In search of the perfect mosquito
According to medical statistics, mosquitoes kill more people every year than any other creature on earth. just from malaria information WHO, about six hundred thousand people die annually, and mosquitoes also carry many deadly viruses, some encephalitis (diseases in which the substance of the brain is inflamed. – socialbites.ca). Therefore, the military has long considered these insects as potential candidates for the title of an ideal biological weapon.
One of the most famous examples of preparations for the use of mosquitoes as biological weapons occurred in the 20th century, during the Second World War. The Nazis studied them in detail.
“Towards the end of the war, scientists from the Institute at Dachau investigated how malaria-infected insects could be kept alive long enough to be released into enemy territory.” writer Guard.
In January 1942, Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, ordered the establishment of an entomological institute in Dachau.
german general Klaus ReinhardtBorn in 1941, in his scientific life article He writes that the records of Hitler’s activities preserved in the archives do not allow us to draw any conclusions, except that research was carried out in Germany for use in biological warfare.
The first confirmation of the Institute’s research on mosquitoes is contained in a private letter of 12 July 1944 by Georg Ochs to Philipp Genner:
“We’re trying to breed hot mosquitoes on a large scale. We built large flight cages and gave the male mosquitoes flavored water; females take a rabbit overnight so they can suck blood. Sometimes we feed these bloodthirsty creatures with our own blood…”
In 1944, scientists studied the lifespans of various mosquito species to see if they could be kept alive long enough to be transported from a breeding laboratory to a landing site. After trials, the Nazis found a mosquito species of anopheles (about 460 species known, but only 100 of them can carry malaria and be dangerous to humans) suitable for its ability to transmit malaria to humans.
Where are mosquitoes studied today?
Although biological and chemical weapons are prohibited by international law, specifically the Biological Weapons Convention (entered into force in 1972) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (entered into force in 1997), such research continues today. It’s just not in Germany anymore.
Article U.S. Army Medical Board scientists, titled “Effects of Human and Rhesus Monkey Blood Meal Sources on Mosquito Reproduction and Adult Survival in the Lab”, written in collaboration with the Thai Armed Forces Medical Sciences Research Institute, released August 7, 2023 (Blood meal refers to the dried blood of humans and macaques that serves as food for growing mosquitoes.).
The summary of the article begins: “The mass breeding of mosquitoes required for scientific research is technically a challenge. The source of the blood meal is recognized as an important factor in the mass production of mosquitoes, affecting the health and fertility of the colony. Four mosquito species colonized under laboratory conditions by the U.S. Army Medical Board Entomology Division – Armed Forces Medical Sciences Research Institute (USAMD-AFRIMS): Anopheles cracens, An. dirus, An. Minimus and An. sawadwongporni received blood meal from human and rhesus macaque sources via an artificial membrane feeder. The impact of various sources of blood meal on blood supply, survival and reproduction (fertility and hatching rates) was evaluated.”
It is worth noting that in the list of mosquito species to be raised in large quantities, there are only Anopheles and species that carry malaria.
And some are particularly tolerant of rapid malaria. new type (Knowlesi-malaria).
In parallel, work continues on landing systems for these mosquitoes, one of which was patented in 2015.
Patent US8967029B1
“Air release system for poisonous mosquitoes” is patented.
Just translate the text of this document to understand what the mosquito breeding and moulting drone is designed for.
“The air-release device for mosquitoes includes a remote-controlled drone. It is equipped with a CPU container and mosquito breeding silo, which is a self-contained compartment that contains mosquitoes and mosquito food containing a toxin that can be transmitted by mosquito bites after eating mosquito food. The outlet pipe is connected to the mosquito breeding box. The valve is connected to the outlet pipe and is remotely controlled.
Alina Dzhus/socialbites.ca
The patent continues to refer repeatedly to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons, but also states that the 1972 agreement could be interpreted as “not applicable to biological agents or toxins themselves.” are not intended for specific purposes for which they may be prohibited. So there are permissible purposes defined as preventive, protective and peaceful.”
The document also says that there are currently several small robotic devices that can attempt to bring pathogens closer to enemy troops.
“Even with all their advanced computer chips and microprocessors, not all of these high-tech devices can even come close to nature’s marvelous technology. Nature not only delivers the pathogen to the area where the enemy may be, but these devices are very high-tech, able to seek out and find the enemy, even if they are behind fortifications and hiding. This marvel of technology can carry a pathogen, sneak into enemy territory, locate a specific enemy and infect it without warning. This high-tech natural device is called a “mosquito”. I wish the military had found a way to harness the power of the mosquito, the great enemy could easily infect and destroy his troops without firing,” he says in the patent text.
What will we spread?
Interestingly, the document not only addresses malaria as a possible disease that can be transmitted in this way, but also considers various genetically modified bacteria as well as more contagious viruses.
“A highly contagious virus can destroy 100% of enemy troops because those who are not bitten will be infected by fellow soldiers,” the patent states.
In addition, nerve inhibitors (suppressants), gastrointestinal convulsants, neuropharmacological agents, sedatives and hallucinogens can also be transmitted to humans in this way.
“Anti-anxiety medications contain a number of psychoactive substances that cause sleep or hallucinations. An example is BZ (3-quinuclidinylbenzylate, Soviet code ‘Article 78’), which was previously developed during the Cold War. The incapacitating BZ substance causes delusions and causes hallucinations.
Mosquitoes as weapons of mass destruction?
Researcher MV at the Department of General Ecology and Hydrobiology of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University
“I don’t know of any chemical that could infect a mosquito if it bites. Because when it bites, it only injects saliva from the salivary glands. That is, it must be an extremely exotic substance that penetrates the glands of mosquitoes, accumulates there and is transmitted through saliva, ”explained the expert.
According to the scientist, with the help of such a drone, of course, it is possible to deliver malaria-infected mosquitoes. However, because they feed on a large number of animals, there will not be many people among those bitten.
“If 20,000 mosquitoes were released into a state’s territory, would that lead to large numbers of malaria cases in humans? Yes maybe. But is this consistent with the idea of mass weapons? Maryinsky asks.
He added that one can imagine specially bred GMO mosquitoes whose saliva contains some kind of poison.
“Yes, hypothetically, such mosquitoes could be eliminated. But if you bite a person, it will turn out that someone has developed biological weapons that have been banned. I think not many people would agree to that, ”the entomologist concluded.
mosquito productivity
According to Pavel Volchkov, a virologist and head of the MIPT Genomic Engineering Laboratory, the existence of mosquito-fighting is quite possible, because mosquitoes are already an excellent biological weapon and people can use them for their own purposes.
“Nature has already created a biological weapon, it’s called a mosquito. He already knows how to transmit malaria, a deadly disease. In addition, with the help of mosquitoes, another feat of nature can be transmitted – viruses.
Mosquitoes can infect people with Yellow fever, Dengue fever, West Nile, Chikungunya, Karelian Fever.”
Volchkov believes using mosquitoes to spread viruses is more effective than spraying them on human settlements.
“It is inconvenient to spray viruses using the drone described in the patent. The microdroplets will dry on their way to the ground and the virus will no longer be effective. For infection, it must be inhaled exactly as micro-droplets.
It therefore makes sense to transmit the viral agent with the help of mosquitoes.
It will be possible to spray them over the city where many people live. In addition, it is possible to provide a mosquito with a virus that works specifically on humans, ”says Volchkov.
But such a drone could have a peaceful application, according to the scientist.
“Thanks to such mosquitoes, it will be possible to vaccinate animals. Also, if desired, with their help it will be possible to fight the same malaria mosquitoes, which will transmit the defective plasmodium (the causative agent of malaria) to each other. And it will no longer be able to infect a person, ”says Volchkov.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.