| Popis: |
The use of insecticides in the elimination of Chagas disease vectors and therefore in the control of Chagas disease has limitations that have prompted the development of new control approaches. Paratransgenesis utilizes the genetic modification of symbiotic actinomycete bacteria found in the gut of triatomine bugs as a means to modify the gut environment of the bug, rendering it unfavorable to trypanosome development. Paratransgenic control, which has been developed for potential use in conjunction with insecticide programs, shows much promise: stable methods of transformation have been developed, antitrypanosomal genes have been tested, and a means of dispersal has been developed in the form the artificial feces, CRUZIGUARD, which mimics the natural coprophagic transfer of symbionts. Nevertheless, before a pilot field release, gene constructs will need to be optimized and questions concerning the health and environmental risks, as well as political issues, associated with the release of a genetically modified organism must be addressed. |
