Research on malaria and the fight against it. Covers red-blood-cell inflammation, malaria resurgence, drug-resistant parasites, and mosquito-based control.
Researchers have developed two rapid tests to monitor resistance spread and screen new drugs for malaria. The simple tests can predict whether a patient has slow-clearing, drug-resistant parasites in just 72 hours.
A study found that iron supplementation among children in a malaria-endemic area did not increase the incidence of malaria. However, hospital admission rates were higher in the iron group compared to the no-iron group.
Researchers found that mosquitoes have higher olfactory sensitivity and protein abundance of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) at night, making them more effective at detecting human hosts. This discovery has significant implications for developing novel insect control methods to reduce malaria transmission.
A new University of Michigan-led study reveals that irrigation systems in arid regions can increase malaria risk for over a decade, even with intensive mosquito control efforts. The research highlights the need for long-term public health and safety programs to mitigate this impact.
Researchers found that higher dosages of the PfSPZ Vaccine generated more antibodies and T cells, providing protection against malaria infection. The study's results suggest a potential breakthrough in developing a safe and effective malaria vaccine.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that barriers to preventing malaria in pregnant women are consistent across sub-Saharan African countries. Common issues include unclear policy, healthcare facility shortages, and confusion among providers, delaying antenatal care and impacting uptake of interventions.
Scientists at MIT have developed a system to grow liver tissue that can support the liver stage of malaria parasites, allowing for testing of new drugs and vaccines. The system was used to study a vaccine for P. falciparum and showed promising results.
Researchers at University of California, Riverside identified odor molecules that impair mosquitoes' carbon dioxide detection machinery. Olfactor Labs developed a wearable patch that delivers non-toxic compounds to repel mosquitoes, providing up to 48 hours of protection.
The study reveals high genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax in the Americas, similar to Asia and Oceania, suggesting multiple introductions. This diversity has important implications for control and eradication efforts.
Researchers have made significant progress in developing new gene therapies to treat Sickle Cell Disease, malaria, and Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA. In the Journal of Clinical Investigation, scientists successfully delivered a replacement gene to the brain in mice and dogs with MPSIIIA using intra-cerebrospinal fluid gene therapy.
Researchers have developed a malaria vaccine using blood-stage parasites that are chemically attenuated, inducing immunity to multiple species. The study demonstrates protective immunity in mice for over 100 days, suggesting a promising approach to target human malaria species.
A collaborative study led by Durham University found that children from the poorest families are at double the risk of contracting malaria compared to those from less impoverished backgrounds. The research highlights the need for development programs as an essential component of malaria control to ensure transmission continues to decline.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet found that the world's poorest children are twice as likely to contract malaria as their better-off counterparts. Investing in socioeconomic development, such as improved education and nutrition, is crucial to controlling and eliminating malaria.
A Kansas State University researcher has received a prestigious fellowship to study mosquitoes and their role in spreading malaria. The goal is to understand how the mosquito's immune system responds to parasites, which could lead to new methods to limit parasite development and potentially find a cure for malaria.
Researchers discovered how malaria parasites stick to blood vessels by binding to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). This finding may lead to new means of combating malaria, including vaccines and drugs. The discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind severe malaria symptoms.
Researchers have characterized the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4B toxin as highly toxic against Anopheles gambiae, a principal vector of malaria. The study demonstrates that Cry4B can kill even Permethrin-resistant mosquito larvae, providing an environmentally safe approach to controlling malaria.
The ProMPT project distributed over 12 million mosquito nets, improving malaria prevention and treatment in Ghana. The initiative also strengthened health facilities' capacity to manage malaria, particularly during pregnancy.
The GHIT Fund will screen Japanese pharmaceutical companies' and research institutes' compound libraries for new treatments of malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected diseases like leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness.
Researchers found a chemical that interferes with mosquito proteins, causing kidney failure and affecting flight capabilities. The discovery may lead to the development of new insecticides for combating malaria and dengue fever.
Adult wild chimpanzees exhibit a strong association between age and malaria parasite detection rates, with significantly lower positivity in adults. This suggests that individuals reaching adulthood mount an effective protective immunity against malaria parasites, consistent with human observations.
A new LAMP test kit can detect even the lowest levels of malaria parasites in under an hour, improving diagnosis for imported UK cases and field use in Uganda. The simple test requires minimal equipment and training, making it accessible to non-specialist health workers.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that female mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odour than uninfected mosquitoes. The team aims to identify the chemical compounds in human odour that attract infected mosquitoes, which could help develop improved mosquito traps.
Researchers discovered malaria parasites can send signals to each other in infected red blood cells, triggering transformation into sexually mature forms that can be transmitted to mosquitoes. This social behavior could provide a target for developing new antimalarial drugs or vaccines.
Research published in PLOS ONE reveals that malaria-infected mosquitoes are significantly more attracted to human odors than their uninfected counterparts. The study suggests that understanding the olfactory changes underlying infected mosquito behavior may help identify new compounds for developing mosquito traps.
Researchers have successfully infected mosquitoes with the Wolbachia bacterium, rendering them immune to malaria parasites. The scientists maintained a stable infection in Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes for 34 generations, and all infected female mosquitoes became infected within eight generations when mated with uninfected males.
A study at Michigan State University demonstrates that using a strain of the bacteria Wolbachia can interrupt the transmission of malaria via mosquitoes. This approach could provide an important tool in fighting the disease, particularly in areas where poverty and lack of resources are prevalent.
Researchers developed a test to predict cerebral malaria progression in children with malaria. Testing patients' blood for HRP2 protein levels can identify those likely to develop life-threatening cerebral malaria, allowing for targeted treatment and improved outcomes.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a $2.9 million grant to Aeras, Oxford University, and Okairos to develop novel vaccines against tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. The collaboration aims to create scalable methods for large-scale production of multiple chimpanzee adenovirus vector constructs.
Research finds an association between a rare pregnancy condition called chorangiosis and full-blown malaria in pregnant women. The study suggests that active malarial infection enhances blood vessel growth in the placenta, potentially leading to complications like low birth weight.
Researchers engineered algae to produce a fusion protein that blocks malaria transmission, suggesting its potential use in treating other mucosal lining infections. The study's findings encourage the development of algae-based vaccines as a cheaper alternative for distributing life-saving medicines to developing countries.
As malaria incidence declines, it becomes increasingly concentrated in specific locations and groups, making targeted approaches crucial. Effective identification and treatment of infected individuals, particularly migrant workers and mobile populations, are essential for successful malaria elimination.
Sanofi launches large-scale production of partially synthetic artemisinin, a breakthrough in synthetic biology. The drug, developed by Professor Jay Keasling's team, aims to provide stable supply and low cost for developing countries.
Research in African malaria mosquitoes reveals a more complex range of forms due to frequent inter-mating, leading to implications for controlling the disease. The resulting hybrids may have effects on insecticide resistance and malaria parasite infectivity.
University of South Florida researchers played a key role in discovering a promising new antimalarial drug called ELQ-300, which has the potential to cure malaria and prevent its transmission. The drug targets the malaria parasite's energy household, selectively hitting only the parasite while sparing human cells.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a new drug called ELQ-300 that shows great promise in treating and preventing malaria. The drug targets the parasite earlier than existing treatments, making it potentially more effective and requiring fewer doses.
Researchers identified a new class of anti-malarial compounds, 4-(1 H )-quinolone-3-diarylethers, derived from endochin, which effectively treats malaria in birds. The compounds demonstrated strong activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, the parasites responsible for most human cases of malaria.
The efficacy of malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S wanes over four years, from 43.6% protection in the first year to zero by the fourth year. The study found that relative vaccine efficacy declines with increasing exposure to malaria, and a booster dose may be needed to sustain efficacy.
A new study from NIMBioS found that using insecticide-treated bed nets can positively affect malaria's reproduction number, leading to potential elimination. The use of ITNs could reduce the transmission of malaria by reducing mosquito density and lifespan.
A study published in PLOS Medicine reveals that resistance to first line anti-malarial drugs is increasing on the Thai-Myanmar border, with a significant impact on the migrant population. The authors found that alternative treatments are urgently needed to replace the failing regimen.
A University of Michigan researcher has developed a new early warning system that can predict malaria epidemics in northwest India up to four months in advance using sea surface temperature forecasts. The system improves public health by increasing lead time for disease prevention strategies.
A diagnostic 'cocktail' containing a single drop of blood, a dribble of water, and a dose of DNA powder with gold particles can mean rapid diagnosis and treatment of the world's leading diseases. The technology uses nanoparticles to target and illuminate cancer cells and tumours.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have developed a new method to compare proteins of An. albimanus and An. gambiae midguts, shedding light on the complex molecular workings of An. albimanus, a significant but understudied spreader of human malaria.
A researcher believes that individual countries can eliminate malaria and then coordinate efforts to achieve global eradication. The study found that countries that have eliminated malaria within their borders tend to maintain stable, low transmission rates.
Experts have disabled a unique member of signalling proteins essential for malaria development, arresting its life cycle in the mosquito. This breakthrough discovery could help design new drugs to control malaria transmission.
A recent study suggests that eliminating malaria transmission completely can lead to reduced economic costs and improved public health outcomes in affected countries. Malaria elimination is found to be stable over time, with most eliminated countries experiencing low malaria transmission rates.
Researchers found that countries with eliminated malaria have maintained their malaria-free states with remarkable stability, challenging traditional theory. The elimination of malaria may be less costly to achieve and maintain than previously thought, according to the study published in Science journal.
Researchers found that hourly temperature data provides a more accurate estimate of malaria parasite development rate than mean monthly temperatures. This approach has implications for understanding and predicting malaria transmission risk in different climates and regions.
Researchers found that blocking a complement protein C5 reduces placental blood vessel growth limitations, allowing for improved fetal survival and growth. The study provides hope for preventing adverse birth outcomes worldwide.
A review and meta-analysis found that 3 or more doses of intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine were associated with higher birth weights and lower risk of low birth weight. The researchers also noted that increasing resistance to the drug may require more frequent dosing.
Despite dire predictions, global health funding from the US and other donors appears to be holding steady. However, a new report highlights discrepancies between donor priorities and global health needs, suggesting that funding may need to be reassessed.
Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites can accumulate in areas of low placental blood flow, triggering an inflammatory response. This study shows that the dynamics of placental circulation can influence parasite behavior and sequestration, highlighting a new potential target for therapeutics.
A new study found that malaria and typhoid fever are the biggest health threats for travelers to tropics, affecting 4% of returned travelers. The study analyzed over 82,000 ill travelers and found no cases of Ebola or other feared diseases.
Researchers discovered that adding lovastatin to traditional antimalarial treatment decreases neuroinflammation and protects against cognitive impairment in a mouse model of cerebral malaria. Statins may be worthy of consideration in clinical trials for treating cerebral malaria.
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has identified a powerful new weapon against malaria by mimicking a natural defense found in human blood platelets. They discovered that a synthetic molecule, PMX1207, targets and destroys the parasite's digestive vacuole, killing it without harming the host cell.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass have developed a whole plant therapy using Artemisia annua, delivering 40 times more artemisinin to the blood than purified artemisinin. This could significantly lower the cost of treating malaria and expand access to antimalarial therapy.
A research team has developed a new whole-plant strategy to combat malarial drug resistance, utilizing Artemisia annua and potentially reducing treatment costs. The approach shows promise in treating malaria with a higher chance of success than current modes, offering a locally grown and processed option for fighting the disease.
Scientists at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute receive $16 million in funding to develop new methods for analyzing complex data sets and understand the adaptive immune response. The funding will support researchers in developing treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, malaria, and cancer.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine is launching a study on drug-resistant malaria in Myanmar, using new genetic markers to track the spread of artemisinin-resistant malaria. The researchers aim to develop tests to identify and monitor the disease, which has caused significant treatment failures in Southeast Asia.
Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) delivers narrated, animated videos to a global audience, addressing pressing issues like food waste, insect damage, and infectious diseases. The initiative has received feedback from its audience, allowing it to improve its message and expand its content.
Researchers have deciphered the mechanism of anophelin's interaction with thrombin, a key enzyme in blood coagulation. This discovery opens the door to designing new anticoagulant drugs with improved efficacy and reduced side effects, as well as fighting against malaria by developing inhibitors for this substance.