Malaria Minute, 6 November 2020
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.
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Photograph credits © Jakob Knudsen 2019: left - Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya; right - Drone photo, suburb of Tanga, Tanzania. Houses constructed over an estimated 20 years. The oldest roofs are rusty, the newest in bright colours. Also visible are foundations and half built houses. People build in a long, incremental process whenever money is available.
Dr Lucy Tusting, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and co-director of the BOVA network, discusses the relationship between housing, urbanisation and health and how housing improvements may reduce malaria transmission.
Attention has been drawn to the use of serology for revealing subclinical Plasmodium vivax malaria that can lead to ongoing transmission of the disease in human communities if parasite carriers are not treated [1].
Malaria Minute, 30 October 2020
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.
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Career stage: Leading a research programme
Where your host organisation is based: UK, Republic of Ireland, Low- or middle-income countries (apart from India and mainland China)
Type of researcher: Basic, Clinical, Public health
Level of funding: Flexible funding, up to around £3 million. Salary isn’t provided.
Duration of funding: Flexible duration, up to 7 years
The MESA Correspondent volunteers report on the latest in malaria research from conferences around the world. The synopses are shared online, enabling people who could not attend the meeting to read about the latest advances. The MESA Correspondents Program is a collaboration between MESA and the conference organizers.
Malaria Minute, 23 October 2020
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.
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The film « The Fever » of Katharina Weingärtner was released on September 25 and is well received by public and media. It depicts the fight of African universities and grassroot organizations for local solutions and remedies against the sharp increase in malaria fatalities over the recent years. 500 000 more in 2020 according to WHO !
A Blog by Pierre Lutgen in the MalariaWorld Newsletter (https://malariaworld.org/search/site/Malaria%20inhibits%20Covid) refers to the high overall Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels that have been found in human populations in areas where malaria is endemic. Further to what is explained in his Blog, but on a different subject:
MESA is seeking malaria experts in all technical areas that wish to contribute to the Correspondents Program as Senior Editors by mentoring and supporting the MESA Correspondents volunteers that will cover the ASTMH Annual Meeting. If you want to be involved or would like further details, please contact us at mesa@isglobal.org.
Malaria Minute, 16 October 2020
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.
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Malaria Minute, 9 October 2020
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.
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Malaria Minute, 2 October 2020
A new malaria test offers high specificity from a small form factor, and researchers develop an imaging tool to examine mosquito feeding behaviour.
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Pascal Gisenya and Nsengiyumva Bati Daddy
Tuberculosis kills 2 000 000 people every year. And the situation is dramatic because the disease becomes resistant to conventional pharmaceutical treatments.
Malaria Minute, 25 September 2020
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.
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Edited by Vas Dev, M.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D (Notre Dame), FNASc
The National Academy of Sciences, India 2020
This book was commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences, India to spread the current knowledge of the mosquito vectors of human malaria and control options in different geo-epidemiological risk-zones of India. Given the clarion call for malaria elimination by 2027, understanding vector bionomics in the changing ecological context is of paramount importance to formulate species-specific intervention strategies to disrupt transmission of malaria. India is fast accelerating towards the ambitious goal of malaria elimination presenting a window of opportunity for scaling up interventions and developing stronger health systems for universal coverage. This book is of immediate relevance to programme/policy managers and researchers alike, reinforcing continued research on innovative technologies for sustainable control helping end transmission for good in the foreseeable future towards envious goal of a malaria-free world.
For the free pdf of this book please see attachement or download this book here.
Malaria Minute, 18 September 2020
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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The Malaria Eradication Scientific Alliance (MESA) is seeking volunteers as MESA Correspondents to report from the virtual ASTMH Annual Meeting happening on November 15 - 19, 2020.
Malaria Minute, 11 September 2020
Harnessing HMBPP metabolites could support vector control, and researchers examine the role of CDPKs in the egress of sporozoites from the liver.
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How have country-based malaria experts adapted to the double challenge of malaria and COVID-19? What successes have they achieved, and where are the remaining gaps? In a virtual forum on 3 September, 10 Ministry of Health representatives shared their experiences and reflections; you can watch their presentations below.
On 4 September, participants heard from senior political and health leaders from 2 regions that are heavily impacted by malaria; you will find below the presentations of WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, India’s Health Secretary and the Ugandan Minister of Health.
Malaria Minute, 4 September 2020
Researchers produce a ‘cell atlas’ of the mosquito immune system, and new hydrological prediction models identify a more complex pattern of malaria suitability.
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Malaria Minute, 28 August 2020
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.
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Pascal Gisenya, Pierre Lutgen
Mucosal surfaces represent a major interface between host and environment. They constitute the point of entry of most infectious pathogens, and are in contact with potentially injurious antigens present in the normal mucosal microflora and in ingested or inhaled substances.
MUCOSAL LININGS ARE RICH IN IMMUNOGLOBULINS
Malaria Minute, 21 August 2020
Researchers identify a mutation to the malaria parasite which can drive resistance to artemisinin and people around the world mark World Mosquito Week.
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Podcast Episode Care Plus #4: World Mosquito Day
Care Plus Podcast by Travel Health Group, 20 August 2020
submitted by Pierre Lutgen, Jerome Munyangi and Mutaz Akkawi
Zinc (Zn) plays an essential role in many biological processes including immune response. Impaired Zn status promotes immune dysfunction, and it has been associated with enhanced chronic inflammation during aging. Zinc has a pivotal role in the entire immune system fostering resistance to infections by virus, fungi and bacteria. The immune system is strongly impaired by zinc deficiency, predominantly the cell-mediated response by T-lymphocytes.
Malaria Minute, 14 August 2020
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.
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Malaria Consortium’s work includes technical assistance, implementation and research activities. One of the main goals of the organisation is to identify innovative approaches for monitoring, evaluation and surveillance systems, and high-quality implementation research leading to evidence-based strategies for the control and eventual elimination of malaria. Browse MESA Track to discover their research efforts in more than 10 countries.
Malaria Minute, 7 August 2020
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.
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Malaria Minute, 31 August 2020
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.
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