In a remarkable scientific development, researchers have discovered that a drug called nitisinone, originally used to treat rare genetic disorders, can effectively kill mosquitoes after they feed on blood containing the substance.
The study, highlighted by Science Alert and conducted by the University of Notre Dame, found that the drug blocks an essential mosquito enzyme known as 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD). Without it, mosquitoes are unable to digest blood properly—leading to fatal consequences.
What makes nitisinone particularly promising is its ability to work against both standard and insecticide-resistant mosquito strains, including the notorious Anopheles gambiae Tiassalé variant, a common malaria vector in Asia and Africa.
Unlike traditional mosquito control drugs like ivermectin, nitisinone acts faster, killing mosquitoes within 24 hours of ingestion. It also stays in the bloodstream longer, offering extended protection. Notably, it impacts mosquitoes of all ages—especially older ones, which are more likely to carry and transmit malaria.
Researchers believe this approach could revolutionize malaria control efforts by turning humans into an indirect yet effective part of mosquito population management. Dr. Lee R. Haines of Notre Dame called it a “promising new complementary tool” for combating vector-borne diseases like malaria, especially in areas where current interventions are losing ground.
