Articles tagged with Malaria
A new study reveals that improved nutrition can prevent over half of the world's child deaths every year. Researchers found that even mild undernutrition increases a child's risk of dying from diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and measles by two-fold. Investing in child nutrition interventions could save millions of young lives.
The partnership aims to enhance Peruvian research capacity in biomedical research, including lab-based and fieldwork. The project will cover research ethics, health economics, and train local researchers, physicians, biologists, nurses, and students.
A study found that rectal artesunate significantly reduced parasite concentrations by over one-third in both children and adults. Early administration of this treatment may help reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality, particularly in rural communities with limited healthcare access.
Researchers identified a plant-like enzyme, CDPK4, essential for malaria parasite transmission to mosquitoes. The findings provide a promising new target for developing safe and effective anti-malarial drugs.
A randomized double-blind cross-over study involving 22 healthy volunteers found that Malarone(TM) had no significant effect on vigilance, alertness, or quality of sleep. The results support previous studies showing Malarone(TM) has no impact under normal pressure conditions.
Researchers have identified a new protein target for a universal childhood malaria vaccine, which causes infected red blood cells to stick inside blood vessels. This protein is expressed on the surface of red blood cells during severe childhood malaria but not during adult infections, making it an ideal candidate for vaccination.
Researchers at UC Davis suggest using transposons to introduce genes that block malaria in mosquitoes, which could spread through the population via natural selection and eventually eliminate malaria transmission.
Researchers have discovered two mosquito proteins, TEP1 and LRIM1, that kill the malaria parasite. Eliminating these proteins could block the parasite-mosquito cycle, potentially decreasing malaria prevalence.
The new assay uses fluorochrome binding to detect malaria parasites in cell culture, providing a safer and more cost-effective alternative to current methods. This breakthrough has the potential to drastically reduce the price tag for drug discovery and promote research into tropical parasitic diseases.
The Lancet article reveals that inadequate funding for effective treatments like ACT is contributing to the increase in global childhood malaria deaths. Inappropriate drug distribution by WHO and GFATM is being criticized for wasting international aid money and potentially killing patients.
A meta-analysis of 16 randomised trials shows that artesunate is highly effective in treating malaria when added to other antimalarial drugs. The new combination dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is also found to be highly efficacious in Vietnam, where multidrug-resistant parasites are common.
A study published in AIDS found that placental malaria significantly increases the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission. The study, which followed 746 HIV-positive mothers and their infants in Rakai, Uganda, suggests that preventing and treating malaria during pregnancy could reduce transmission rates.
Researchers identified a key process in malaria infection involving G proteins in red blood cells, which can be blocked with beta-blockers to prevent parasite entry. By targeting this process, new approaches for treating malaria may be developed using existing drugs.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology tracked the genomic activity of Plasmodium falciparum in human red blood cells, revealing a surprisingly simple pattern of gene expression. This finding could lead to the identification of the biological function of unknown genes and provide new insights into the life cycle of malaria parasites.
A recent study reveals that an unusually high percentage of genes are expressed during the critical stage of the malaria parasite's life cycle, when it invades red blood cells. The analysis shows a unique pattern of gene expression, with most genes expressed only once in a specific order, suggesting a molecular 'just in time' factory.
The WHO 2003-2008 programme focuses on controlling HIV/AIDS, with a goal of 3 million people in developing countries receiving antiretroviral treatment by 2005. The initiative also aims to strengthen health systems and secure political backing for investment.
Kenyans rely on mosquito nets to keep mosquitoes at bay, but don't view them as a means of preventing malaria. Insecticide-treated bednets can reduce fatal cases by 20%, but effectiveness depends on consistent use and re-impregnation with insecticide.
A recent study published in Malaria Journal found that current funding for the Roll Back Malaria movement is less than 7% of what is needed to achieve its goals. The authors recommend increasing aid and implementing more transparent reporting by donors to ensure the project's success.
Two new studies highlight the severity of sepsis in young US children, with infants and low-birth-weight babies at highest risk. In contrast, imported malaria cases in European countries pose a growing health threat, while disruptions to ICU patients' sleep patterns remain poorly understood.
The study found that despite huge habitat losses, up to 90% of original crustacean diversity may still survive in the few remaining seasonal wetlands in Illinois. The researchers sampled 33 crustacean species from 13 ponds and estimated there could have been as many as 85 species originally.
A new antibiotic, fosmidomycin, has been shown to be effective against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, with rapid parasite elimination and fever reduction. Cure rates after two weeks were 89%, 88%, and 60% for treatment durations of 5, 4, and 3 days, respectively.
A recent study found a mean warming trend of 0.15 degrees Celsius per decade in East Africa from 1970 to 1998, challenging previous research on malaria's relationship with climate change. The analysis highlights the need for better local monitoring and collaboration between researchers from different fields to assess health implication...
Researchers have gained a new understanding of how quinoline-based drugs work against the Malaria parasite, slowing crystal growth to toxic levels and killing the parasite. The study provides insights into physical chemistry and crystalline surface structure to explain drug action, offering potential solutions to drug resistance.
A genetic variant in the NOS2 gene boosts nitric oxide levels, protecting against malaria disease. This trait explains why some people with malaria have mild symptoms and recover fully.
Research in Kenya found that pregnant women with both HIV and malaria are at higher risk of developing anaemia, while their children also face a greater risk. However, the transmission of HIV from mother to child is less frequent when the mother has a mild malaria infection.
International collaboration sequences mosquito genome, revealing gene functions and immune system adaptations that help understand why only a few species transmit human malaria. The findings provide a head start for researchers to develop new therapies against the disease.
The sequencing of both P. falciparum and its insect vector heralds a new era in the fight against malaria. This detailed map of the parasite's 5,300 genes will enable investigators to design targeted anti-malarial drugs.
Researchers at Scripps Research have created a novel technology to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in malaria parasites, enabling the identification of drug-resistant strains and mapping their spread. The new approach uses gene chips to analyze thousands of SNPs simultaneously.
The malaria parasite evolved from a plant-like organism that survived by photosynthesis, and its relict chloroplast contains genes associated with anti-malarial drug targets. At least 12 new drug targets have been identified, providing leads for safe herbicides and antibiotics.
Researchers analyzed Anopheles gambiae genome for transposable elements to develop new ways to prevent malaria transmission. The study's findings have the potential to inform the design of new strategies against this devastating disease.
Researchers at TSRI identified over 2,400 proteins in Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite, which may lead to new vaccine targets. The study sheds light on how the pathogen causes malaria and could help scientists understand its lifecycle.
A new web-based database provides researchers with access to the Plasmodium genome, enabling them to examine chromosome organization, scan for genes and predict protein structures. The database aims to speed up research and discovery in malaria combat, leveraging global collaboration among diverse scientists.
Researchers have found genes in Anopheles mosquitoes that enable them to resist infection by the deadly malaria parasite. The discovery could lead to new strategies to prevent malaria transmission by spreading the parasite-blocking genes among mosquito populations.
The study identifies five insulin-like peptides that regulate mosquito life cycle and disease transmission, providing new targets for genetic interference. The discovery could lead to the development of more effective control methods against malaria.
The Institute for Genomic Research has published a paper analyzing the genome of Plasmodium falciparum, a malaria parasite. The analysis identified about 200 genes producing proteins involved in immune evasion and revealed metabolic pathways, including enzymes that could be targeted by chemotherapy.
Researchers have discovered transposable elements in the malaria mosquito genome, which can be used to introduce new genes to block disease transmission. These elements can also serve as markers to distinguish between populations of mosquitoes with varying resistance levels.
Researchers have identified a specific gene mutation that confers chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites, allowing scientists to develop targeted treatments, and also increasing susceptibility to artemisinin and quinine.
The newly-sequenced Anopheles gambiae genome holds promise for developing new insecticides, transmission-blocking vaccines, and mosquito repellants. Researchers identified genes involved in the mosquito's ability to host the malaria parasite and located targets for new insecticides.
A team of researchers from Vanderbilt University identified 276 genes in the Anopheles gambiae genome that code for G-protein-coupled receptors essential to the mosquito's senses. The study found 79 genes involved in its sense of smell and 72 in its taste, shedding light on the insect's strong preference for human hosts.
Vitex's INACTINE technology demonstrated complete parasite eradication of Trypanasoma cruzi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Babesia microti parasites. The company's pathogen reduction system meets critical requirements for commercial success, with potential to improve safety of red blood cell transfusions.
A new vaccine targets the parasite's deadly toxin, potentially providing longer-lasting protection against malaria. The vaccine has shown promise in animal trials, with mice surviving after being infected with the parasite when vaccinated against the toxin.
Researchers have identified a toxin, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), that contributes to malaria's virulence and is now being explored for use in a vaccine. The anti-GPI vaccine has shown promise in mice, eliciting an antibody response and reducing immune reactions to the malaria parasite.
B-lymphoproliferative disorders, such as lymphomas, cause almost a quarter of cases of massively enlarged spleens in tropical countries. Malaria is the most common cause, but unexpectedly, B-lymphoproliferative disorders are also prevalent, particularly in women younger than 40 years without raised absolute counts of lymphocytes.
Researchers found that chloroquine-resistant parasites arose in multiple geographic locations and rapidly spread across continents, contradicting long-held theories. The genetic diversity of the malaria parasite suggests it has evolved over a timeframe coincident with human population expansion out of Africa.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have created genetically altered mosquitoes that prevent the passage of malaria from one individual to the next. The mosquitoes were engineered to produce a protein that interferes with the development of the parasite in the mosquito, reducing transmission by about 80%.
Researchers have discovered a new standard for selectively targeting malaria-causing parasites, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating other diseases such as HIV, cancer, and Alzheimer's. By understanding how proteins like DHFR are regulated, scientists can develop more effective and non-toxic treatments.
A new treatment combination of amodiaquine and artesunate has shown high cure rates for uncomplicated malaria in children under 11 years old. The study found that the treatment was more effective than amodiaquine alone, with higher cure rates in Gabon compared to Kenya and Senegal.
The Lancet series highlights the prevalence of gender-based violence worldwide, which accounts for as much death and ill-health in women aged 15-44 years as cancer. The World Bank reports that violence against women is a greater cause of ill-health than malaria and traffic accidents combined.
A glycolipid called a-GalCer enhances long-lasting CTL mediated immunity against malaria in mouse models. It interacts with NKT cells to bridge innate and adaptive immunity.
The collaboration will focus on understanding infectious disease pathogens, host interactions, and environmental factors. Researchers will develop technologies for rapid detection, identification, and remediation of pathogens.
Researchers at NIAID have successfully produced a malaria vaccine using transgenic mice that secrete the vaccine protein in their milk. The vaccine has shown promising results, with only one out of five immunized monkeys contracting the disease.
A new malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS02, has demonstrated significant protection against natural P. falciparum infection in a randomised trial. The vaccine showed an overall efficacy of 34% after three doses, with increased effectiveness seen when a fourth dose was administered a year later.
A low-tech handheld refractometer can detect counterfeit malaria drugs and has the potential to be used to test mass batches of drugs imported from overseas. The device is relatively inexpensive and simple to use, making it a viable option for people in developing countries with limited resources.
Researchers discover that compounds in garlic, such as disulfides, can inhibit malaria infection and kill cancer cells due to their similarity in glucose metabolism. These findings suggest potential uses for garlic-derived compounds in treating malaria and certain types of cancer.
Researchers from Brown University and Seattle Biomedical Research Institute found high antibody levels against liver stage antigens (LSAs) correlate with malaria resistance. The study suggests LSAs may stimulate an immune response that protects against infection, paving the way for new malaria vaccine strategies.
Researchers have found a new antimalarial drug combination to be effective in treating falciparum malaria, the most severe form of the disease. In a study conducted in Tanzania, 93% of children were cleared of parasites after treatment with chlorproguanil-dapsone, compared to just 39% on standard pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine.
A new test for anaemia in young children in tropical countries has been found to improve their health and growth. The test uses a simple method involving filter paper and sample cards to determine iron deficiency, reducing the risk of malaria.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new antimalarial drug that has passed the first stage of preclinical testing in mice and rats. The carboxyphenyl trioxane compound shows good therapeutic index, safety, and efficacy in treating malaria.
The NIAID has awarded a $9 million grant to Celera to rapidly sequence the Anopheles mosquito genome. This initiative will provide scientists with a unique opportunity to study the natural history of malaria by analyzing and comparing the genomes of mosquitoes, humans, and Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
Scientists have found that between 700,000 to 2.7 million people die annually from malaria, with African children being the hardest hit. The disease also has significant economic implications, as countries with severe transmission experience slower growth rates than those with fewer infections.