Research on malaria and the fight against it. Covers red-blood-cell inflammation, malaria resurgence, drug-resistant parasites, and mosquito-based control.
A clinical trial shows that Sanaria's PfSPZ Vaccine induces strain-transcending T cells and provides durable protection against both same and different malaria parasites. The 3-dose regimen offers long-lasting immunity, with 64% of subjects protected 19 weeks after the final dose.
Researcher Nathan Schmidt aims to determine which gut microbes protect against malaria and how they interact with the parasite. His study builds on previous findings showing that mice with certain gut microbiota are less susceptible to severe malaria infection.
Researchers aim to develop novel treatments and preventative medicines to assist with malaria eradication and elimination, replacing ineffective current drugs that are losing efficacy.
An experimental malaria vaccine strategy, PfSPZ-CVac, combined with antimalarial medication protected all nine clinical trial volunteers given three high-dose vaccinations. The vaccine induced a response from T cells and identified 22 malaria parasite proteins that could be the targets of protective immune responses.
The investigational PfSPZ Vaccine protected a significant proportion of healthy adults against infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria for the duration of the malaria season. The vaccine demonstrated a 48% protective efficacy and was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events.
Researchers at German Center for Infection Research develop a new malaria vaccine that uses fully viable malaria parasites, showing up to 100% protection against the disease. The vaccine was tested on 67 healthy adult subjects and showed strong immune responses.
Researchers identified candidate molecular signatures in the blood of vaccinated subjects that predict the likelihood of success from vaccination. The study found that these signatures can discern whether volunteers were protected when exposed to mosquitoes carrying the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered how a promising malarial vaccine target, RH5, helps parasites invade human red blood cells. The study reveals that P113 anchors RH5 and provides a molecular bridge between the parasite and red blood cell, making it an attractive new target for malaria vaccines.
Researchers discovered that malaria parasites produce HMBPP, which stimulates red blood cells to release carbon dioxide and volatile compounds attracting malaria mosquitoes. The parasite uses this system to transfer from one host to another, making it harder to control the spread of malaria.
A new substance, SC83288, has been successfully used to treat severe malaria in humanised mice, killing the parasites in a short period of time. The substance was chemically modified from benzamidine derivatives to increase its effectiveness and tolerability without forfeiting its action against parasites.
A set of genes from the pir gene family is responsible for malaria parasites' ability to persist in the body. The expression of these genes is linked to chronic infection, which can lead to ongoing transmission of the disease.
A genetic analysis reveals a gene region that enables mosquitoes to break down commonly used pyrethroid insecticides, leading to almost universal resistance. The study warns of the risk that current interventions may be compromised if resistance continues unabated.
A Virginia Tech research team has received a $431,126 NIH grant to improve the malaria compound MMV008138. The team aims to create more potent versions of the drug targeting the parasite's ability to produce isopentenyl pyrophosphate.
A lineage of multidrug-resistant P. falciparum malaria parasites has spread across Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, causing high treatment failure rates for main malaria medicines. The emergence of these superbugs poses a significant threat to global malaria control and eradication efforts.
Terrie E. Taylor, a Michigan State University professor, is working on developing new treatments for cerebral malaria, the deadliest form of the disease. Her research aims to identify interventions that can reduce brain swelling and save children's lives.
The genomes of Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale parasites have been sequenced, revealing genes that could be involved in human infection and immune evasion. These findings may lead to the development of improved diagnostic tools and vaccines against these less common but still deadly malaria species.
Dr. Timothy Anderson received a 5-year, $4.6 million MERIT Award to study drug resistance in malaria parasites and develop effective treatment strategies. The award supports his efforts to understand the genetic determinants of resistance and apply powerful gene editing technologies.
Climate change impacts mosquito life cycle and malaria parasite development, increasing transmission risk in sub-Saharan Africa. A new model predicts disease spread using periodic vector-bias effects, improving accuracy over previous models.
Researchers found that mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria often rest in cattle sheds and feed on both humans and cattle. The team suggests that extending mosquito-control efforts to include cattle sheds could help reduce transmission dramatically.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to determine the minimum number of people required for a good vaccine trial. Testing candidate vaccines on larger groups can accelerate the discovery of an effective vaccine against malaria, ultimately leading to its elimination.
Research by UTA professors Marco Brotto and Mauro Marrelli shows that a healthy diet and regular exercise can mitigate damage to the heart and skeletal muscles caused by malaria. The study highlights the importance of addressing the impact of malaria on these areas, which is often overlooked in previous studies.
A new study suggests that mosquitoes carrying a greater number of malaria-causing parasites are more likely to cause infection in humans. The researchers found that injecting more parasites with each bite increases the chances of malaria transmission.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that the number of parasites in mosquitoes influences malaria infection success rates. This discovery has implications for vaccine development and understanding disease transmission.
Researchers found that iron deficiency anemia reduces the risk of malaria by 16% in African children, compared to sickle-cell trait, which only reduces it by 4%. Iron supplementation reverses this protection, increasing the risk of P. falciparum malaria.
A weakened form of the malaria parasite safely activated strong immune responses in healthy volunteers, whose antibodies completely protected mice from malaria infection. The GAP3KO vaccine candidate has shown promising results and will move forward to a phase 1b trial using controlled human malaria infection.
A clinical trial with human volunteers has found a next-generation malaria vaccine to be well-tolerated and stimulate an appropriate immune response. The vaccine uses genetically attenuated parasites that are incapable of multiplying in the human liver but effectively stimulate the immune system.
Scientists have successfully cultivated a new species of malaria mosquito in the laboratory, allowing for more accurate investigation of their physiology and ability to transfer the disease. The study also found that the species has an expanded habitat range across Eurasia, with populations declining in some areas due to climate change.
Researchers found that exposure to malaria's blood stage inhibits the formation of protective immune cells and antibodies. This discovery highlights the need for a vaccine that targets both stages of infection to effectively prevent malaria.
A hormone-disrupting compound could provide a new strategy for controlling the spread of malaria by preventing transmission of malaria parasites in female mosquitoes. The study found that DBH-treated mosquitoes were less likely to be infected and produced fewer eggs, making it an effective alternative to insecticides.
Researchers have discovered a potential new approach to combat malaria by disrupting mosquito hormone signaling, reducing transmission and lifespan, and blocking parasite development. The findings suggest that applying DBH to bed nets or spraying it indoors could be an effective alternative to insecticides.
Scientists at the NIH used advanced brain imaging technology to study cerebral malaria, revealing how the disease kills thousands of people each year. The research suggests a potential treatment involving removing CD8+ T cells from blood vessel walls, increasing survival rates.
Researchers have found overwhelming evidence of malaria's existence in ancient Rome dating back to the Roman Empire. The study analyzed human remains from three Italian cemeteries and confirmed the presence of Plasmodium falciparum, a parasite responsible for nearly 450,000 deaths worldwide each year.
Immune system cells, specifically cytotoxic T cells, attack blood vessels in the brain, causing fatal swelling and damage. Inhibiting these cells with antibodies prevents the condition, suggesting a potential new approach to treating cerebral malaria.
High school students in Sydney have reproduced essential medicine Daraprim using inexpensive starting materials and the Open Source Malaria platform. The innovative approach challenges the high price of the medicine, which was recently increased by over 5000 percent.
Researchers predict malaria elimination is achievable in southern Africa if vector control measures are implemented aggressively and mass drug campaigns focus on high-risk areas. Human movement within the region should be targeted to prevent importation of infections.
A randomized trial found that preventive antimalarial drugs for children up to 10 years old reduced malaria cases and deaths, especially among older children. The study also showed a significant reduction in severe malaria incidence.
A large randomized study found that Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) reduced malaria cases in children above 10 years of age by a quarter, demonstrating its potential to contribute to reducing transmission. The intervention also showed a high degree of protection with no severe side effects.
Researchers found that a gene deletion poses a threat to malaria eradication efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study revealed that one in every 15 infected children has a false-negative result when using rapid diagnostic tests.
Researchers have developed a long-acting drug delivery capsule that can safely stay in the stomach and deliver medicine for up to two weeks, potentially providing a new way to combat malaria and other infectious diseases.
Lyndra's technology enables prolonged gastric residence and can deliver small molecule therapies for up to seven days. The study demonstrated the long-acting controlled release of invermectin for up to 14 days, promising a significant dent in the problem of patients not taking their medicines as prescribed.
Researchers have developed a portable, battery-operated device that can quickly and accurately detect malaria in the bloodstream using magnets and lasers. The Magneto-Optical Detector (MOD) has the potential to save $1.2 billion annually on anti-malaria efforts by reducing false positives and negatives.
A five-year WHO investigation found treated bed nets continue to provide significant protection from malaria, despite rising insecticide resistance. The study supports the continued use of long-lasting insecticidal nets and calls for investments in new malaria-fighting tools to accelerate progress towards global elimination goals.
Researchers have developed a new drug capsule that can remain in the stomach for up to two weeks, gradually releasing its payload. This technology could simplify disease treatment and lead to improved efficacy in mass drug administration campaigns.
A new ingestible capsule can deliver drugs for weeks, potentially revolutionizing treatment against malaria and other diseases with poor adherence. The star-shaped capsule was successfully tested in pigs and showed promise in boosting local malaria elimination when combined with standard anti-malarial drugs.
Kathryn Colborn's project aims to develop an automated early warning system for malaria transmission in Mozambique. The system will use novel statistical models and online tools to predict future monthly case rates, helping the Ministry of Health with prevention planning.
The Origami Diagnostics project aims to detect individuals carrying malaria parasites without symptoms, using a paper microfluidics-based test. The test is 100 times more sensitive and retains low cost and simplicity.
Researchers found that some mutations enabling chloroquine resistance in malaria parasites also enhance their growth rates, contradicting previous findings. These mutations impact metabolic pathways and digestive processes, contributing to multidrug resistance phenotypes.
The study highlights progress in reducing child deaths globally, particularly from pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, and measles. However, progress on newborn deaths has been slower, resulting in an increase in newborn deaths as a proportion of total child deaths.
Houston Methodist researchers identified a set of immune proteins that facilitate long-lasting immunity against malaria. The study found that elevated production of specific proteins regulating the immune system within 24 hours of infection was required for sustained anti-malaria immunity.
Scientists have identified two genetic markers associated with piperaquine resistance in malaria parasites, allowing for early detection and alternative treatment options. The markers are linked to increased production of plasmepsin enzymes, which the parasite uses to digest human blood.
Researchers have identified genetic markers associated with resistance to the antimalarial drug piperaquine, which could help track and contain outbreaks in Southeast Asia. The findings suggest that amplification of plasmepsin genes is linked to piperaquine resistance and may be used to identify patients at risk of treatment failure.
Scientists discovered genetic markers linked with piperaquine resistance in Plasmodium parasites, allowing health officials to monitor the spread of resistance and guide treatment decisions. The emergence of piperaquine resistance in Cambodia threatens global efforts to eliminate malaria.
A new study published in Neurology challenges a widely held African belief that spinal taps can cause death in cerebral malaria patients. Researchers found that children with severe brain swelling had no change in the likelihood of dying, whether or not they had a spinal tap.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have identified 32 bacterial genes and 38 mouse genes that may help reduce malaria severity. This discovery could lead to more effective treatments, as it provides a limited number of genes to work with.
An international study has revealed that the UK and France experience the highest number of malaria cases imported from other countries. The research found that countries with the highest average number of imported infections per year were France, UK, and USA.
Researchers propose using insect repellents along with insecticides to drive mosquito evolution that yields greater aversion to repellents, potentially slowing malaria development. This strategy could extend the lifetime of current insecticides and reduce resistance by favoring repelled mosquitoes over those developing resistance.
Researchers propose using mathematical models to drive evolution in local mosquito populations, favoring those that stay outside and hindering the spread of malaria. This approach could lead to more effective repellents and slower insecticide resistance.
A two-and-a-half-year study found that children who survived cerebral malaria had indistinguishable cognitive development compared to healthy peers, despite poor overall performance. The results highlight the need to investigate additional factors such as nutrition and environmental conditions.
Researchers have successfully engineered tobacco plants to manufacture therapeutic levels of artemisinin, a plant-derived compound used to treat malaria. The breakthrough could lead to cost-effective delivery methods, such as freeze-dried lettuce powder, to make the drug more accessible to those in need.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered a region in the mosquito brain mixing tastes and smells to create unique flavors. The finding advances the possibility of identifying a repellent odorant that makes human flavor unappealing to mosquitoes, reducing malaria transmission.