DLNR and USFWS funding!

The State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are supporting our labs' (Reed at UH Mānoa and Sutton at UH Hilo) Wolbachia project to generate incompatible mosquito mating types. This started a little while back but I didn't want to preempt the press release that DLNR was planning.

It is a huge help to get this support. We currently have a colony of Culex mosquitoes that are cleared of Wolbachia with tetracycline antibiotic. We are planning to begin microinjection of wMel Wolbachia from Drosophila fruit flies very soon. Spring break is coming up and it might be very good timing for getting a lot of work done in the lab.

Here are some links related to the press release:

http://thegardenisland.com/news/state-and-regional/birth-control-targets-hawaii-s-mosquitoes-to-protect-native-birds/article_cb3e8482-f958-11e6-8f93-4be24a81ac33.html

http://khon2.com/2017/02/22/hawaii-implements-mosquito-birth-control-to-protect-native-birds/

http://wavy.com/2017/02/23/hawaii-implements-mosquito-birth-control-to-protect-native-birds/

http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2017/02/22/birth-control-for-mosquitoes-targeted-at-saving-hawaiian-birds/

http://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/dlnr-news-release-birth-control-for-mosquitoes-targeted-at-saving-unique-imperiled-hawaiian-birds/

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34578965/state-pursues-mosquito-birth-control-to-save-native-birds

http://bigislandnow.com/2017/02/22/mosquito-birth-control-targets-saving-hawaii-birds/

http://mauinow.com/2017/02/22/mosquito-birth-control-aims-to-protect-native-birds/

https://scienceblog.com/492388/birth-control-mosquitoes-targeted-saving-hawaiian-birds/

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/game-changer-uh-research-looking-unique-way-stop-mosquito-borne-diseases-hawaiian

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/new-technique-could-save-endangered-birds-on-kauai/article_d8e36bf5-bd24-57a4-93f8-8db5fdc50ba5.html