Articles tagged with Malaria
A six-month study in Kenya found that daily text-message reminders improved correct malaria treatment management by 23.7%, with significant effects on patient adherence to medication. The intervention is cheap and can be scaled up nationally, making it a promising low-cost strategy for improving health worker performance.
A study funded by the Wellcome Trust found that sending text message reminders to healthcare workers in rural Africa improved the implementation of national guidelines for treating malaria. The intervention resulted in a 25% improvement in health workers' practices, leading to more patients receiving accurate antimalarial treatment.
A team of biochemists at the University of Arizona discovered that disrupting a molecular process used by mosquitoes to direct proteins to their proper destinations causes more than 90 percent of affected mosquitoes to die within 48 hours of blood feeding. This approach could be used as an additional strategy in the worldwide effort to...
Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites employ camouflage to avoid detection by the immune system in pregnant women. This allows the parasite to infect the placenta, putting both the mother and unborn child at risk. The study provides insight into the complex ways in which malaria evades the human immune response.
A new study found that ivermectin dramatically reduces malaria transmission among people living in Senegalese villages. Ivermectin was administered as part of a campaign to fight onchocerciasis and appeared to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes, resulting in a 79% decline in mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum.
A new Cochrane Systematic Review finds that Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) are highly accurate in detecting malaria parasites, with a success rate of at least 19 out of 20 cases. This development holds promise for improving diagnosis and treatment of malaria in resource-constrained settings.
A four-fold increase in global malaria R&D funding has generated the strongest pipeline of control and prevention products in history. However, sustaining this momentum requires modest increases in annual funding, which could lead to a larger jump by 2016.
A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers reveals that the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae exhibits daily rhythms in gene expression, with nearly 16% of its genome showing time-of-day specific changes. This discovery highlights potential targets for novel malarial control strategies and optimization of existing approaches.
Researchers from Monash University and international partners have developed a potential new malaria drug candidate targeting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase enzyme. The team's work has been hailed as significant in combating malaria, which kills up to one million people annually worldwide.
A new study reveals a powerful vaccination approach that targets the liver stage of malaria parasites, providing long-lasting and diverse immune cell responses. This strategy offers a promising model for developing effective next-generation vaccines.
A team of international scientists, led by University of Pennsylvania geneticists, have discovered genetic variations in humans that may help resist malaria. The research found that certain mutations in genes related to red blood cell proteins could be linked to lower malaria susceptibility.
A Scripps Research scientist has won a grant to study the malaria parasite in the liver, aiming to develop better drugs to combat the disease. The research will focus on understanding pathways essential to parasite development in both blood and liver stages.
NIH-funded researchers identified three types of odor molecules that disrupt mosquito carbon dioxide-sensing machinery. These findings could lead to the development of more effective repellents and lures to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
A cluster randomized trial found that providing subsidized malaria drugs in shops more than doubled the proportion of children with fever treated promptly. However, this is still lower than the target to treat 80% of children with fever.
Scientists have solved the structure of a key malaria parasite protein that controls cell movement, overturning decades-long understanding. The discovery could lead to novel anti-malarial treatments and cancer therapies targeting actin proteins.
Researchers have discovered the genetic basis for a key parasite function in malaria, revealing that parasites create feeding ion channels in blood cells using two distinct genes. This finding opens up new research directions, including the development of antimalarial drugs targeting these channels.
A clinical trial of the malaria vaccine RTS,S has begun in Africa to assess its effectiveness when administered to newborn babies as part of national immunisation programmes. The study aims to improve the vaccine's performance by examining its impact at different stages between birth and nine months of age.
A human genetic variant associated with a 30% reduced risk of developing severe malaria has been identified. The FAS locus variant can prevent excessive immune responses in infected children, reducing the severity of the disease.
Researchers found Wolbachia bacteria can significantly reduce Plasmodium falciparum levels in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The bacteria also killed mosquitoes after feeding on blood, potentially providing a strategy to control malaria.
Geographic profiling successfully located the sources of disease outbreaks in London and Cairo, revealing breeding habitats of mosquito Anopheles sergentii. This method shows great promise as a component of policy relating to control of various infectious diseases.
Researchers found that a pre-existing malaria infection restricts iron availability in the liver, preventing a second infection. This discovery has implications for managing and preventing malaria, which affects millions worldwide.
Scientists have identified a class of naturally occurring bacteria that can strongly inhibit malaria-causing parasites in Anopheles mosquitoes. The study found that Enterobacter inhibits parasite growth by producing short-lived molecules known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing malaria infection by 98-99%.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered a bacterium that kills the malaria parasite when present in mosquitoes. The Enterobacter bacterium produces reactive oxygen species, detrimental to Plasmodium development in the mosquito gut.
A new malaria detection device has been developed using a standard camera cellphone and red laser pointer to noninvasively obtain finger blood perfusion images. The probe uses optical polarization/speckle principles to detect malaria pigment in blood, maximizing medical safety and patient comfort.
Ionita Ghiran's novel device uses magnetic levitation and cell phone technology to diagnose malaria outside the laboratory setting. The device is inexpensive, portable, and requires only a drop of finger-prick blood, providing a solution to the lack of suitable methods for malaria diagnosis.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia unravel the molecular mechanism of sickle cell trait's protective effect against malaria. Sickle hemoglobin induces heme oxygenase-1, which produces carbon monoxide to protect infected hosts from cerebral malaria.
A new immunological technique has shown that artificially induced malaria immunity can last for at least 2.5 years, significantly longer than naturally acquired immunity. The study found that immune volunteers who were re-infected with the same strain of malaria had a quicker and more effective response to infection.
Researchers have identified several genes that may contribute to the malaria parasite's ability to evade antimalarial drugs. One of these genes, PF10_0355, was found to render drug-sensitive parasites more resistant to three standard antimalarial agents when introduced into them.
Researchers introduce genetic changes into mosquito populations, paving the way for a genetically modified malaria-free mosquito species. The technology could lead to dramatic reductions in malaria-carrying mosquitoes and provide a safe public health tool.
Researchers have found that monkeys infected with an emerging malaria strain are providing a reservoir for human disease in Southeast Asia. The study confirms that the species has not yet adapted to humans and that monkeys are the main source of infection.
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.
The Prix Galien awards recognize outstanding achievements in improving the global human condition through innovative drugs and treatments. The 2010 winners were announced as a special issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, including Luminex Corporation for xTAG™ and Merck & Co, Inc. for RotaTeq™.
Researchers at University of Washington and Washington State University found that combining high-pressure oxygen with artemisinin increases cancer cell death by 50% compared to using artemisinin alone. Artemisinin, a natural malaria remedy, has been shown to kill cancerous cells in previous studies.
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.
The Government of Canada has announced a breakthrough in producing an affordable and reliable malaria treatment, expected to treat 200 million cases and prevent over one million deaths annually. The new technology is the result of a public-private partnership led by OneWorld Health and will be made available on a not-for-profit basis.
Researchers studied malaria parasite reproduction, finding damaging male and female forms can prevent disease transmission without killing them entirely.
An updated systematic review finds that artesunate is more effective at preventing death from severe malaria compared to quinine. The new evidence shows a significant reduction in mortality rates among both adults and children treated with artesunate.
Researchers are exploring traditional medicine as a starting point for developing new antimalarial treatments. Plant extracts and natural compounds have shown anti-malarial properties and potential synergies.
Researchers discover that malaria parasite relies on host cell signaling pathways to proliferate. A class of cancer-fighting drugs targeting these pathways can effectively kill the parasite.
A University of Maryland-led team has developed a transgenic fungal approach that targets malaria-causing sporozoites, reducing disease transmission by at least five-fold. The method uses a fungus naturally attacking mosquitoes and inserts genes for human anti-malarial antibodies or scorpion toxins.
A new study by NIH-funded researchers has developed genetically modified fungi that can kill malaria-causing parasites in mosquitoes, significantly reducing parasite development. The transgenic fungi block the development of malaria parasites in mosquitoes, preventing transmission to humans.
Researchers have developed a method to disperse pathogenic fungi as a means of preventing malaria spread, using synthetic oil to increase dispersal effectiveness. The fungi cause muscardine disease in mosquito larvae, killing up to 50% more larvae than untreated spores and reducing pupation levels.
The University of South Florida is collaborating with Draper Laboratory to develop human liver models and long-term continuous culture systems for P. vivax malaria. This research aims to accelerate the discovery of new drugs or vaccines, targeting the dormant liver forms of the parasite.
Two trials found that intermittent preventive treatment provided substantial additional protection against clinical malaria, severe malaria, and hospital admissions. A third trial demonstrated the effectiveness of community-based delivery by volunteer village health workers in rural areas.
A combination of IPTc and insecticide-treated bednets can substantially reduce the incidence of severe malaria in children, with a protective efficacy of up to 70%. IPTc also reduced the prevalence of malaria infection at the end of the transmission season by 73%.
The MalERA initiative outlines priority research areas for eight thematic areas, including basic science and enabling technologies; drugs; vaccines; vector control; health systems; and more. The collection identifies common research priorities across themes, providing a roadmap for malaria eradication.
A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that malaria protection methods for pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa are underutilized. Despite WHO policy, estimated coverage of intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) is only 25% and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are used by just 17% of pregnant women at risk.
In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 32 million pregnant women are at risk of malaria every year. Despite national policies to reduce and control malaria during pregnancy, coverage rates of two key interventions, insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment, remain inadequate.
Researchers use OMX 3D SIM super resolution microscopy to visualize malaria parasite invasion, revealing key molecular and cellular events. This technology may pave the way for developing new treatments for malaria.
The RTS,S/AS01E vaccine provides sustained protection against malaria for at least 15 months after vaccination, making it a promising public-health intervention. The vaccine works by attacking the malaria parasite in its early stages, preventing infection of red blood cells and serious symptoms.
Malaria-infected red blood cells stiffen up to 50 times more than healthy ones, blocking capillaries and impeding nutrient and oxygen delivery. This deformation changes blood viscosity and flow, potentially leading to severe organ damage.
Researchers found a genetic difference in TEP1 gene conferring resistance to human malaria parasites in one of two emerging Anopheles gambiae species, M and S. The study suggests that this resistance could impact malaria transmission efforts.
Researchers focus on disrupting FLVCR protein in mosquitoes to block Plasmodium transmission, a crucial step in preventing malaria spread. By targeting this protein, they hope to develop a vaccine to stimulate an immune response and prevent the disease.
A modelling study shows that rectal artesunate can avert 967 DALYs at a cost of $77 per DALY averted, making it a critical stop-gap for treating severe childhood malaria in areas with poor access to healthcare. The intervention has the potential to improve management of sick children at the household and community level.
A study led by Boston University School of Public Health researcher Yesim Tozan found that giving emergency artesunate suppositories to children with suspected severe malaria before referral improves management and is cost-effective. The intervention could avert 37 child deaths and 967 disability-adjusted life-years over five years.
The Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) has received a $50 million grant to develop new insecticides for malaria and other neglected tropical diseases. The new funding will support the development of three new Active Ingredients for public health insecticides by 2020.
Researchers at Michigan State University have linked cerebral malaria to epilepsy and behavioral disorders in African children, affecting hundreds of thousands. The study reveals that acute seizures and extreme fevers are key risk factors for these disorders.
Arizona State University has received a $100 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop long-acting insect repellents for malaria prevention. The project aims to create skin-bonding repellents that can provide continuous protection against mosquitoes for two to three weeks.
Two Portuguese researchers are awarded $100,000 to develop a novel approach to combat malaria. By harnessing the power of human antibodies against gut flora, they aim to prevent infection immediately after mosquito bites. The project's innovative method has the potential to revolutionize malaria prevention and eradication efforts.
A Hebrew University-developed insect control method, applied in Mali, demonstrates a significant decline in malaria-bearing mosquitoes. The Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait Method (ATSB) significantly reduced mosquito populations and is considered a powerful tool for controlling malaria vectors.