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Our impact: We help to reduce mosquito-borne diseases and strive to achieve universal health coverage

SDG 3 Challenges Addressed

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases. SDG 3.3

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. SDG 3.8

Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) aims to "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." Moskilla strives to end epidemics of major communicable diseases, and achieve universal health coverage. Two particularly relevant targets for Moskilla are 3.3 and 3.8. We mainly address communicable disease by helping reduce cases of MBDs, especially malaria and dengue. We aid in target 3.8 by reducing global instances of MBDs with our hardware device, which is largely suitable for places all around the world. With the aid of Moskilla, we can effectively help reduce global mortality rate, and help increase life expectancy.

Positive Long-Term Impacts

1. Disease prevention:

szCDC

Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Shenzhen, primarily due to imported cases from dengue-endemic regions. MBDs are more prevalent during the warm and rainy months (May to October) and in areas with stagnant water and high human density, such as construction sites, parks, and traffic crone.

AIS-China

By targeting mosquitoes, Moskilla helps reduce the transmission of MBDs such as malaria, dengue, and Zika, directly contributing to target 3.3, fighting communicable diseases. Our engagement with Shenzhen CDC corroborates how we contribute to achieving SDG3. The interview highlighted the widespread presence of these diseases, a lack of public knowledge about mosquito control, and the challenges of current prevention methods. We aim to provide a more effective and target-specific method of mosquito control, aligning with SDG3 goals to combat diseases and promote health.

2. Accessibility:

The street office

We employ outsourced companies for chemical disinfection in areas prone to water accumulation, requiring bi-monthly treatments year-round.

AIS-China

If successful, this solution could provide a cost-effective means of mosquito control, making it more accessible to communities in need and supporting target 3.8, providing universal health coverage. We interviewed Shenzhen street office staff to evaluate mosquito control measures and identify user needs. While chemical disinfection is effective in urban areas, rural areas lack the access to the regularly-renewed insecticides, aiming to combat mosquitoes' drug resistance. Moskilla minimizes the risk of development of drug resistance of mosquitoes, thus reducing the cost of regularly changing effective ingredients. With the low cost of manufacture, Moskilla is more accessible to places where insecticides are not affordable.

3. High effectiveness:

szCDC

The wide range of mosquito bites, drug resistance in chemical control, high costs, and difficulty in controlling mosquito breeding sites are significant obstacles. Existing mosquito control products are ineffective, and there is an urgent need to develop new insecticides without resistance.

AIS-China

Currently, other mosquito control methods, such as the use of insecticides, remain largely ineffective, as described in our interview with Professor Liu Yang, an official in Shenzhen CDC. Moskilla is more effective than other mosquito control measures, as acknowledged in the interview, due to the use of shRNAs targeting specific survival genes in mosquitoes. This method helps prevent the development of chemical resistance, which is a major issue with current insecticides. Moreover, Moskilla's design allows flexible use, for both public and individual usage.

4. Enhance people's awareness of MBDs: Interactive lesson and Community education

As part of our project's outreach, we initiated interactive lesson and community educational activity aimed at informing elementary school children and local residents about the critical nature of MBDs and the necessary precautions for their prevention and control. These initiatives have earned the endorsement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff. Aligning with World Mosquito Day, we've observed through pre- and post-education session feedback a marked enhancement in MBD awareness among participants. Collaborating with CDC staff to raise MBD awareness is instrumental in fostering health and well-being across all age groups. For further engagement with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), please review the attached educational slides as reference.

Our impact: We help to reduce chemical pollution by providing a clean alternative to other methods of mosquito control.

SDG 6 Challenges Addressed

By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. SDG 6.3

By 2030, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. SDG 6.6

Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all, with a focus on managing water resources sustainably. Two key subgoals we resonate with are SDG 6.3, seeking to improve water quality by reducing pollution due to hazardous chemicals, and SDG 6.6, which emphasizes protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems. Moskilla offers a chemical-free mosquito control method through the use of shRNAs to kill mosquitoes, thus reducing threats posed to ecosystems based on water by chemicals.

Positive Long-Term Impacts

Moskilla brings positive impacts on water management and ecosystem health. As an alternative to chemical insecticides, Moskilla helps reduce pollutants into water-based ecosystems, contributing to cleaner water and healthier environments. Moskilla's target-specificity ensures that it only affects mosquitoes, protecting non-target species and maintaining biodiversity in water-related ecosystems.

1. Reduced chemical pollution:

Shenzhen Park Management Personnel

The parks department and the streets are responsible for organizing the extermination, which is currently being carried out using chemical agents.

AIS-China

While chemical insecticides might be effective in exterminating mosquitoes, they pose serious threats to water-based ecosystems. Moskilla, with our use of shRNA as a replacement for chemical substances, could reduce chemical pollution discharged into water sources, thus reducing the processes and efforts required to improve water quality.

2. Sustainable mosquito control:

szCDC

MBDs are more prevalent during the warm and rainy months (May to October) and in areas with stagnant water and high human density, such as construction sites, parks, and traffic crone.

AIS-China

Mosquitoes tend to live beside water, while most chemical insecticides are sprayed in these mosquito-prevalent places, potentially disrupting water-based environments. Moskilla offers a long-term, eco-friendly alternative to conventional insecticide sprays, ensuring better water quality and less harm to the environment.

3. Improved biodiversity:

Shenzhen Park Management Personnel

Chemical pesticides are often used for disinfection and sterilization, but the safety of local beneficial insects cannot be considered.

AIS-China

With high target-specificity, Moskilla ensures that non-target species, including beneficial insects and those in aquatic habitats, remain unaffected, contributing to ecosystem preservation.

Our impact: We help to reduce mosquito-borne diseases and chemical insecticide reliance

SDG 11 Challenges Addressed

By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. SDG 11.7

Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Specifically, SDG 11.7 aims to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, particularly for vulnerable populations. Moskilla contributes to this goal by offering an eco-friendly mosquito control solution that promotes safer public spaces by reducing the risk of MBDs.

Positive Long-Term Impacts

Moskilla has several positive impacts on urban and community health. By minimizing mosquito populations in public areas, we help make green spaces and neighborhoods safer and more accessible for everyone. Its chemical-free design also supports long-term urban planning by reducing reliance on harmful insecticides, promoting sustainability and resilience in city ecosystems.

1. Safer public spaces:

Shenzhen Park Management Personnel

Mosquitoes significantly impact visitors' experience.

AIS-China

With high attractiveness and effectiveness in killing mosquitoes, Moskilla could help with controlling mosquito population within public spaces, especially parks. By controlling mosquito populations, Moskilla makes parks safer and more enjoyable, supporting SDG 11.7.

2. Chemical-free urban environment:

The street office

Employs outsourced companies for chemical disinfection in areas prone to water accumulation, requiring bi-monthly treatments year-round. This method is effective but has sustainability and safety concerns, including the risk of pet fatalities due to accidental chemical ingestion.

AIS-China

Moskilla's non-toxic approach eliminates the need for hazardous insecticides, reducing chemical exposure in public spaces and residential areas. Also, with high target-specificity, Moskilla eliminates the threats posed both to residents and their pets.

3. Increased accessibility:

Mountaineering Association Questionnaire

40% of participants are often troubled by mosquitoes when camping, reflecting the current lack of mosquito elimination products in the field.

AIS-China

Outdoor events, especially those held in places in temperate climate zone, generally suffer from mosquitoes. While mosquito repellents are both ineffective and harmful to humans and other animals, Moskilla provides a better solution with its high effectiveness and safety.

Our impact: We use sustainable resources to make our products, being responsible in our manufacturing process

SDG 12 Challenges Addressed

Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. SDG 12.7

"Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production." SDG 12.9

Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. SDG 12.7 promotes sustainable public purchase and usage of products. SDG 12.9 focuses on supporting developing countries in enhancing their scientific and technological capacity. Moskilla provides a solution to problems with irresponsible manufacturing, and helps developing countries develop a way to increase the sustainability of product usages.

Positive Long-Term Impacts

By promoting responsible consumption and production patterns, advancing technological capacities in pest management, and minimizing environmental impact, Moskilla contributes to building a more sustainable and resilient future for urban health and ecosystem management, particularly in developing countries. Moreover, our product features a substitution pad, with refillments for HMBPP and shRNAs. With substitution pads, a device could remain in effect for an extended period of time, thus increasing sustainability in the usage of Moskilla. In essence, Moskilla offers an eco-friendly mosquito control solution that aligns with and supports the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 12.

1. Promotion of sustainable practices:

Environmental Protection Bureau

The parks department and the streets are responsible for organizing the extermination, which is currently being carried out using chemical agents.

AIS-China

While chemical insecticides are effective in killing mosquitoes, their ingredients must be regularly renewed to prevent the effects brought by drug resistance, thus adding to the chemical pollution, making their job one step away from sustainability. Moskilla does not face these challenges, as drug effectively combatted with the use of shRNAs.

2. Technological advancement:

While the United Nations (UN) promotes access to technology and scientific knowledge in LDCs, these countries still largely lack access to state-of-the-art technology. However, as an inclusive project, Moskilla is keen to share knowledge of MBDs. We are also willing to share our technology, and sell our products at an affordable price to these LDCs, thus achieving the goal of enhancing LDC's scientific and technological capacities.

Our impact: We share our knowledge actively to enhance global understanding and strength in combatting mosquito-borne diseases

SDG 17 Challenges Addressed

Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries SDG 17.16

Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17) emphasizes partnerships for the goals, aiming to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve sustainable development. SDG 17.16 focuses on enhancing regional and international cooperation on and access to knowledge in science, technology, and innovation. Our project, Moskilla, contributes to this goal by actively sharing our notions and morals with experts, and people also involved in iGEM.

Positive Long-Term Impacts

By using HMBPP and shRNAs instead of chemical insecticides, Moskilla reduces environmental pollution and promotes safer, more effective pest control methods. Its hardware device ensures containment and safe disposal of mosquitoes, enhancing public health and environmental safety. Also, our team actively reached out to experts in this field, exchanging information and making improvements with their feedback. By promoting global partnerships, facilitating technology transfer, and fostering innovation aligns with the objectives of SDG 17, we delve into building resilient communities and advancing sustainable development worldwide.

1. Promotion of cooperation:

Information exchange with iGEM teams 2024

Our team actively sought out other iGEM teams and discussed ways to maximize safety and sustainability. We met with SZU-China and discussed ways to design and measure shRNAs and the need to prevent bacterial leakage. We also met with Tsinghua-M 2024 to discuss shRNA measurement, giving insights mutually. We met with SMU-GDMU-CHINA 2024 discussing safety regulation in labs, as well as safety associated with testings using animals. All these meetings gave us insights into how to improve our project.

2. Information seeking with experts:

Interviews with experts

Our team, to ensure effectiveness, we reached out to Professor Xiaoguang Chen, specializing in MBDs, in SMU. He gave a positive attitude and suggestions to our project, and recommended us to increase safety in the usage of our hardware device. With this interview, knowledge transfer was achieved, thus aligning with the notion of SDG 17.

3. Knowledge and notion transfer:

Large conferences:

This year, our team attended two large exchange conferences for iGEM, Southern Exchange Conference and CCiC, respectively. We exchanged notions with various teams from different villages, and gave suggestions to each other. With the information exchanged, knowledge transfer was made possible.

4. Fostering innovation:

We improved on the ATSB model already in use in Zambia

We improved on an ATSB model used in Zambia as a method of vector-borne disease control, aiming to provide an affordable and effective mosquito control product. Driven by this commitment to innovation, we are dedicated to supporting advancements in disease vector control within developing nations.

With the use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), ecological impact might be a big concern for many, as unintended effects might be brought. Social acceptance can also be an issue as the public is generally skeptical and even holding a negative view of the use of GMOs. Also, a challenge we face is regulatory issues. While the CDC promotes mosquito control, our national environmental bureau still maintains the view that mass killing mosquitoes may bring ecological disturbances. These problems may not align with the sustainable development goals, as problems are also created along with the development of our project.

Moskilla's innovative approach to mosquito control aligns with multiple SDGs, highlighting its potential to contribute to global sustainability. By reducing the prevalence of MBDs and minimizing ecological impacts, Moskilla offers a promising solution for achieving several of the United Nations' sustainable development objectives.