The filarial nematode is a "bad worm". It causes problems in the lymphatic system and can lead to severe problems. It's spread by mosquitoes.
The bacterial parasite wMelPop infects mosquitoes. It's an extremely severe chronic disease- on average, it halves a mosquito's lifespan. Naturally, this makes it useful for fighting the nematode indirectly.
The best part, however, is that wMelPop, unlike a certain human disease, does not weaken a mosquito's immune system. Instead it strengthens it, killing other diseases. This clearly does not do much good to the mosquitoes, but it kills the nematodes before they can spread to humans.
I see this as one of the more effective ways of fighting mosquito-spread disease. Still, I can't help but feel sorry for the mosquitoes in case this becomes a primary method of fighting disease. Yes, they're annoying bloodsuckers, but do they really deserve this?
(Yes.)
(Yes.)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001163601.htm
-Brown Rhino
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