A new venture, Oxitec Australia, is taking on two of the deadliest virus-carrying mosquitos in the Pacific region – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – to fight the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year.
Launched today, Oxitec Australia is a collaboration between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and UK-based Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests.
The new venture leverages Oxitec's proven biological Friendly™ platform where genetically engineered male mosquitoes carry a self-limiting gene that ensures only non-biting males survive, reducing pest females and overall mosquito numbers through sustained releases.
Professor Brett Sutton, Director of Health & Biosecurity at CSIRO, said Oxitec Australia is now seeking partners to accelerate its activities and product development in Australia.
“Oxitec Australia offers a unique opportunity to help combat the growing threat of invasive and exotic pests, some of which are on mainland Australia’s doorstep like Aedes albopictus,” Professor Sutton said.
“Factors like climate change and growing pesticide resistance will only bring greater challenges to the health of Australians and our region via vector-borne diseases.
“By investing in new and innovative solutions that complement existing control programs, we can reduce the public health impacts of these exotic and invasive mosquito species.
“This technology platform could also be used to develop solutions for a wide spectrum of pests that threaten livestock and crops and our food systems.”
Subject to government and regulatory approvals, Oxitec Australia’s first solution will be a “just-add-water” product using the Friendly™ Aedes aegypti mosquito technology.
This innovative product allows for the production of Friendly™ non-biting male mosquitoes in a short time following the addition of water.
Oxitec Australia is also developing an Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) solution, with funding from CSIRO, to help prevent a major invasion risk to mainland Australia.
The new venture is already working with local communities in the Torres Strait affected by this mosquito and dengue outbreaks, with the aim of deploying this technology in impacted regions once completed.
Grey Frandsen, CEO of Oxitec, said the launch of Oxitec Australia is a bold, strategic initiative to combat the region's most pressing invasive pest challenges and is a demonstration of what can be done when innovators come together to solve big challenges.
“In collaboration with Indigenous communities, leading scientific institutions, industry partners and farmers, we’re committed to transforming how pest threats to health, food security and ecosystems are addressed,” Mr Frandsen said.
“In doing so, we aim to not only protect lives, livelihoods and biodiversity, but also empower Indigenous communities to take the lead in addressing their pest challenges."
Oxitec Australia is also working to address pests threatening crops, such as the fall armyworm caterpillar. First detected in Australia in 2020, this invasive pest can be difficult to control. Oxitec Australia will bring a Friendly™ fall armyworm product, which is commercially approved in Brazil, with the aim of providing Australian farmers with a targeted solution for this invasive, devastating crop pest.
Organisations interested in partnering with Oxitec Australia are encouraged to get in touch with CSIRO or info@oxitecaustralia.co.
Fast facts:
Mosquitoes
- Mosquitoes in the Indo-Pacific spread diseases like malaria, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis and cause over 23,000 deaths each year.
- Globally, dengue alone infects more than 390 million people every year and threatens billions more across the tropics.
- Only female mosquitoes bite, and are capable for transmitting viruses to humans.
Aedes aegypti
- The Aedes aegypti mosquito is capable of transmitting viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
- Originally from Africa, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is found in tropical regions in more than 120 countries.
- Aedes aegypti is established in northern and central Queensland, although has previously been present in New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Aedes albopictus
- The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is the most invasive mosquito species in the world, a major spreader of human viral diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
- It is a significant daytime nuisance biter, hence its nickname 'the BBQ stopper'.
- It is wide-spread across the Indo-Pacific region but is yet to establish on the Australian mainland.
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