Terra Nostra Technology Moves Forward on Bio-Insecticide Applications for the West Nile Virus.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2004 Terra Nostra Technology Ltd. (OTCBB OTCBB See OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB). :TNRL) today announced promising results obtained from laboratory efficiency trials conducted on its fungal bio-insecticide, Tolypocladium sp., for control and elimination of the Aedes mosquito. Results gathered from the study conducted by Dr. Silvia Todorova at the Armand Frappier Institute have shown the efficiency of Terra Nostra's Tolypocladium sp., an environmentally safe fungal bio-insecticide, to be effective in controlling Aedes mosquito larvae Larvae, in Roman religion Larvae: see lemures. . Trials on Culex Culex /Cu·lex/ (ku´leks) a genus of mosquitoes found throughout the world, many species of which are vectors of disease-producing organisms. Cu·lex n. mosquito larvae, the principal vector in transmitting the West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. , are set to begin in the coming weeks. These trials, if positive, may present an effective method of controlling the spread of the West Nile virus by limiting mosquito populations. "We are anxious to receive comprehensive results from our initial tests on Culex larvae," says Marc Fournier, Terra Nostra's VP of Scientific Research. "Results to date have been very positive. We anticipate additional information will be available in the very near future." Once the first round of tests are completed, Terra Nostra intends to immediately conduct a second round of trials on Tolypocladium sp. as a control method for the Culex mosquito in order to verify its initial findings. The West Nile virus is a mosquito-transmitted virus that can cause encephalitis encephalitis (ĕnsĕf'əlī`təs), general term used to describe a diffuse inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, usually of viral origin, often transmitted by mosquitoes, in contrast to a bacterial infection of the meninges (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord spinal cord, the part of the nervous system occupying the hollow interior (vertebral canal) of the series of vertebrae that form the spinal column, technically known as the vertebral column. ). There is global demand for natural insecticides with applications for the Culex mosquito in order to limit transmission of the virus. Tens of millions of dollars are being expended annually in an attempt to prevent the spread of this damaging virus. The West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. The prevention of bites from infected mosquitoes is emphasized as the most effective control method for the virus because there is currently no known cure, no specific treatment for infection and no vaccine against it. Terra Nostra's natural bio-insecticides are intended to manage the mosquito population, diminishing their numbers in order to limit the threat of transmission of the virus to humans. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Noun 1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention - a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services; located in Atlanta; investigates and diagnoses and tries to control or prevent diseases (especially new and unusual diseases) CDC as recently as January 21, 2004, the West Nile virus has spread across the United States from the first human case reported in the state of New York in 1999, to 45 of the 48 contiguous states. A total of 9,100 cases (human and mammal) were reported in 2003 as the incidence of this virus continues to increase. About Terra Nostra: Terra Nostra Technology Ltd. intends to become a leading supplier of viral and fungal bio-insecticides for agricultural, forestry and disease control applications to the North American and global markets. Terra Nostra is currently developing and producing viral and fungal bio-insecticides for these markets. Terra Nostra is also working towards finalizing an agreement with the USDA USDA, n.pr See United States Department of Agriculture. for the development, production and manufacture of a bio-insecticide based on a baculovirus baculovirus group of rod-shaped, double-stranded, DNA viruses which infect and kill a large number of different invertebrate species especially insects, including Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Neuroplera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera and Homoptera, and also prawns; used as effective against mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. |
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