Transcript Oxitec

Florida Keys 15th March
background
• Foundation
– Oxford University
– 2002
– Private company, 40 staff
• Collaborations
– US Department of Agriculture
– University of California, Irvine and Colorado State Univ
– Institut Pasteur, France
– Ministry of Health, Malaysia
– Gorgas Institute, Panama
– Mosquito Research and Control Unit, Cayman
– GBIT, India
– Moscamed / University of Sao Paulo Brazil
– SIPPE China
goals
Combat insect borne
diseases
Improve crop yields
through the reduction
of the insect
population causing
disease or damaging
crops
genetic approach that
is safe, sustainable,
economic and
applicable to many
insect species
worldwide
dengue fever
Dengue is a global unmet health challenge
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50 -100 million cases pa, increasing
One main vector worldwide; Aedes aegypti
Invasive species in most countries
Symptoms – joint/muscle pain ‘Breakbone fever’
Severe form Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF)
No medication or vaccine
Same vector – Chikungunya and Yellow Fever
reported dengue cases
Sources: PAHO/WHO
Why is dengue growing?
• ‘Dengue prevention and control solely
depends on effective vector control
measures’ WHO
• Aedes aegypti is an invasive species
in most countries
• highly adapted to the urban
environment
• very difficult to control with
larvicides or insecticides
• lays eggs in many small water
containers
• lives in and around the home
Oxitec’s solution
RIDL®
sterile insect techniques
• Benefits
– environmentally friendly
– males actively seek females
– proven approach
– long history
• Major programmes
– New World screw worm
– Cotton (Pink bollworm)
Citrus (Medfly)
• But, has not proved viable in
mosquitoes
• Benefits
– proven in mosquitoes
– applicable to local area control
– many species
– minimal fitness penalty
– male only release
– ‘built in’ monitoring
benefits of Oxitec’s approach
• reduction in target insect population
• species specific
• self limiting strategy, controllable
• defined area
• low environmental impact
– APHIS (USDA) Environmental Impact
Statement: approach is ‘environmentally
preferable’ to available alternatives.
releases
The releases are
made at
predetermined
points by hand or
from the back of a
truck
1
Cayman Islands open trial 2010
July- releases at target August- popn
level
starts to decline
OctoberControl
public engagement
Thank you!
www.oxitec.com