Virginia Tech researchers announced on April 25 that they have identified a hormone system in mosquitoes that could be manipulated to reduce the insects’ ability to reproduce. The research focuses on disrupting communication between the methoprene-tolerant receptor protein and juvenile hormone, which in laboratory studies led to a significant decrease in mosquito egg production.
The findings are important because mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases such as dengue and Zika, causing hundreds of millions of infections each year. According to the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, mosquitoes contribute to about one million deaths annually. Limiting their numbers could help reduce these illnesses.
The Virginia Tech team discovered that methoprene acts as two receptors—one inside and one outside the cell—contrary to previous beliefs that two different proteins were involved. “This allows juvenile hormone to coordinate both rapid and long-term responses, giving mosquitoes a precise way to control reproduction,” said VT Professor Jinsong Zhu.
The ongoing research aims not only at controlling mosquito populations but also at developing methods specific enough to avoid harming beneficial insects. “Our goal is not just to control mosquitoes, but to find targets that are specific to mosquitoes and reduce impact on beneficial insects,” Zhu said.
As climate change alters ecosystems, disease-carrying species like mosquitoes are expanding into new regions, with recent sightings even in Iceland. Researchers worldwide continue searching for more sustainable pesticides—including some using unconventional ingredients—and exploring natural remedies such as lemon balm leaves for repelling pests while supporting pollinators.
Virginia Tech’s work is part of a decade-long project supported by a $3.3 million federal grant. The team continues studying how hormones and protein receptors interact during mosquito reproduction cycles. “If that process is disrupted, reproduction is reduced,” Zhu said about hormone communication mechanisms. “That makes this system an important point of control we can begin to study more closely.”
