Articles tagged with Malaria
Researchers at UNIGE have identified a new type of molecular sensor that enables the malaria parasite to infect human cells or mosquitoes at just the right moment. By understanding how this sensor works, scientists can potentially scramble its signals to disorientate the parasite and block its multiplication and transmission.
CNRS scientists have identified a molecule that prevents parasites of Plasmodium from invading blood cells, paving the way for a new class of antimalarials. The discovery is based on the key role of myosin A in malaria infection and its inhibition by KNX-002.
Researchers detected Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of malaria, in mummified tissues from Medici family members. The parasite was identified through microscopic and molecular analyses, revealing characteristic ring-shaped structures and Maurer's clefts.
A study by Florida Atlantic University and Duke University reveals that the malaria parasite's biological clock is 'in sync' with its human host's circadian clock. The researchers discovered a 'coupling' mechanism between the parasite and its host, which could lead to new treatments for this deadly disease.
Researchers found that malaria parasites synchronize their gene expression with the host's internal clock, repeating every 24 hours. The study reveals a potential new target for anti-malarial drugs by 'jet-lagging' the parasites' clocks.
A study of almost 65,000 children aged up to 5 found that nearly 27% are infected with malaria, with older under-five children and those from large families or rural areas being most vulnerable. Insecticide-treated bed nets and improved housing are promising means to prevent malaria infection among children.
An observational study of 329,000 Medicare admissions found that older persons receiving hospital care from allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) physicians experience similar quality and cost of care. Researchers also highlight systemic health inequities faced by persons with sickle cell disease.
Mosquitoes use human body odor to find hosts over long distances, with specific airborne components making some people more attractive than others. Researchers found that carboxylic acids and eucalyptol are key contributors to this attraction, with varying levels affecting mosquito choosiness.
Researchers identified compounds in Labrador tea leaves that have antimalarial properties, particularly ascaridole, which has activity against drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites. The study highlights the importance of investigating and protecting plants used in traditional medicines.
A new study has identified a second key gene, AAT1, involved in malaria's resistance to the drug chloroquine. The finding, published in Nature Microbiology, has implications for the ongoing battle against malaria.
Researchers found that infected mosquito saliva contains molecules called sfRNAs that can blunt the body's immune response. These molecules are injected during the mosquito bite, making it more likely for people to become infected with dengue virus.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine are using mRNA vaccine technology to combat various infectious diseases. A new clinical trial aims to test an mRNA-based vaccine against malaria, with hopes for a rapid adaptive response to virus evolution and the manufacture of combination vaccines.
A recent study found that malaria control programs in Amazonian Peru reduced the disease by 78% but saw a rebound when funding was cut, driven by climate change. Climate change has exacerbated malaria transmission, with rising temperatures and intense rainfalls contributing to the resurgence of the mosquito-borne disease.
A 16-year analysis of Brazilian research funding reveals stagnant funding for neglected tropical diseases, including chikungunya, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, and malaria. Systematic underfunding is observed even among these diseases, which are considered neglected tropical diseases.
Researchers at CZ Biohub SF and UCSF create high-resolution map of human immune response to P. falciparum, revealing why durable malaria vaccines have been hard to come by. The study uses sophisticated method to analyze antibodies' binding patterns to parasite proteins, offering insight into how malaria evades the immune system.
A community-based approach using health workers increased IPTp coverage by up to 473% in Nigeria, but did not reduce antenatal care attendance. The TIPTOP project shows that community health workers play a critical role in supporting the health of women and can save thousands of maternal and infant lives.
A study found that malaria parasites invest more in sexual reproduction and less in asexual replication during low-transmission environments. Low LPC levels in human blood plasma are associated with increased gametocyte production and transmission.
A new study published in The Lancet found that an existing drug, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, protects pregnant women from sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections. Researchers tested this drug alongside a promising new treatment, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, which showed unique ability to prevent malaria.
New research on malaria-infected bonobos shows that the infection harms them, too, with symptoms including fever and increased mortality risk. The study also finds that bonobos have a protective variant of an immune gene similar to one found in humans, suggesting a selective advantage for those individuals.
A new Stanford-led study uses satellite and land use data to predict malaria outbreaks in Madagascar, providing insights into the disease's distribution and burden. The research identifies rural areas with flooded rice fields as high-risk zones for malaria transmission.
Researchers analyzed data on European travellers arriving from Africa between 2015 and 2019, finding malaria as the most common arthropod-borne disease. The study highlights the importance of using travellers' health data to complement local surveillance systems in Africa.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that Anopheles mosquito populations are gaining an average of 6.5 meters per year in elevation and moving south by 4.7 kilometers annually. Climate change is helping these species reach colder parts of the continent, potentially explaining recent changes in malaria transmission.
A study by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência reveals that when acute kidney injury and anemia occur simultaneously, they substantially increase a patient's risk of death. The research shows healthy kidneys can alter their genetic program to absorb and store iron, re-establishing the development of red blood cells.
A new biomaterial platform mimics human skin to analyze mosquito feeding behavior, using machine learning models and video monitoring. The results show an average precision of 92.5%, with potential applications for developing more effective repellents to combat diseases.
Rice University researchers have developed an innovative system to study mosquito feeding behavior using fake skin made with a 3D printer, eliminating the need for live volunteers. The system was tested on various mosquito repellents and showed promising results, suggesting it could be scaled up for future studies.
A new diagnostic test can detect people with dormant Plasmodium vivax parasites, which are difficult to treat due to their ability to remain dormant in the liver for years. The test has the potential to improve malaria control programs and accelerate eradication efforts.
Researchers have identified a new class of potent antimalarial compounds that target the parasite's sexual phase, preventing it from infecting mosquitoes and subsequently humans. The compounds inhibit the parasitic protein Pfs16, forming the strongest bond with the drug.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that monoclonal antibody CIS43LS provided high levels of protection against controlled human malaria infection. The study's findings suggest that this treatment could be a potential game changer for deploying monoclonal antibody therapies in African countries.
A new study found that using two insecticides on bed nets can prevent malaria by killing off resistant mosquito variants. The trial showed a significant reduction in malaria cases among people sleeping under dual-ingredient net treated with one pyrethroid and another active ingredient.
Scientists at UC Riverside have discovered that volatile repellents containing ammonia and amines can be used to combat insect-borne diseases by disrupting their sense of smell and taste. The research found that these compounds can silence olfactory neurons in mosquitoes, preventing them from detecting human skin odor.
A new study suggests that chronic dysentery is unlikely to have been the cause of Edward the Black Prince's death. Instead, experts point to alternative causes such as malaria, inflammatory bowel disease, and brucellosis, which could have contributed to his fluctuating illness.
A new, non-invasive malaria detection tool developed by a University of Queensland-led team can quickly identify entire villages or towns suffering from the disease. The device uses infrared-light and is chemical-free, needle-free, and detects malaria through the skin.
A team from Tohoku University has developed an efficient synthesis of (-)-quinine, a key compound in malaria treatment, enabling further medication development. The new method uses organocatalyst-mediated reactions, reducing the number of steps and chemical waste.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in producing infectious Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites without the need for mosquitoes, paving the way for more effective malaria vaccines. This achievement accelerates the ability to study the parasite's biology and develop new tools for vaccine development.
A new antimalarial drug, tafenoquine, is found to require a higher dose of 450mg to achieve cure rates of 85% compared to the current 300mg dose of 70%. The study suggests that the single-dose tafenoquine is not as effective as optimal primaquine treatment in preventing vivax malaria relapses in all endemic regions.
Research suggests that long-lasting insecticidal malaria nets lost their effectiveness after just one year in Burundi, contradicting the recommended replacement every 3 years. The study found that malaria incidence rose again after two years, highlighting the need for continued epidemiological monitoring and improved resource allocation.
Researchers at George Washington University developed two mRNA vaccine candidates that are highly effective in reducing both malaria infection and transmission. The vaccines induce a powerful immune response regardless of whether they are given individually or in combination.
Researchers develop a new method to track disease-carrying mosquitoes by ingesting harmless DNA particles, providing unique fingerprints of information. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize mosquito-borne disease surveillance and tracking, offering insights into mosquito movement and hotspots.
A new meta-analysis commissioned by WHO informs updated treatment guidelines for uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy. The study finds that artemether-lumefantrine is as safe and possibly more effective than non-artemisinin-based treatments, including quinine, with significant reductions in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
A three-year study in Mozambique shows that parasite density and detectability in primigravid women decline as disease transmission decreases, despite stable antibody levels. This suggests non-immunological factors control infections in pregnant women.
Between 2000 and 2020, malaria infections fell globally, but a significant increase occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, with 52.4 million pregnancies at risk from Plasmodium falciparum and vivax infection. Control initiatives failed to mitigate this trend.
Researchers created an atlas of the malaria infection by Plasmodium parasites in the liver, revealing differences in infected cell localization and immune response. The study's findings hold promise for developing treatments targeting the asymptomatic liver stage of the disease.
Researchers have identified a parasitic protein unique to hypnozoites, which could serve as a potential biomarker of latent malaria vivax infections. The findings lay the groundwork for eliminating the disease by detecting its presence.
A monoclonal antibody was found to be up to 88.2% effective at preventing malaria infection in healthy, non-pregnant adults during a six-month malaria season in Mali, Africa. The study suggests that this antibody could complement other measures to protect vulnerable groups from seasonal malaria.
Researchers found that sapanisertib can kill the malaria parasite at several stages during its life cycle, including in the liver and red blood cells. The study's findings offer new hope against a disease that kills over half a million people annually.
A new study from the University of Bergen found that prophylactic anti-malarials can save money and reduce hospital readmissions for severely anaemic children in malaria-endemic areas. The research showed a 70% reduction in readmissions and deaths among these children.
Researchers developed a novel 3D microfluidic device to study complicated processes within the placenta, including placental malaria. The model demonstrates that CSA-binding infected erythrocytes add resistance to the simulated placental barrier for glucose perfusion and decrease glucose transfer across this barrier.
Researchers engineered mosquitoes to produce compounds that stunt malaria parasite growth, reducing the risk of disease transmission. The technique could be combined with gene drive technology to drastically cut malaria transmission in real-world settings.
A study from the University of California, Davis found a clear connection between an amphibian die-off and a spike in malaria cases in Costa Rica and Panama. The research suggests that stable ecosystems are crucial for disease prevention and health, and massive ecosystem disruptions can have significant consequences for human well-being.
Researchers have developed a malaria vaccine candidate that is safe and immunogenic in adults, offering improved protection against the disease. The vaccine combines FMP013 antigen with ALFQ adjuvant, which displays promising immune-enhancing effects.
A new study reveals that partner-drug resistance facilitates artemisinin resistance in malaria parasites. The research collaboration found a 10-fold increase in partner-drug resistant genotypes led to earlier artemisinin resistance establishment among these parasites, resulting in significant treatment failures globally.
Researchers have found that human antibodies can incorporate foreign genetic material from the mitochondria and ends of chromosomes, leading to increased immune diversity. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that antibody diversity results solely from gene mutations.
A study published in Lancet Regional Health – Americas found that malaria in pregnancy is still a major public health problem in the North of Brazil, with younger women being most at risk. The researchers believe that expansion of healthcare services and inclusion of artemisinin in therapeutic schemes contributed to the decline in cases.
Researchers developed a statistical mapping tool to predict genetic markers of resistance to Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria. The model uses data from the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network and fills in gaps by making continuous predictions in space and time.
A new drug, TB31F, has been shown to block the transmission of malaria parasites by mosquitoes, preventing further malaria cases. The antibody was tested in humans and found safe with no important side effects.
A Phase 1 clinical trial found a monoclonal antibody to be highly protective against malaria in US adults. L9LS was administered subcutaneously and fully protected 88% of participants from infection.
A new study published in PLOS Biology reveals the significance of kinesins in basic cellular processes needed for malaria parasite development, multiplication and invasion. Researchers found that eight out of nine kinesins present in the parasite genome are required for cell proliferation to cell movement in mosquito hosts.
Researchers used Plasmodium falciparum 7G8 challenge trials to test the PfNF54-based PfSPZ Vaccine, providing conservative predictions of its efficacy in Africa. The study found that VE over 24 weeks was as good as or better than VE against Pf7G8 CHMI at 24 weeks.
A new machine learning-based AI tool has been developed to aid doctors in distinguishing between tropical diseases such as dengue and malaria. The tool has shown promising results in improving diagnosis accuracy.
A new digital PCR technique helps identify mutations in malaria parasites that evade detection by rapid tests, reducing false negatives. This allows for more accurate selection of diagnostic tests tailored to specific regions.