University of South Florida (USF) Sarasota-Manatee has a new project in their modular Biology Research Lab.
Aparna Telang PhD, and four students are looking for ways to control the mosquito population.
The team is studying how parasites live inside mosquitoes and why these hosts remain immune to the deadly diseases they transmit to humans.
A lot of research is highly specialized said Dr.Telang.
This project is comprised of three basic phases. Dr. Telang explained, "How dependent are the mosquitoes on certain key bacteria, and can we figure out how to knock them out."
This, added Dr. Telang, would have devastating effects on the mosquito populations.
The immune system and the bird population will also be studied. Birds and mosquitoes pass disease back and forth to each other.
Mosquitoes are a problem on the Suncoast Said Dr. Telang, and she is collaborating with Sarasota and Manatee County scientists who work in mosquito control on this new project, which will take about two years to complete.
