Articles tagged with Malaria
Researchers argue that investing in simple diagnostic tests like pulse oximetry can prevent pneumonia deaths and end disease epidemics in the under-fives. The tests could also detect infected individuals with malaria and Ebola, potentially eliminating these diseases.
A new study finds that malaria risk in Africa is shifting due to climate change, with the highest-risk transmission zone moving eastward and expanding into new areas by 2080.
The study reveals how malaria parasites infect liver cells, a critical step in their lifecycle. The discovery provides new insights into the molecular details of malaria infection and has significant implications for developing new drugs and vaccines.
Researchers at University of California have successfully created a strain of mosquitoes capable of rapidly introducing malaria-blocking genes into its population, potentially eliminating the disease. The breakthrough uses a gene editing technique that allows for efficient creation of large populations of mosquitoes with this trait.
A mass drug administration (MDA) program implemented in Southern Greece eliminated malaria cases for two years, preventing a resurgence of the disease. The MDA covered 87% of an immigrant population and was effective in minimizing the risk of drug resistance.
Researchers from University of Nottingham uncover cyclin's crucial role in malaria parasite development within mosquitoes and mammal hosts. The study identifies three types of cyclin, shedding light on the disease's complex life cycle.
A computer simulation study suggests that treating malaria with a combination of more effective and less effective drugs can slow the spread of drug-resistant parasites. The non-artemisinin therapy, even when only 85% effective, works best in this approach.
A University of South Florida research team developed a novel chemogenomic profiling approach to identify drug targets for the most lethal strain of malaria. The study identified six new genes critically involved in P. falciparum's response to artemisinin, providing insights into the drugs' mechanisms of action.
A new study models the considerable public health impact of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in regions with moderate to high malaria transmission. The vaccine could avert up to 1.2 cases of clinical malaria per child and one death for every 200 children vaccinated.
A new study reveals that relapsed malaria infections are a significant obstacle to malaria eradication in the Asia-Pacific region. Most childhood infections in Papua New Guinea are caused by relapsed P. vivax infections, which can hide in the liver and re-emerge after treatment.
Researchers explored the use of ivermectin in mass drug administration campaigns to reduce malaria infections in Africa and slow down drug resistance in Asia. Preliminary results showed a 16% reduction in childhood malaria episodes in Burkina Faso, where most population members received regular ivermectin doses.
The discovery of artemisinin revolutionized malaria treatment, with approximately 22% of averted clinical cases attributed to artemisinin combination therapies. Artemisinin was discovered in the 1970s and has had a significant impact on public health, human productivity, and scientific research.
A recent NIH study found that artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites can infect diverse mosquito species in Africa, including Anopheles coluzzii. This discovery suggests a higher risk of drug-resistant malaria infections in Africa, posing challenges to efforts to prevent and eliminate the disease.
Researchers have identified a five amino acid segment of Plasmodium parasite protein with protective antigenic properties, which can be used to develop antibodies and prevent malaria transmission through mosquitoes. The finding has the potential to lead to the development of a powerful malaria vaccine.
A Griffith University PhD candidate has discovered that up to 40% of Indian Mynas in eastern Australia carry avian malaria parasites, posing a significant threat to native wildlife. The spread of these invasive birds could expose native birds such as parrots and magpies to new diseases.
Researchers have discovered a protein in malaria that can bind to a sugar molecule found in many types of cancer. This binding enables anti-cancer drugs to be delivered precisely to tumors. The findings offer new potential for treating various cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer.
Researchers have discovered a potential weapon against cancer by harnessing the power of a malaria vaccine. The vaccine targets a specific carbohydrate found in both placenta and cancer cells, resulting in the death of cancer cells. Testing on mice has shown promising results, with over 90% of tumors attacked successfully.
Researchers have discovered that short segments of genes associated with severe malaria are shared across multiple species, including humans, apes, and chimps. This finding suggests an ancient genomic structure underlying human malaria virulence factors, which could aid in developing new treatments and vaccines.
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 have discovered a new gene locus that explains why some African children develop severe malaria while others do not. The genetic variant, found in Kenyan children, reduces the risk of severe malaria by about 40% and lies within a region of the genome shared with chimpanzees.
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 mouse model study published in PLOS Pathogens reports a causal link between prenatal malaria exposure and subsequent neurocognitive impairment in offspring. The research identifies key molecular mechanisms involved, including C5a signaling, which can be targeted to improve cognitive development.
A study published in mBio found that children with cerebral malaria have an accumulation of white blood cells and platelets in the brain, which is more severe in HIV-positive children. This discovery may lead to better treatment algorithms for CM.
A new study finds that African dams are linked to over 1.1 million malaria cases annually, with the risk being particularly high in areas with unstable malaria transmission. The research highlights the need for better disease control measures around dam reservoirs.
A study in a malaria-endemic region found that daily iron supplementation during pregnancy did not increase the risk of malaria, but resulted in increased birth weight and improved fetal outcomes. The authors suggest that universal iron supplementation may outweigh potential risks in low- and middle-income countries.
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 the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that health workers trained to use malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) still prescribe valuable malaria medicines to patients without testing for malaria. The researchers tested 5,000 participants across 40 communities and found that RDT use remained less than 50% desp...
A recent study by Rockefeller University researchers has uncovered the connection between malaria and a deadly blood cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma, which predominantly affects children in equatorial Africa. The research found that the malaria parasite causes DNA damage in B lymphocytes, leading to cancer-promoting changes.
Scientists have uncovered a port of entry for malaria parasites in the liver, highlighting a potential new drug target. The discovery could help prevent the spread of disease and reduce malaria-related deaths worldwide.
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have developed a new class of antimalarial drugs by targeting the critical malaria 'conductor' protein plasmepsin V. The discovery could effectively kill two species of malaria parasites, including the deadliest form Plasmodium falciparum, which causes most malaria-related deaths.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that introducing rapid diagnostic tests in registered drug shops in Uganda reduced overdiagnosis of malaria by 73%, improving the use of valuable malaria drugs. The introduction of these tests improved treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies, increasing appropriate treatment by 36%.
A new anti-basigin drug has cured mice of established malaria infection with minimal side effects, offering hope for treating the deadly disease. The drug's development path may be less complex than traditional clinical trials, as it builds on existing knowledge of the protein's role in cancer and graft-versus-host disease.
Scientists have identified a potent agent, DSM265, that thwarts drug resistance in malaria parasites. This breakthrough treatment has the potential to be used for both single-dose and once-weekly doses, offering new hope against the disease.
Researchers found that existing malaria infections in mosquitoes facilitate replication of secondary infections, leading to higher parasite loads. This could disproportionately contribute to malaria transmission, especially if control measures focus on reducing mosquito feedings.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have shown that a new drug, DSM265, kills malaria parasites in the blood and liver by targeting their ability to replicate. This could lead to a single-dose cure for malaria, with potential applications as both a treatment and preventive measure.
University of Washington chemists have developed a novel drug to fight malaria, DSM265, which targets the critical protein DHODH. The compound has shown promise in laboratory tests and is suitable for clinical trials in humans.
Scientists have identified a key protein that, if targeted, can stop the disease. The discovery could lead to precise drug design with limited toxicity, making it safe for vulnerable populations.
A new analysis found that over 34 million children's lives have been saved since 2000 due to investments in child health programs at a cost of as little as $4,205 per child. The report, published in The Lancet, also highlights the impact of funding from donor agencies such as the US government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A new mosquito protein has been identified as a key target for a malaria vaccine, with the potential to dramatically reduce cases worldwide. Jun Li's research found that an antibody against this protein blocks parasite invasion in mosquitoes, making vaccination a promising solution.
A new study finds that calcineurin is essential for malaria parasites to invade red blood cells. The protein allows the parasite to recognize and attach to the red blood cell surface, and inhibitors of calcineurin can prevent infection.
Researchers uncover detailed information on AnAPN1 protein shape and antibody binding sites, enabling the design of more effective mosquito-based vaccines. This breakthrough may lead to a reduced number of infected mosquitoes and eventual disease eradication.
The world invested more than $200 billion to improve health in lower-income countries between 2000 and 2014. Despite a significant increase in funding after the Millennium Development Goals were established, global health financing stagnated between 2010 and 2014.
Researchers have discovered a new and promising target site for a potential vaccine against malaria, a mosquito-borne illness that kills hundreds of thousands each year. The AnAPN1 protein is believed to be central to the transmission of the malaria parasite through mosquitoes.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 studies found residents of modern homes were 47% less likely to be infected with malaria than those living in traditional houses. Modern housing features, such as closed eaves, ceilings, screened doors and windows, can block mosquitoes from entering homes and prevent transmission of the disease.
Ruth S. Nussenzweig, Victor Nussenzweig and Tu Youyou will share the unrestricted award of $500,000 for their groundbreaking discoveries in chemistry and parasitology that have resulted in treatments saving lives globally.
The March of Dimes Foundation has funded a Portuguese laboratory to study factors that act in the placenta to protect the fetus from malaria. The research focuses on trophoblast cells, which are crucial for maternal-fetal exchanges of nutrients and gases.
Researchers have identified two genetically divergent subpopulations of P. knowlesi in human cases, each associated with a different species of reservoir host. This discovery highlights the complexity of zoonotic malaria transmission and may lead to new possibilities for parasite adaptation to humans.
A study in Nigeria found that 9.3% of antimalarial drugs purchased in Enugu were of poor quality, while 1.2% were falsified and 6.8% substandard. The results highlight the need for improved drug regulation and monitoring to protect patients from receiving ineffective or harmful treatments.
Researchers found that a viral co-infection with Epstein-Barr virus can suppress the immune response to malaria in mice, leading to severe anemia. The study suggests that similar effects may occur in humans, particularly young children living in malaria-endemic areas.
Co-infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may make a survivable malaria parasite infection lethal, according to experimental results with mice. EBV infection can suppress the immune system, allowing malaria parasites to take hold.
Researchers have discovered a novel antibody insecticide that targets the African malaria mosquito, offering an alternative control strategy to halt the spread of the disease. The antibodies work by targeting a key component of the mosquito's nervous system, killing over 90% of infected insects within a day.
A new model systematically evaluates malaria treatment programs in multiple countries, finding no country shows reductions in malaria treatment associated with testing as hypothesized. Contextual factors such as access to care and stockouts largely explain the variation in program experiences.
Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have identified a critical host factor, CD55, that enables the malaria parasite to invade human red blood cells. The discovery opens up new avenues for developing therapies to treat and prevent malaria.
A research team from Griffith's Eskitis Institute led by Professor Vicky Avery receives a major boost to develop effective anti-malarial drugs against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The project aims to combat drug resistance and prevent relapse.
A study by Lisa White and colleagues found that parasite half-life is a key predictor of artemisinin-resistant malaria, but the current definition of resistance is inaccurate. The researchers suggest refining the definition to account for parasite load at the start of treatment.
Researchers developed a model of a malaria-infected red blood cell to understand the mechanism behind stiffening and stickiness. The model found that protein nodules called knobs contribute to stiffness, suggesting a promising approach to treat the disease by softening the cells.
Researchers have pinpointed a new mechanism responsible for the progression of malaria, which could lead to new therapies. The study found that nanoscale knobs on infected red blood cells cause cell stiffening and reduced blood flow.
New estimates suggest that the West African Ebola outbreak could have resulted in comparable number of malaria deaths as those due to Ebola itself. Implementing mass drug administration and ITN campaigns may largely mitigate the impact of Ebola on malaria.
The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine candidate demonstrates partial protection against clinical malaria in young African children, with efficacy increasing with a booster dose. The vaccine's impact on severe malaria and hospitalizations is also significant, especially in areas of high transmission.
Researchers discovered that combining artemisinins with a low dose of an anti-cancer drug can increase the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs and overcome the parasite's defences. This finding has the potential to combat resistant malaria parasites, which are currently spreading globally.