There are standard ways to classify mosquitoes according to their age. However, it is laborious and expensive. That’s why researchers have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to predict it more accurately..
The fact is that old mosquitoes are more likely to transmit malaria than young ones. Hence the interest of targeted interventions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the African region will bring together 95% of malaria cases In 2021. Which is not insignificant since that year, us Identified 247 million cases In the world. This research, which can contribute to the eradication of malaria, was conducted by an African team. The new study has been published in BMC Bioinformatics.
They have combined AI with MIRS
This new study concerns strains of mosquitoes that have been reared in a laboratory. They came from the laboratories of the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania and the University of Glasgow in Scotland. For their work, the researchers outfitted themselves with an analytics tool called Mid-infrared spectroscopy » for MIRS. Using this tool, they recorded the biochemical composition of the mosquitoes. Then they used this data to Machine learning model trainingA form of artificial intelligence used to predict the age of mosquitoes.
According to scientists, preventing the spread of malaria is the key to eradicating this disease. Likewise, the use of innovative mosquito control tools contributes to this goal. Even Emmanuel Mwanga explained it Artificial intelligence is an alternative More effective than standard methods. He is the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Ifakara Health Institute.
See also: How to effectively protect yourself from mosquito bites?
98% accuracy through machine learning
Displays machine learning About 98% accuracy. Not to mention, it requires less work, less time, and fewer resources. But, More research useful before you can actually use it. For good reason, this study was not involved Only one type of mosquito. This is theAnopheles arabiensisAnd the strains come from only two countries.
Furthermore, Emmanuel Muwanga said researchers need to do better Understand the factors that affect transmission malaria. This relates, among other things, to age, host preferences, and the species of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Better understanding will allowImprove interventions against the latter. After all, mosquitoes that prefer to prey on humans are more likely to transmit the disease, despite their advanced age.
Accurate prediction of these factors can help identify high-risk populations and target interventions more effectively. »
Emmanuel Mwanga
“Music guru. Incurable web practitioner. Thinker. Lifelong zombie junkie. Tv buff. Typical organizer. Evil beer scholar.”
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