Articles tagged with Malaria
Researchers discovered that HP1 proteins play a crucial role in regulating gene expression in malaria parasites, allowing them to survive and transmit. The study found that depleting HP1 enabled the parasite to express high levels of var genes, which can evade the immune system.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found a potential new path toward malaria immunization by injecting a vaccine-like compound into mice. The approach, known as Vector Immunoprophylaxis (VIP), triggers the creation of antibodies that prevent malaria in 70% of mice.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that treating young children with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) decreases their risk of contracting malaria. The study showed a protective efficacy of 58% against malaria episodes, making DP a promising alternative to current treatments.
A year-round preventive drug treatment substantially reduces young children's risk of contracting malaria, with no serious adverse events reported. The study found that a monthly dose of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine was the most effective at reducing malaria risk in children from 6 months to 24 months of age.
A systematic review of studies found that 1 in 4 pregnant women experience malaria, yet most receive inappropriate treatment. Barriers include poor knowledge among healthcare providers and reliance on clinical diagnosis.
Artemisinin resistance has become widespread in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. A six-day course of artemisinin-based combination therapy proved highly effective in treating drug-resistant malaria cases.
Researchers discovered new vaccine targets that could help combat malaria by identifying previously untested antigens and gaining insights into antigen combination. A group of infected children was followed over six months to identify combinations of antibodies providing up to 100% protection against clinical episodes.
Drug-resistant malaria parasites have spread to critical border regions of Southeast Asia, posing a significant threat to global malaria control efforts. The study found artemisinin resistance in several countries, including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar, with signs of emerging resistance in other areas.
A malaria vaccine has been shown to provide continued protection against clinical malaria in young infants and children, with the effect of vaccination diminishing over time. The vaccine efficacy was highest in the first 6 months after vaccination, with estimates suggesting it could have a major public health impact.
A groundbreaking study in Tanzania successfully infects volunteers with malaria in a controlled laboratory setting, paving the way for accelerated development of new treatments. The innovative PfSPZ Challenge method eliminates the need for live mosquitoes, reducing costs and increasing accessibility to malaria research and treatment.
Scientists found mutations in the PfHAD1 protein, which normally slows down isoprenoid synthesis. This discovery is relevant for other infectious diseases like tuberculosis and bacterial infections.
The number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria has decreased significantly worldwide since 2000. In sub-Saharan Africa, child deaths from malaria have dropped by 31.5% in the past decade. Researchers attribute the decline to improved access to antiretroviral therapy and treatment.
The study shows accelerated progress in reducing the global burden of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) since governments adopted MDG 6. The number of people living with HIV has risen to around 29 million, while TB prevalence rates have decreased in many regions.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have discovered a potential target for malaria drug development by identifying a key protein involved in the parasite's protein secretion process. Disrupting this protein, heat shock protein 101 (HSP101), prevents the parasite from secreting its proteins into the red blood cell.
Researchers at Monash University have developed a novel test using Fourier Transform Infrared (FITR) spectroscopy to detect malaria parasites in blood. The technique uses an anti-tank Javelin missile detector to identify infected red blood cells, providing highly detailed information on a sample area in minutes.
A WPI research team will test a plant-based therapy for malaria that may be highly effective and low-cost. The therapy uses dried leaves from the sweet wormwood plant, Artemisia annua.
A new assay developed by Oregon State University can detect counterfeit malaria drugs at a cost of a few cents, saving thousands of lives annually. The technology uses paper-based microfluidics to verify the presence and level of artesunate, a crucial drug for treating serious malaria cases.
Researchers have completed a comprehensive study on the role of protein phosphatases in malaria parasite development and differentiation. The study, published in Cell Host and Microbe, identifies 16 genes that are crucial for parasite growth and could be future drug targets.
Researchers used a statistical technique to downscale global climate models and found that population centers in cool, highland regions of East Africa may be more vulnerable to malaria than previously thought. The study suggests that fine-scale predictions can improve local adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have developed a compound that blocks Plasmepsin V, a critical enzyme essential for malaria parasite survival. The compound, WEHI-916, has shown promising results in killing malaria parasites and could lead to effective treatment of all species of the parasite.
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute developed a compound that blocks Plasmepsin V, a key enzyme essential for malaria parasite survival. This breakthrough could lead to new antimalarial drugs effective against all species of malaria parasites.
Researchers found that malaria parasites manipulate host body odor to make infected individuals more attractive to hungry mosquitoes. Even after symptoms have subsided, the scent of infected mice remained elevated for life, suggesting a lifelong impact on the disease.
Researchers found that malaria-infected mice are more attractive to mosquitos than uninfected mice, especially during recovery from symptoms. This altered scent profile may help identify asymptomatic carriers who can transmit the disease.
Researchers at NIAID have developed a vaccine that delivers the AMA1-RON2 complex, protecting mice from lethal malaria. The improved antibody response to this vaccine provides protection against infection even in non-vaccinated animals.
Researchers adapt mathematical tool for geographic profiling to target infectious disease breeding sites, reducing search areas from 300km to just 10.7km. The new model has the potential to identify sources of TB, cholera, and Legionnaires' disease, offering a promising solution for public health control.
A team of scientists has developed a chromosome map for about half of the genome of Aedes agypti mosquito, which transmits dengue fever and yellow fever. The study reveals striking contrasts between this mosquito and Anopheles gambiae, the malaria vector, that may help prevent diseases by manipulating sex ratios.
A new genetic 'barcode' for malaria parasites has been found, enabling the tracking and containment of disease spread. The barcode can identify the geographic origin of infections and monitor the spread of drug-resistant parasites.
African malaria mosquito expert Bradley White receives $1.8M NIH grant to create fine-scale recombination rate maps for Anopheles gambiae. The project aims to model and predict efficacy of novel vector control strategies.
Researchers from Imperial College London have developed a method to distort the sex ratio of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, eradicating female populations that transmit malaria. The genetically modified mosquitoes produced 95% male offspring, eliminating entire wild-type populations in six generations.
Researchers discovered malaria-infected red blood cells exhibit altered motion patterns, affecting flow dynamics. This discovery may lead to better-targeted drug treatments for malaria.
Researchers have found evidence of an intercellular bacterial infection in natural populations of two species of Anopheles mosquitoes, a major vector of malaria. The Wolbachia infection has been shown to reduce the incidence of pathogen infections in mosquitoes and could be used to control malaria-transmitting mosquito populations.
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.
Researchers have identified a substance, known as PfSEA-1, that generates antibodies which can hinder the ability of malaria parasites to multiply, potentially protecting against severe malaria infection. The antigen was associated with reduced parasite levels among children and adults in malaria-endemic areas, and mice exposed to PfSE...
Researchers used anonymized mobile records to identify geographical 'hotspots' of malaria and design targeted plans for its elimination. The study combined population movement data with information about diagnosed cases, climate, and topography.
A genomic investigation by University of British Columbia researchers has revealed that a lethal parasite infecting a wide range of insects originated from pond scum. The parasite, Helicosporidium, has shed its green past on its evolutionary journey, losing almost all its genes except those required for photosynthesis.
Researchers have created a novel method for isolating and genome sequencing individual malaria parasite cells, allowing for a better understanding of the complex interactions between parasites and their hosts. This breakthrough could lead to more effective drug design and vaccine development, tackling the major global killer malaria.
Researchers developed a single-cell genomics technique to study malaria parasites, allowing for comprehensive understanding of multiple genotype infections (MGI's) and their impact on disease progression. The findings could inform disease control interventions and reduce rates of infection and mortality.
A recent NIH-funded study tracked Tanzanian children's risk of severe malaria over time, finding no simple relationship between parasite density and disease severity. The research suggests that even mild episodes of malaria may pose a significant risk of severe illness, contrary to previous mathematical models.
New research found that interactive training programmes for health workers can reduce overdiagnosis of malaria by half and prevent the wastage of valuable drugs. The study suggests that comprehensive training packages should be implemented alongside the roll-out of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in endemic countries.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that the immune system of healthy children can prevent repeated malaria fever episodes by producing anti-inflammatory molecules after a first bout of malaria. The researchers suggest that this 'premunition' response evolved as an effective immune mechanism to protect young children from life-th...
Scientists investigated the malaria pathogen's cellular skeleton using high-resolution structural biology methods. They discovered two versions of actin protein with different structures and behaviors, which may contribute to designing tailored anti-malarial medication.
Researchers found that children living in malaria-endemic regions mount an immune response to infection with malaria parasites, enabling them to partially control parasite growth and avoid repeated fever. This exposure-dependent control of inflammation may have evolved to protect young children from life-threatening illness.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists analyzed over 1000 proteins in more than 700 children with and without malaria. They found elevated muscle-specific proteins in plasma that could distinguish cerebral malaria from other syndromes. These findings suggest a link between muscle damage and the severity of cerebral malaria.
Scientists have discovered a way to combat malaria drug resistance by administering chloroquine twice daily. Researchers found that the parasite protein causing resistance has an Achilles' heel, rendering it vulnerable to repeated doses of the medication.
Global health funding reached an all-time high of $31.3 billion in 2013, driven by increased support for maternal and child health. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to receive relatively little development assistance, despite being a major burden in the developing world.
Researchers have discovered a way of reducing the fertility of malaria-carrying mosquitoes by targeting an enzyme called HPX15. This could provide a new tactic to combat the disease, potentially leading to a reduction in the number of malaria-carrying mosquitoes in circulation.
A research team led by Karine Le Roch generated a 3D model of the human malaria parasite genome at three stages of its life cycle. The study revealed one major repression center for virulence genes, which could lead to new anti-malaria strategies by disrupting the parasite's genome architecture.
Researchers led by Maria Belen Cassera aim to identify new drug targets for preventing malaria transmission by studying the metabolism of the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The project focuses on understanding the role of isoprenoids in early stages of gametocytogenesis.
University of Notre Dame biologists Nicole Achee and Neil Lobo are leading a five-year project to develop spatial repellent products for mosquito control, aiming to prevent malaria and dengue fever. The grant will generate data on the effectiveness of this new paradigm in mosquito control.
Researchers at the University of Geneva have discovered a new class of molecules that target the heat shock protein 90 in Plasmodium falciparum, a key factor in malaria resistance. The study reveals five candidate molecules toxic to the parasite but not human red blood cells.
Researchers have found that warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations in highland regions of Ethiopia and Colombia, with significant consequences for densely populated areas. Climate change is expected to result in a substantial increase in malaria cases globally unless disease monitoring and control efforts are strengthened.
New research by HHMI scientists shows that as temperatures rise in tropical regions, malaria can spread to populations at higher elevations previously unaffected. Without increased control measures, climate change will increase the burden of malaria, particularly in densely populated areas at higher elevations.
Researchers found a clear signal of climate change's impact on malaria, with cases shifting to higher elevations in warmer years and back down in cooler years. Climate warming is expected to increase malaria cases in tropical highland areas, particularly in Africa and South America.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that rosiglitazone, a known diabetes drug, can prevent brain damage in mice with cerebral malaria and increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels in humans. The findings suggest that this approved drug may have protective mechanisms against long-term cognitive impairments.
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 have discovered a key protein, AP2-G, essential for the development of male and female sexual forms of the malaria parasite. The protein triggers the production of gametocytes, which are infectious to mosquitos, offering clues for identifying transmission mechanisms.
A Penn-led study found Plasmodium vivax's origin in wild-living apes in central Africa, overturning the dogma that it originated in Asia. The parasite infects both gorillas and chimpanzees, with ape P. vivax exhibiting infection rates consistent with stable transmission within wild communities.
Substantial reductions in malaria transmission have been achieved across most of Africa, but 57% of the population still live in areas of moderate-to-high transmission intensity. High population growth rates and emerging resistance to insecticides threaten progress.
A recent study published in The Lancet found that over half of the population in countries endemic for malaria continues to live in areas of moderate to intense transmission, with infection rates over 10%. Despite progress made between 2000-2010, the number of people living in high-risk areas fell only by 16%.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a novel way to produce malaria parasite proteins that could lead to easy and cheap vaccine manufacturing. The new approach uses a single-celled aquatic creature similar to the malaria parasite, allowing for rapid multiplication in the lab.