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Job opportunity
Reminder: Target Malaria Project Manager – Stakeholder Engagement & Communications at Imperial College, UK
Target Malaria is seeking to recruit a Project Manager – Stakeholder Engagement and Communications to work directly with the Stakeholder Engagement Manager and with teams within and outside the UK to ensure successful delivery of the associated milestones agreed with the funders. Closing date for applications is 16 August 2020. More information about this position and how to apply is available on the MalariaWorld website... Read more
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New from MESA: Plasmodium vivax research: A conversation with ICREA Prof Hernando A. del Portillo
ICREA Prof Hernando A. del Portillo studied molecular aspects of parasites at the University of Georgia, USA, where he received his PhD, followed by two WHO postdoctoral trainings at the New York University Medical Centre (USA) and the Institut Pasteur (France) where he specialized in molecular biology of malaria parasites.
New from MESA: Find out more about MESA Track and how to get involved
Find out more about the MESA Track online platform and join the database of researchers, funders and institutions working to combat malaria!
Watch the video
New from MESA: The U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) celebrates 15 years of partnership and shares over 100 operational research projects in MESA Track
Since 2006, PMI has partnered with countries hardest hit by malaria, supporting introduction and scaling of proven, life-saving malaria interventions protecting more than 570 million people at risk annually. In countries where PMI works, their investments have significantly contributed to a 27% decline in malaria cases and a 60% decline in malaria deaths.
Podcast: Liver Stage of Plasmodium vivax Characterised
Malaria Minute, 24 July 2020
Researchers characterise the liver stage of Plasmodium vivax, and scientists discover that two chemicals can inhibit growth of Plasmodium infection.
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Omega-rich oils are efficient against malaria, but may enhance viral infections
In a recent review paper we described the strong antimalarial properties of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but also raised some concerns about the potential risks for viral infections.
Jérôme Munyangi, Pierre Lutgen, Artemisia plants, arachidonic and other polyunsaturated fatty acids. Malaria World Journal MWJ 2020, 11:3.
Podcast: Plasmodium Mimics NK-Inhibitor to Evade Immune Response
Malaria Minute, 17 July 2020
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.
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Podcast: Mass Drug Administration for Malaria Elimination in Zambia
Malaria Minute, 10 July 2020
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.
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Podcast: Extent of Insecticide Resistance in Africa Revealed
Malaria Minute, 03 July 2020
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.
Podcast: CDK5 Controls Atypical Replication of Plasmodium Parasite
Malaria Minute, 26 June 2020
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.
New from MESA: Towards a vaccine for Plasmodium vivax (ongoing)
Malaria-free world has been an ultimate goal embraced by WHO just decade after its foundation, however only 38 countries in temperate zone were able to eliminate malaria since then. In 2017, WHO Executive Board reasserted their full and firm support towards malaria eradication. The lancet commission on Malaria eradication has called for global experts and policy makers to agree upon an ambitious target of eradicating malaria by 2050.
New from MESA: Clinical Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Malaria Settings (ongoing)
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve it is essential to mitigate risk of increased incidence of other infectious diseases. In malaria-endemic regions, it will be important to understand the potential impact to epidemiological changes, trends in transmission, and clinical presentation of COVID-19 and malaria individually, and as co-infections.
Podcast: Mosquito Saliva Vaccine Evaluated in Phase 1 Clinical Trial
Malaria Minute, 19 June 2020
Researchers evaluate the immunogenicity of the AGS-v vaccine which targets saliva produced by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.
Podcast: Recently Identified Quinoline Resistance Not Prevalent in Africa
Malaria Minute, 12 June 2020
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.
Malaria inhibits Covid
The role of immunoglobulines E
In January 2020 we published together with 3 medical doctors from Africa: “Jérôme, Munyangi, Pascal Gisenya, Patrick Ogwang …Immunoglobulins in the skin lead to long-lasting prophylaxis. Pharm Pharmacol Int Journal, PPIJ, 2020, Issue1”, a paper which, if widely spread, could have had a dramatic impact on the way the present Covid-19 crisis is handled.
One of the key findings of their work is that immunoglobulins are higher in malaria endemic areas.
Podcast: Novel Malaria Drug Artefenomel Assessed Against Plasmodium vivax Infection
Malaria Minute, 5 June 2020
Artefenomel is assessed against Plasmodium vivax infection in humans to determine the minimum effective dose required for parasite clearance and a beta version of the Global Vector Hub is launched.
Podcast: Spleen Plays Major Role in Plasmodium vivax Infection
Malaria Minute, 29 May 2020
The spleen plays a major role in the expression of P. vivax genes and the production of antigens associated with clinical protection, and scientists develop an AI that can detect Plasmodium infection in the blood.
New from MESA: BioMalPar XVI: Biology and Pathology of the Malaria Parasite - Virtual
MESA Correspondents bring you cutting-edge coverage from the XVI BioMalPar virtual Conference “Biology and Pathology of the Malaria Parasite”
* MESA only reported the talks that had the approval of the speaker
Day 1 Monday 18th May 2020
Podcast: Plasmodium Research Shared at Virtual BioMalPar Conference
Malaria Minute, 22 May 2020
The BioMalPar conference takes place online and the synchronisation of Plasmodium infection is controlled by the parasite’s own internal clock.
Viruses, Malaria, Platelets and Artemisia
In my previous comments on www.malariaworld.org I alerted to the possibility that the widespread malaria infections in sub-Saharan Africa might provide a protection against the Covid virus. Trying to find an explanation for this observation might be important.
Podcast: Serological Tests for P. vivax Malaria Could Reduce Disease Transmission by 69%
Malaria Minute, 15 May 2020
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.
Podcast: Microsporidia MB Stops Malaria Transmission
Malaria Minute, 8 May 2020
Scientists find that microsporidia MB stops malaria transmission in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes by disrupting oocyst formation.
World Health Organization: Malaria eradication: benefits, future scenarios & feasibility
Report of the Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication
After a 3-year study of trends and future projects, WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication has released a detailed report of its key findings and recommendations. The report builds on an executive summary published in August 2019. Members of the advisory group highlight 6 areas in the report that would underpin a successful malaria eradication effort:
1. reinforcing the Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030;
2. research & development for new tools;
3. access to affordable, high quality, people-centered health care and services;
4. adequate and sustained financing;
5. strengthened surveillance and response; and
6. engaging communities.
Community-based health care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Community-based health care, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Community-based health care is an essential part of primary care at all times; in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the distinct capacity of trusted community members for social engagement and delivering care where it is needed is ever more critical. This joint WHO, UNICEF and IFRC guidance addresses the role of community-based health care in the pandemic context. It includes practical recommendations for decision makers to help keep communities and health workers safe, to sustain essential services at the community level, and to ensure an effective response to COVID-19. Using this comprehensive and coordinated approach will help countries strengthen the resilience of community-based health services throughout the pandemic, into early recovery and beyond. Read more
Malaria still kills 1,100 a day. It can’t afford to lose resources to coronavirus
Podcast: Combined Use of MDA and IRS Most Effective Way to Prevent Malaria Transmission
Malaria Minute, 1 May 2020
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.
Keystone Symposia Interview: Malaria Challenges in the COVID-19 Era
Watch this exclusive interview & presentation by Dr. Pedro Alonso, WHO Global Malaria Programme Director, on how to tackle both of these global threats simultaneously. Brought to you by Keystone Symposia:
https://bit.ly/VKScovidmalaria
New from MESA: ASTMH 2019 Recap in the MESA Resouce Hub: How modeling has been used to provide technical support to national malaria control programs
Watch the presentations from this symposium, in which different experts talked about the importance of malaria modeling to understand the epidemiology of the disease and to help in the decision-making process by testing different scenarios.
Podcast: Gene Drive Outcomes Not Determined by Genetic Variation
Malaria Minute, 24 April 2020
Genetic variation would seem to have little impact on the success of gene drive interventions due to conserved Cas9 target sites in populations of Anopheles mosquitoes.
Printed bed nets to protect underprivileged families in Uganda against malaria
In honour of World Malaria Day 2020
Care Plus® has donated 2000 impregnated printed bed nets to protect children in Uganda, one of the countries with the heaviest malaria burden in Africa. And this is just the start of the Buy One, Give One Program: for every Care Plus® impregnated net that is being sold, one free net is donated to people in need. It is one of the contributions that Care Plus® makes to the fight against malaria.
