Dubbed Wolbachia bacterium, the parasite can influence the reproductive trend among insects and even go on to influence their future generations.
Scientists believe that a genetically mutated version of the parasite can be used to get insects halt the transmission of the parasite blamed for malaria. The study was led by the University of Bath and the University of Chicago.
Statistics show that malaria claims at least a million lives annually. The Wolbachia bacteria infects up to 80% of the world's insects. It can mutate the sperm of male insects it comes in contact with.
When this happens, the infected male faces difficult reproduction with a female. Female insects, including mosquitoes, which are infected with the parasite give birth to offsprings carrying the infection to the next generation.
Experts believe genetically mutated Wolbachia could be used to spread genes that prevent mosquitoes from spreading the plasmodium malaria parasite to other insects. The research group has already named two of the genes that Wolbachia mutates when it infects the fruit fly Drosophila simulans.
A BBC news report quotes the lead researcher, Dr Ben Heath, of the team as saying, "This is a major breakthrough in our understanding of the genetic basis of Wolbachia infection. In recent years there has been great interest in using transgenic Wolbachia as a way of modifying natural populations of insects such as mosquitoes which transmit malaria."
