Five professors at North Carolina State University filed an application Thursday with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for new mosquito bite-resistant garments.

Andre J. West, Marian G. McCord, Charles S. Apperson, Richard Michael Roe and Emiel A. DenHartog are the inventors of the garments.

They created an insect-proof, form-fitting undergarment with top and bottom parts formed of selected breathable materials. These materials have omnidirectional stretch properties and top and bottom parts may be securely joined at the waist to prevent insect entry.

A superfine knitted fabric is used to prevent insect bites.

The garment is described as being able to function favorably for outdoor activities such as the military, fishermen and other outdoor undertakings.

Mosquitos are able to transmit dangerous diseases such as malaria and and the Zika virus, making mosquito-resistant garments an important asset for individuals who spend time outside and in areas with large numbers of mosquitos.

According to the application, “Prior-art protective undergarments do not prevent mosquito bites. There remains a need for improved undergarments that overcome these deficiencies.”

West and DenHartog are professors of fashion and textile design at NC State. McCord is associate dean for research at the College of Natural Resources while Apperson is a professor emeritus of public health entomology and vector biology.

Roe is a professor specializing in insect toxicology and physiological genomics.

DenHartog previously worked at the Individual Protection Directorate of Natick Soldier Center, a U.S. Army lab that performs research and development on personal protective clothing and equipment for soldiers.

The filing can be found here.