest that rotating nitisinone with ivermectin could slow the development of drug resistance among mosquitoes.
“Nitisinone could be used in regions where ivermectin resistance is already a concern or where the drug is heavily used in livestock,” Haines explained.
By alternating treatments, mosquito populations may not adapt as quickly, making control programs more effective in the long run.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases on the Rise
Diseases spread by mosquitoes remain a major global health threat. Malaria alone killed over 600,000 people in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Other diseases, like dengue fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and yellow fever, continue to spread in tropical and subtropical regions.
In recent years, experts have warned that these diseases are also becoming a problem in Europe. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that warmer temperatures and climate change have created conditions for invasive mosquito species to thrive. Although malaria was eliminated from Europe decades ago, rising cases of dengue and West Nile virus suggest that mosquito-borne diseases could return to the continent.
The discovery of nitisinone’s mosquito-killing effects offers hope for new disease-control methods. If used responsibly, the drug could help reduce the spread of malaria and other illnesses while avoiding the problems associated with traditional insecticides.
