PLASMOBASE: NEW website providing a new protein domain annotation and comparing protein domain architectures of 11 Plasmodium genomes
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Weblogs
How malariaworld.org saves lives!
Thank you MP for your blog http://mosquitopundit.net/mosquitopundit-blog/act-and-malaria-recrudesce....
You give me a lot of credit when you state: malaria researcher Irene Teis doesn’t know that her 2 April 2016 post “Was the Nobel prize for artemisinin a fatal error” at www.malariaworld.org helped save at least nine lives.
One step closer to a malaria-free world
Interceptor® G2 launches a new chapter in the fight against malaria and insecticide resistance. It is a new insecticide-treated mosquito net that we started working on with the IVCC and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine more than a decade ago.
Who deserves the Nobel prize: Jeremic or Youyou Tu
Received from Emile Schmitz, Martelange
Malaria Elimination: Significance of Plasmodium vivax in Bone Marrow/Spleen
The occurrence of Plasmodium vivax in bone marrow/spleen has been reported by various authors (including Baro, del Portillo, Lacerda, Marti, Obaldia, Siqueira and Wirth). It is not apparent from the title, but some of the implications hereof are discussed in the 2017 article on “Malaria Eradication and the Hidden Parasite Reservoir” (click here).
Plasmodium vivax Recurrences
A new blood-stage parasite question has arisen. Are erythrocytic forms in bone marrow/spleen part of the hidden Plasmodium vivax reservoir? Do they cause or contribute to renewed or increased peripheral parasitaemia? (Link to the article on the subject [click here]).
Superbug: an emerging and quickly spreading threat to the race against malaria
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While the malaria death count in Cambodia dropped to just one case in 2016, a new threat to the race against the disease arises in south-eastern Asia: superbugs. A superbug is a drug-resistant, human-killing parasite that modern medicine struggles to combat.
Gene deletion P.falciparum mutants pose challenge to widely used diagnostic tests and eradication efforts
In a current paper in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, recently reviewed at Global Health Technology Review, Dr. Jonathan Parr (University of North Carolina) examines cases of RDT-negative P.falciparum cases as part of the Demographic Health Survey of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
History and Hypnozoites
What has happened to various hypnozoite-associated (in one way or another) personalities from the late 1970s and the 1980s, when the malarial hypnozoite was "accidentally" discovered, is not widely known. People occasionally enquire about these individuals. Some, such as M.R. Hollingdale, R.E. Sinden, G.A.T. Targett and M.B.
Your participation and support requested for promoting south-centred collaborations in vector-borne diseases
Dear Colleagues
I have just posted the attached concept note entitled "Promoting south-centred collaborations in vector-borne diseases" on the extranet discussion board for the following UK-BBSRC funding mechanism to support networks in vector-borne disease (VBD) research:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/filter/networks-vector-borne-disease-research/
Mathematical Models and Hypnozoites
Are hypnozoites the only source of relapse-like, recurrent Plasmodium vivax malaria? They might not be. See explanation here [click] (however, note from the website link provided in a response to the blog, the new angle re erythrocytic parasites that was published online on 30 March 2017).
Molecular Epidemiology: Interpretation of Genotypic Homology in Recurrent Plasmodium vivax Malaria
When analysing results obtained in genetic epidemiological studies, how can homologous recurrences of Plasmodium vivax malaria be explained? Link to a blog on the subject [click] (but see, via the website given in one of the blog responses, the new analysis concerning erythrocytic parasites that was published online on 30 March 2017).
Vivax and Non-vivax Malaria: Elimination-related Research Agenda Items
The presumed hypnozoite reservoir is perceived to be a threat to the goal of eradicating human malaria. However, the same now applies to putative non-hypnozoite tissue stages as well, notably quiescent merozoites. Persistence of extra-vascular tissue merozoites in vivax malaria has on genetic grounds been suspected since 2011. So far, they have been parasitologically demonstrated in rodent malarial infections. There is no particular reason why they should not also occur in primate malaria of various kinds.
Problems with the Hypnozoite Theory of Relapse
Speculative extrapolation from biological and genetic findings resulting from malarial research carried out in recent years, places in doubt aspects of the validity of the current concept of hypnozoite-mediated malarial relapse, entrenched though the hypothesis (usually stated by authors as a fact) is. A piece(s) of the puzzle might be missing.
Malaria Elimination Dilemma
A little waterbird (or was it a frog?) whispered in my ear. Aquatic organisms don’t want humans to destroy their habitats when trying to eliminate malaria. Draining of swamps, for example, would have negative consequences not only for mosquitoes but also for various other (innocent) creatures that live there. Where does this leave malariologists, so to speak? Just asking.
New paper on benefits of Ultrasound for higher yielding and purity of Artemisinin from Artemesia annua L.
New Method under ultrasound for rapid extraction and efficient purification of the antimalarial drug "Artemisinin" from medicinal plants.
Free download from Elsevier available till July 30th : http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1TBDt4p3AWHr29
Plasmodium vivax: Drug-induced Dormancy?
Early recurrences (which are often homologous) in treated Plasmodium vivax infections are usually considered to be hypnozoite-mediated relapses. Can such recurrences sometimes or frequently be, instead, recrudescences caused by reactivation of blood stages that became temporarily quiescent following drug exposure? The experimental background to this question is given here.
Primaquine Not "Working"
Therapeutic failure of primaquine in cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria is often noted by clinicians. A newly recognized, possible cause of such treatment failure is the reactivation of viable dormant parasites that might be present in one or more extra-hepatic and extra-vascular sites. Administration of primaquine will not necessarily result in these stages being killed. Here is the link to where this drug-associated matter is discussed.
The Color of Hope
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BASF scientist, Matthias Witschel, is seeking new ways to combat malaria. A 19th century dyestuff is playing an important role.
World Malaria Day 2016
Every April 25th, people across the globe take part in a wide range of activities to raise awareness about Malaria.
For half the world, every day is malaria day, a day to keep up the fight against this deadly disease. With our Automated Malaria Diagnostic App, xRapid contributes to this fight alongside health workers in the field.
On this World Malaria Day, why not give us one click to help us #EndMalaria.
Vote for us on Virgin’s Startup Challenge.: http://xrapid.com/vote
xRapid#Malaria wins Pistoia Alliance Challenge
On April 19th, xRapid won the Audience Choice Award at the Pistoia Alliance Mini Startup Challenge.
“We are pleased that the members of the Pistoia Alliance were able to see the potential of the xRapid Automated Diagnostic App. This event has been a great platform to showcase our innovative technology in front of the pharmaceutical industry.” – Jean Viry-Babel, xRapid CEO
2016 Update: Another Malaria Elimination Problem
This is a comment concerning the hidden parasite reservoir, and it is partly drug-related.
Was the Nobel prize for artemisinin a fatal error?
In 2015 a Nobel Price was attributed to Youyou Tu, almost 50 years after a report describing artemisinin’s structure, pharmacology, and efficacy had been published in 1979 by the “Qinghaosu Anti-Malarial Coordinating Research Group,” where she was a member of. Mr Huang Shuze, Deputy Minister of Health, stated in his 1981 summary report “Project 523 mobilized multiple departments ; thirty scientific research units and medical schools in 1975”.
Does Plasmodium malariae have a hypnozoite stage?
COMMENT: For many years, it has traditionally been considered that Plasmodium malariae does not have a hypnozoite stage in its life cycle. Evidence for this has been thought to perhaps include the longevity of hepatocytes and what happens after inoculation of parasitized erythrocytes into the primate host (see hepatocyte and P. malariae sections, respectively). More recently, there have been suggestions that hypnozoites might, in fact, be present in the liver in P.
Palestine, Malaria and The last large-scale cavalry charge of WW1 in 1918
See Allenby's cavalry charge .
This extreme example is useful for those who wish to see the difference between durable malaria elimination and a temporary practical intervention in what was referred to as one of the most malarious countries in the world.
Research in progress: Evaluating Artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria using the K13 propeller domain molecular biomarker
Hi,
I want to share my research observations (on artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum) with malaria Professionals in this scientific community and welcome your candid comments.
I am a Ph.D student working on surveillance for artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in dried blood spots sampled from Nigeria. I sequenced the K13 propeller domain at Macrogen using the PCR primers published in Nature Ariey 2014 titled 'A molecular marker of artemisinin resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria'.
How accurate can a malaria diagnostic test on smartphone be?
Our CTO and Co-founder David Mendels answers our most commonly asked question.
Is artemisinin monotherapy again allowed by WHO?
The paper « Efficacy of a Novel Sublingual Spray Formulation of Artemether in African Children with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria » (Daryl Bendel et al.,Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. November 2015 vol. 59 no. 11 6930-6938) which was posted recently on www,malariaworld.org raises this important question. The clinical trials were run by an Australian pharmaceutical company in Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Ghana
WHY WAS PALESTINE 'THE MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRY OF ANY IN THE MIDDLE EAST' 90 YEARS AGO? Probably because everyone there was so busy getting rid of malaria.
In view of the tragedy, the barbarity and shocking loss of life in Syria, I felt this may be a timely reminder about how malaria elimination was, and could still be, a huge inspiration to all mankind and an aid towards a calmer and more peaceful world.