Scientists decode DNA of deadly mosquito

Scientists have completed the first draft of the genome sequence of Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the cause for outbreaks of the deadly yellow, dengue and even chikungunya fevers that kill thousands of people in Africa, South America and Asia every year.

According to the World Health Organization, there are 50 million cases of dengue fever each year. Yellow fever is a major problem in Africa and South America, with over 200,000 cases each year, and 30,000 deaths. Outbreaks of chikungunya have been reported in India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with 1.25 million cases in India alone in 2006.

Now an international team of researchers from 24 universities and other institutions, led by Vishvanath Nene at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and David Severson at theUniversity of Notre Dame have done the genome sequencing of the deadly mosquito - a map of all DNAs.

This genetic information could ultimately help control mosquito populations and the spread of diseases, say the scientists.