Australian scientists say they have made an important discovery in the fight against malaria. They have found that people in Africa who are immune to malaria have developed powerful natural defenses against the disease. Researchers at Melbourne's Burnet Institutewho are searching for ways to develop a vaccine believe that people in east Africa could help unlock some of the secrets of this … [Read more...]
New Anti-Malarial Drug Target
An international team of scientists have identified the first reported inhibitors of a key enzyme involved in survival of the parasite responsible for malaria. Their findings, which may provide the basis for anti-malarial drug development, are currently published in the online version of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. Tropical malaria is responsible for more than 1.2 million deaths … [Read more...]
Genetically Engineered Bacteria Prevent Mosquitoes From Transmitting Malaria
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have genetically modified a bacterium commonly found in the mosquito’s midgut and found that the parasite that causes malaria in people does not survive in mosquitoes carrying the modified bacterium. The bacterium, Pantoea agglomerans, was modified to secrete proteins toxic to the malaria parasite, but the toxins do not harm the mosquito … [Read more...]
New Drug Synriam Approved to Treat Malaria in India
A new drug to treat malaria, Synriam, was launched in India by Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited. The drug will provide additional options for malaria treatment as traditional drugs become increasingly ineffective against the deadly malarial parasite because of acquired resistance to available medications. Taken as a tablet once a day for three days, Synriam may be more effective, cheaper, and have … [Read more...]
Researchers Discover Proteins in Mosquitoes that Help Fight Malaria Infection
Researchers have discovered the function of a series proteins within the mosquito that transduce a signal that enables the mosquito to fight off infection from the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Together, these proteins are known as immune deficiency (Imd) pathway signal transducing factors, are analogous to an electrical circuit. As each factor is switched on or off it triggers or … [Read more...]
Nikhil Rautela, Research Associate, AZ, Bangalore
AstraZeneca is working with partners such as MMV and AMREF to fight Malaria and some, of the company's scientists have been writing about their experience in doing this. Nikhil Rautela, is a Research Associate at AstraZeneca in Bangalore, and writes: My name is Nikhil and I am a Research Associate at AstraZeneca’s R&D unit in Bangalore, India. Working as a Research Associate, I test … [Read more...]
President’s Malaria Initiative 2012
April 25, 2012, marks World Malaria Day, a day designated to call attention to malaria and to mobilize action to combat it. The U.S. Government, on behalf of the American people, has taken extraordinary steps to curb the spread of this preventable and curable disease. Since PMI’s launch in 2005, PMI has worked with partners in 15 high-burden countries in Africa to scale up effective malaria … [Read more...]
Malaria Resurgence: A Systematic Review and Assessment of its Causes
Considerable declines in malaria have accompanied increased funding for control since the year 2000, but historical failures to maintain gains against the disease underscore the fragility of these successes. … [Read more...]
New Partners Join the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN)
The Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN) has announced two new Partner Institutions have joined the organization: The Mahidol Vivax Research Center and the Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. The Mahidol Vivax Research Center (MVRC) established in March 2011 is dedicated to the study of Plasmodium vivax and non falciparum malaria. Its establishment at Mahidol … [Read more...]
Naturally Drug-Resistant Cave Bacteria Possible Key to New Antibiotics
New research findings suggest the key to finding a whole new variety of antibiotics to treat drug-resistant infections may lie with the resident bacteria in one of the most isolated caves in the world. The U.S. scientists who conducted the study say bacteria collected from Lechuguilla Cave in the state of New Mexico appear to possess an innate resistance to antibiotics, despite never having … [Read more...]