NCL Pune Scientists Discover Mosquito Repelling Molecule
--Must See--

Bioinformatics Summer Internship 2024 With Hands-On-Training + Project / Dissertation - 30 Days, 3 Months & 6 Months Duration

NCL Pune Scientists Discover Mosquito Repelling Molecule

Indian scientists at National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune have synthesized a new aromatic molecule which claims to help repel and kill mature female of Aedes aegypti mosquito which is a carrier of viruses causing several deadly diseases.

Mosquito bites that cause diseases such as malaria and dengue are a major health concern in countries where the rise in temperature enables transmission and their easy breeding. Dengue tops the charts with 390 million illnesses reported per year globally. Usage of Mosquito nets and Mosquito repellents can to some extent help decrease the occurrence & spread of mosquito-borne diseases, But, mosquitoes are becoming resistant to pyrethroid-based insect repellents.

National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune Scientists, has synthesized several molecules from two aromatic substances — noreremophilanes and nardoaristolone B. The chemicals are structurally related to nootkatone, which is a natural product and has previously been shown to be effective against ticks and mites.

Based on structural similarities, NCL scientists reasoned that repellent and insecticidal property may be shown by the molecule against mosquitoes also. They analyzed their efficacy against adult females of Aedes aegypti and discovered that one of those molecules exhibited higher repellence.

In lab experiments, NCL

researchers analyzed this molecule by applying a small quantity of the chemical on muslin cloth placed on the gloves (that was worn by a volunteer). It had been observed that mosquitoes didn’t bite when 0.25 milligram of the molecule was applied a square cm of the surface. Detailed Toxicity studies are yet to be performed.

The researchers are in conversation with some firms for commercialization of this molecule. The study’s results have been published in the journal ACS Omega.

The NCL Pune Researcher team who have uncovered this molecule as per India Science Wire include Kishor L. Handore, Hanuman P. Kalmode, Shahebaz Sayyad, B. Seetharamsingh, Ganesh Gathalkar, Sarang Padole, Pushpa V. Pawar, Mary Joseph, Avalokiteswar Sen, and Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy.

Read Latest News Updates

Shekhar Suman is the Co-founder of BioTecNika Info Labs Pvt. Ltd. He is an Entrepreneur, Writer, Public Speaker, and a Motivational Coach. In his career, he has mentored more than 100,000+ students toward success in the Biopharma Industry. He heads the BioTecNika Group, which comprises BioTecNika.com, BioTecNika.org, and Rasayanika.com. An avid reader and listener who is passionate about BioSciences. Today Biotecnika is India's largest Biotech Career portal, with over 5 Million subscribers from academia & Industry. It's ranked among the top 50 websites worldwide in the Biology category.