Talk:Paratransgenesis

Definition
Does the term specifically refer to a technique used to control the spread of vector-borne diseases? Or does it just refer to the introduction of transgenic symbionts into their host? Alberrosidus 09:35, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 19 January 2021 and 28 April 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): DancingWillows, Doggomom.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 06:08, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Examples
This will depend on the exact definition of the term, but is the Durvasula example the first example of paratransgenesis? The paper claims that its the first "modulation of arthropod vector competence" using genetically engineered symbionts. Are there previous non-arthropod examples? Are there examples that don't involve altering vector competence? Alberrosidus 09:35, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Requirements
The requirements for the technique should be thoroughly examined for factual errors and revised for accuracy/clarity. Alberrosidus 09:35, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Treatment Section
It has come to my attention that "genetically modified plasmodium" for the treatment of malaria may be a misnomer! I read this as I researched this question: An alternative approach has recently been described involving the engineering of the mosquito microbiota to secrete antimalarial effector genes, an approach known as paratransgenesis (Wang et al. 2012). Genetically engineered Pantoea agglomerans, a common resident of the mosquito midgut, were able to confer resistance to P. falciparum and P. berghei and dramatically reduce infection prevalence independent of the anopheline vector (Wang et al. 2012). Future research must address issues of how to introduce the modified bacteria into field populations and, importantly, resolve issues relating to the release of genetically modified organisms in nature. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4156458/

Furthermore, the cited article says in its highlights: Highlights •Mathematical modeling of paratransgenesis, an alternative malaria control strategy, that uses genetically modified bacteria to inhibit parasite carrying capacity of mosquitoes. •Basic reproductive number calculated for both the homogeneous as well as heterogeneous mixing case. •Evaluate efficacy of the technique and propose a resource allocation scheme for maximizing efficacy.

I think it should be genetically modified bacteria, not genetically modified plasmodium. Sainswreitr (talk) 14:52, 10 June 2021 (UTC)