Malaria Minute | The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds
By Fight Malaria
A podcast by Fight Malaria.
Malaria Minute | The Latest Malaria News, in 60 SecondsOct 02, 2020
How Drug Resistance Is Impacting Malaria Elimination
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers detail the extent of antimalarial drug resistance around the world, considering its implications for the WHO's Global Technical Strategy for Malaria.
New Insights Into the Biophysical Characteristics of RTS,S Antibodies
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers reveal the importance of antibody affinity and dissociation constant in parasite neutralisation.
Researchers Use AI to Identify Morphologically Similar Mosquitoes
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers develop an image recognition tool to identify mosquitoes in the field, and a new paper highlights the nuanced realities of malaria decision-making in endemic regions.
Shedding Enzyme Essential for Parasite Survival
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers find that SUB2, a malaria parasite enzyme, helps the parasite survive in the human host and new research characterises cerebral malaria infection in adults and children.
Parasite Biomarkers Predict Transmission Potential
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers identify three biomarkers associated with gametocytes development that predict transmission potential, and the use of LAMP-based malaria diagnostic tools is evaluated.
WHO Publish Annual World Malaria Report
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The WHO publishes its annual World Malaria Report and a new article stresses the need for highly-effective vaccines to eliminate malaria.
Conserved Antigen Pb22 Plays a Critical Role in Male Gametogenesis in P. Berghei
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Pb22, a protein expressed by Plasmodium berghei, may play an important role in the transmission of malaria, and review on the use of tafenoquine finds that the drug is well-tolerated and effective.
Parasite Viability Is a Superior Indicator of Antimalarial Drug Activity
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Determining drug efficacy through parasite clearance half-life may underestimate the activity of some antimalarial drugs, and the WHO publishes new guidance on the use of genetically modified mosquitoes.
‘Memory-Like’ Imprints in γδ T Cells Allow for Better Response to Future Malaria Infection
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
New research examines the long-term impact of malaria infection on γδ T cells, and a review of malaria cases among pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria, explores the impact of preventative measures on the prevalence of malaria and anaemia.
Microneedle Patches the Future of Malaria Diagnosis
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
A new diagnostic tool using microneedles eliminates the need for a fingerprick, and researchers develop a more efficient gene-drive system that overcomes the challenge of genetic resistance.
How Malaria Parasite Survive During the Dry Season
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers find that a change in parasite behaviour may help them survive in the human host during the dry season, and the importance of preventative malaria treatment in school children is demonstrated in a recent review.
Treatment Delays Increase Chances of Developing Severe Malaria
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers examine the relationship between treatment delay and the development of severe malaria and targeting extra-chromosomal DNA belonging to the malaria parasite could help to prevent the development of antimalarial resistance.
Molecules That Aid Parasite Movement Could Provide New Drug Targets
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists characterise Myosin A motor to assess its importance in parasite mobility and researchers stress the need to evaluate both the quality and quantity of induced antibodies to determine vaccine efficacy.
New Insight Into Heat Resistance of Plasmodium Parasites
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers detail the role of PI(3)P in preventing heat-shock induced cell death and the BK-SE36 adjuvanted malaria vaccine is found to be safe, well-tolerated and protective in clinical trials.
CRISPR-Based Malaria Test Useful for Low-Resource Settings
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
A new malaria test offers high specificity from a small form factor, and researchers develop an imaging tool to examine mosquito feeding behaviour.
Surface Tension Key to Dantu Blood Group Protection
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The secrets to the Dantu blood group’s innate protection from malaria are revealed, researchers identify the protein needed for efficiency egress of rodent malaria from the liver, and a letter Trends in Parasitology defends the mosquito.
Multidose Priming and Delayed Boosting Improves PfSPZ Vaccine Efficacy
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Multi-dose priming and delayed boosting improves PfSPZ protection against different strains of malaria, and registration opens for this year’s Molecular Parasitology Meeting.
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Gametocyte-Induced Odour Could Aid Vector Control
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Harnessing HMBPP metabolites could support vector control, and researchers examine the role of CDPKs in the egress of sporozoites from the liver.
Researchers Produce Cell Atlas of Mosquito Immune System
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers produce a ‘cell atlas’ of the mosquito immune system, and new hydrological prediction models identify a more complex pattern of malaria suitability.
Host-Directed Interventions Could Reduce Malaria Burden
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Inhibiting human protein kinases, which are activated by the malaria parasite, could reduce the malaria burden, and researchers explore the use of AI in automating malaria diagnosis.
Artemisinin Resistance Identified in Africa
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers identify a mutation to the malaria parasite which can drive resistance to artemisinin and people around the world mark World Mosquito Week.
Peptide-Based PD1 Antagonist Stimulates T Cell Responses
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
A peptide derived from Bacillus bacteria stimulates the production of T cells prophylactically and therapeutically, and researchers explore the use of satellite imagery to assess the suitability of malaria vectors in different geographies.
New Plasmodium Transporter Channel Identified
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists identify a new transporter channel in the parasitophorous vacuole, and researchers learn that LLINs in Papua New Guinea have not met the required bioefficacy standards since 2013.
New Insights Into Erythrocyte-Binding Plasmodium Protein Revealed
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists publish new insights into Plasmodium falciparum P2, and the IDDO launch an online tool to map the prevalence of substandard and falsified antimalarial drugs around the world.
Liver Stage of Plasmodium vivax Characterised
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers characterise the liver stage of Plasmodium vivax, and scientists discover that two chemicals can inhibit growth of Plasmodium infection.
Plasmodium Mimics NK-Inhibitor to Evade Immune Response
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers find that the malaria parasite mimics a natural molecule that inhibits the release of NK cells, and the effect of insecticide resistance on the reproductive potential of Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes has been revealed.
Mass Drug Administration for Malaria Elimination in Zambia
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Zambian study reveals that mass drug administration is safe, logistically feasible, accepted by communities, and effective in reducing malaria prevalence in the short term, and the Medicines for Malaria Venture launch Malaria Libre, an open-source drug discovery programme.
Extent of Insecticide Resistance in Africa Revealed
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The prevalence of insecticide resistance increases in Africa and researchers find that the malaria parasite interferes with red blood cell development to ensure gametocyte maturation.
CDK5 Controls Atypical Replication of Plasmodium Parasite
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
CDK5 regulates atypical cell division in gametogony and is essential for DNA replication, and researchers assess whether two experimental vaccines can be combined to create a multistage vaccine against malaria.
Mosquito Saliva Vaccine Evaluated in Phase 1 Trial
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers evaluate the immunogenicity of the AGS-v vaccine which targets saliva produced by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.
Recently Identified Quinoline Resistance Not Prevalent in Africa
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
New mutations to the quinoline drug family identified in South America and Asia are not prevalent in Africa and scientists evaluate a new field-based malaria blood test.
Novel Malaria Drug Artefenomel Assessed Against Plasmodium vivax Infection
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Artefenomel is assessed against Plasmodium vivax infection in humans to determine the minimum effective dose required for parasite clearance and LSHTM launch a beta version of The Global Vector Hub.
Spleen Plays Major Role in Plasmodium vivax Infection
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The spleen plays a major role in the expression of P. vivax genes and in the production of antigens associated with clinical protection, and scientists develop an AI that can detect Plasmodium infection in the blood.
Plasmodium Research Shared at Virtual BioMalPar Conference
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The BioMalPar conference takes place online and the synchronisation of Plasmodium infection is controlled by the parasite’s own internal clock.
Serological Tests for P. vivax Malaria Could Reduce Disease Transmission by 69%
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Antibody tests for P. vivax malaria could reduce disease prevalence by up to 69% and scientists develop a sex-distorter gene drive that eliminates populations of mosquitoes in the lab.
Microsporidia MB Stops Malaria Transmission
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists find that microsporidia MB stops malaria transmission in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes by disrupting oocyst formation.
Combined Use of MDA and IRS Most Effective Way to Prevent Malaria Transmission
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The combined use of mass drug administration and indoor residual spraying is the most effective way to reduce malaria prevalence in low malaria-endemic settings, and antibodies against PfGARP kill malaria-infected cells by inducing cell death.
World Malaria Day 2020
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
A summary of where we are in the fight against malaria and an overview of what more needs to be done.
Gene Drive Outcomes Not Determined by Genetic Variation
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Genetic variation would seem to have little impact on the outcome of gene drive interventions due to conserved Cas9 target sites in populations of Anopheles mosquitoes.
Novel Antimalarial Drug Shows Promise in First Human Trial
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Results from the first human trial of the novel antimalarial drug SJ733 are published in The Lancet.
Enhancing Fc-Dependent Effector Functions Could Improve Protective Efficacy of RTS,S
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Enhancing antibody induction may improve the protective efficacy of RTS,S and researchers find that more gametocytes are produced when human infection is initiated by blood-stage parasites compared to mosquito bite.
FDA Grants Chloroquine Emergency Use Authorisation
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The FDA issue an emergency use authorisation for the anti-malarial drug chloroquine, allowing for it to be used to treat certain hospitalised patients with COVID-19.
Chloroquine Considered as Potential Treatment for COVID-19
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists evaluate chloroquine as a potential treatment for the coronavirus and, as it continues to spread around the world, a report in The Lancet stresses the need for preparedness in malaria-endemic regions.
PIMMS43 Enables Malaria Parasite to Evade Mosquito Immune System
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
A protein called PIMMS43 enables the malaria parasite to evade the mosquito’s immune system and scientists describe a highly conserved protein in the malaria parasite that is essential for the invasion of red blood cells.
Demand for Coffee Has a Direct Link to Malaria Risk
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The global supply chain linked to deforestation leads to an increase in malaria prevalence and scientists identify the mechanism of action of clemastine, an antihistamine that inhibits multiple stages of the malaria parasite’s lifecycle.
Researchers Target Plasmepsin as Avenue for Potential New Therapies
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Researchers target Plasmepsin proteases as resistance to ACT grows, and the process by which the malaria parasite suppresses the immune system is detailed by scientists.
Scientists Convene for MAM2020 in Australia
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
The Molecular Approaches to Malaria Conference takes place in Australia, and a study into the long-term side effects of antimalarials could not identify any sufficient evidence of association between malaria prophylaxis and adverse health effects.
Condensin Proteins Essential for Malaria Proliferation and Transmission
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists identify two proteins that are essential for the malaria parasite’s genetic malleability, and the substance responsible for ‘rosette’ formation in human red blood cells is identified.
EphA2 Protein Mediates Critical Stage of Cerebral Malaria
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists find that the EphA2 protein mediates a critical stage of cerebral malaria and data scientists construct a statistical modelling framework of malaria seasonality in Madagascar.
Molecular Basis for Sugar Import in Malaria Parasites
The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Scientists identify the process by which the malaria parasite imports sugar, a potential target for inhibiting parasitic development.