A study has found that the rapid evolution of resistance to pyrethroid-based indoor residual sprays on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, is driven by metabolic changes in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The enzyme CYP9K1 plays a key role in this process.
A team of researchers at LSTM has developed a new approach to treating snakebite using antivenom produced from a different species than the one that caused the bite. The study, published in Communications Biology, shows that this approach can be effective in neutralizing certain pathologies caused by venomous snakes.
Researchers developed a new antimalarial drug that kills mosquitoes, reducing the spread of malaria. Adding high doses of ivermectin to existing drugs increased mosquito mortality by up to 61%.
Lymphatic filariasis treatment programs in urban areas face difficulties due to the high cost and challenges of mass drug administration. The study suggests re-examining the effectiveness of MDA in densely populated towns and cities.
Researchers from LSTM are utilizing the Polio network of labs to study neglected tropical diseases affecting over a billion people. The Ghana GPLN lab successfully tested for helminths in a pilot study, identifying a prevalence of 22%, while also detecting Strongyloides infections with no surveillance system.
A Cochrane review found that mefloquine is at least as effective as other options for preventing malaria, but its psychological side effects outpace those of alternatives. Common symptoms include sleeplessness, abnormal dreams, anxiety, and depression.
A new combination therapy using registered drugs albendazole and antibiotics has dramatically shortened treatment time for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, reducing it from weeks to just seven days. This breakthrough could accelerate elimination of these debilitating diseases, prioritized by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Researchers at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have been awarded £6.4 million from the Global Challenges Research Fund to develop evidence-based solutions for integrated vector control in three African countries. The partnership aims to strengthen national decision-making, reduce disease burden, and increase resilience against ou...
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been awarded £11 million to establish a new Global Health Research Unit and two research groups. The funds will support research on lung health, snakebite, and non-communicable diseases in Africa, aiming to improve health outcomes for the poorest communities.
Researchers at LSTM have created synthetic alternatives to IVIg therapy for conditions like CIDP and Guillain-Barré syndrome. The new treatments, enriched with sialic acids, can be produced at a fraction of the cost and may offer relief to millions of people globally.
Researchers at LSTM and partners have developed a molecule, E209, effective against parasites with artemisinin resistance. The fully synthetic molecule is designed to be fast-acting and slowly eliminated, offering hope as a single-dose cure.
Researchers have identified DNA polymorphisms causing two knockdown resistance mutations in the pyrethroid and DDT target site gene of Phlebotomus argentipes sandfly. These mutations, similar to those found in mosquitoes, are linked with insecticide resistance and pose a significant threat to Leishmaniasis control.
Researchers found that one- and two-legged mosquitoes can bite humans and reproduce after losing multiple legs to insecticides. The study's findings suggest re-evaluating WHO testing guidelines for bed nets.
Scientists at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have created a new way to screen potential treatments for Tuberculosis (TB), which may reduce treatment duration from six months to weeks.
Scientists have developed a shorter treatment regimen using rifampicin to target Wolbachia, reducing treatment times for lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis (Oncho) to just 1-2 weeks. This regimen is safe for pregnant women and children, offering a more effective and accessible solution to these debilitating diseases.
A $2 million Gates Foundation grant will support the development of novel test protocols to accelerate the creation and deployment of next-generation vector control products. The project aims to improve the understanding of vector control approaches and produce better-informed products to combat malaria in Africa.
A two-year study led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine found no significant reduction in pneumonia cases among children using cleaner burning biomass-fueled cookstoves. However, a secondary analysis showed a 42% decrease in non-serious burns in the cookstove group.
A systematic review found that the IMCI strategy may lead to slightly fewer deaths among children under five years old. However, its effect on other issues such as illness and quality of care was mixed. The review's findings suggest that while IMCI may be beneficial in certain settings, its cost-effectiveness is uncertain.
The International Vector Control Centre (IVCC) has received a $75 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over five years. This funding will support IVCC's work in developing innovative vector control products and tools to prevent malaria transmission from mosquitoes to vulnerable populations.
Experts argue that integrated treatment could lead to a 40% reduction in implementation costs and be cost-effective in treating school-aged children and entire communities. The authors emphasize the need for increased drug subsidies, donations from pharmaceutical companies, and improved epidemiological surveillance.
The lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay (LF-LAM) shows an average sensitivity and specificity of 45% and 92% in HIV-positive people with TB symptoms. However, its sensitivity is higher in individuals with low CD4 cell counts, making it a potential tool for early diagnosis and treatment.
A study in western Kenya assesses the acceptability of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) as an alternative to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for preventing malaria in pregnancy. The trial found promising results but identified challenges related to adherence and confidence in rapid diagnostic tests.
Researchers found that Viking populations' genes developed protection from intestinal parasites, which can lead to emphysema in smokers. The inherited trait was previously unknown.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that over 40% of Malawian adults have abnormal lung function, highlighting a major public health concern. The research also exposes the high burden of biomass smoke exposure in Malawi, contributing to respiratory diseases.
Health economists from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine argue that universal access to medicines is critical in controlling neglected diseases, major infections, and chronic diseases. The PURE study reveals that secondary prevention is unavailable and unaffordable in many communities worldwide, highlighting the need for polici...
A new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that chronic diseases are increasingly affecting poor households in Bangladesh, dragging them below the poverty line. The study suggests that addressing chronic diseases is crucial for poverty reduction and universal health coverage.
Over 15 years, malaria cases in Africa have decreased by 663 million, mainly due to bednet and ACT interventions. However, growing insecticide and drug resistance threaten these efforts, requiring a proactive approach to develop new antimalarial drugs and insecticides.
Researchers evaluated two alternative strategies to prevent malaria in pregnancy, finding that dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine reduced clinical malaria by 84% and risk of anaemia by 22%. The new drug was also associated with lower risks of stillbirths and infant mortality.
A systematic review of animal studies on MVA85A vaccine found insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness as a BCG booster. The delay in publishing the largest monkey trial with the longest follow-up also raised concerns about scientific integrity.
A study by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine researchers reveals that evolution can be highly predictable in terms of developing toxin resistance. Convergent evolution of two amino acid changes in a specific gene leads to the development of toxin resistance in various animals, including insects, reptiles, and mammals.
Research reveals that insecticide-treated bed nets function as human-baited insecticidal traps, delivering insecticide quickly to reduce mosquito activity. The study uses infrared video tracking technology to understand how mosquitoes interact with nets and inform future LLIN designs.
A study by LSTM scientists found that household air pollution (HAP) can cause weaknesses in the immune function of the lung, leading to higher rates of pneumonia. Healthy volunteers exposed to HAP showed a weaker killing response from their macrophage cells.
The COUNTDOWN research consortium aims to improve drug distribution and integration into broader health system responses for NTDs. It will trial and evaluate new approaches targeting those overlooked and excluded.
A systematic review found that reminder systems, including pre-appointment prompts and contact with missed appointments, can significantly improve treatment completion rates. The review's findings suggest these policies have important benefits and can contribute to improving TB treatment outcomes.
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been awarded two substantial grants to further develop and utilise its Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage (EHPC) model. The first grant, worth $2.5 million, will investigate whether a nasal spray flu vaccine alters pneumococcal carriage.
REACH ETHIOPIA, a collaboration between LSTM, has been awarded the 2014 Kochon Prize for its innovative community-based TB treatment approach. The project doubled TB case notification in a 3-million population and achieved a treatment success rate of 93%, demonstrating the effectiveness of bringing services closer to communities.
Experts at LSTM used a novel modelling approach to project the effects of new diagnostic methods and algorithms for TB in Tanzania. The integrated model compared the costs and effectiveness of different diagnostic options, identifying Xpert MTB/RIF as a cost-effective option with the potential to reduce the national burden of TB.
A study funded by the Wellcome Trust found that offering adults in Malawi optional home initiation of HIV care following self-testing increased ART uptake. The results show a significant increase in population-level ART initiations, highlighting the potential of home-based care to improve HIV prevention and treatment.
A study by LSTM researchers reveals that closely related Anopheles gambiae and A. coluzzii mosquito species can exchange genetic variation to adapt to environmental changes. The transfer of a major insecticide resistance mutation resulted in no detectable impact on reproductive isolation, contrary to expected outcomes.
Researchers identified diverse mechanisms driving venom variation in closely related snake species, impacting venom-induced haemorrhage and coagulation pathologies. This study highlights challenges to developing broad-spectrum snakebite treatments due to conventional antivenom limitations.
A Cochrane review found that rectal artesunate reduces deaths in young children with severe malaria, but its use in older children and adults is less clear due to low-quality evidence. The treatment could be a lifesaver in rural areas where injections are unavailable.
A team of international researchers, including LSTM scientists, has sequenced the genome of the tsetse fly, a key vector for African trypanosomiasis. The study provides valuable insights into tsetse biology and may lead to more effective control strategies, ultimately reducing the human cost and economic losses due to the disease.
Researchers call for further study into the consequences of HIV and schistosomiasis coinfection in children in sub-Saharan Africa to understand potential synergies in control efforts. The diseases have a substantial geographical overlap, with millions of children at risk of transmission.
Researchers at LSTM have discovered the combination of genetic mutations that enable mosquitoes to develop multiple and extreme-level resistance to insecticides. The study identifies two key genes, CYP6M2 and CYP6P3, which are highly expressed in resistant mosquitoes and can confer resistance across different classes of insecticides.
A single genetic mutation in the GSTe2 gene causes mosquitoes to break down DDT, making them resistant to the insecticide. This discovery could help improve malaria control strategies by allowing for early detection and tracking of resistance.
Researchers from LSTM and international biologists sequenced the king cobra genome, showing dynamic evolution and adaptation in its venom system. The study reveals rapid expansion of gene families that produce venom toxins, providing snakes with a highly toxic protein mixture.
Professor Richard Pleass of LSTM has developed a biomimetic called Hexagard, which is approximately 50 fold more effective than current IVIG therapy. The innovative treatment aims to replace IVIG therapy for treating autoimmune diseases in developing countries where it is unaffordable.
Researchers have discovered how malaria parasites camouflage themselves from the immune system of pregnant women, allowing them to go undetected. This finding has significant implications for developing a vaccine to protect expectant mothers from maternal malaria.
A new joint research centre between Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Innovative Vector Control Consortium and Saudi Ministry of Health will focus on cutting-edge research for vector-borne disease control. The centre aims to develop innovative ways to monitor and evaluate insect-borne diseases.
A collaborative €12 million project, AvecNet, aims to secure the effectiveness of existing malaria control methods by developing and evaluating new insecticides and techniques. The project seeks to overcome insecticide resistance and increase knowledge about mosquito biology and behavior.