In Morocco, cutaneous leishmaniasis is transmitted by Phlebotomus sergenti and Ph. papatasi. Vector control is mainly based on environmental management but indoor residual spraying with synthetic pyrethroids is applied in many foci of Leishmania tropica. However, the levels and distribution of sandfly susceptibility to insecticides currently used has not been studied yet. Hence, this study was … [Read more...]
Malaria Life Cycle
The three parts of the malaria life cycle are known as the exo-erythrocytic cycle, the erythrocytic cycle and the sporogonic cycle. The first two of these take place in the human (or other mammal) host, while the third occurs in the mosquito vector. … [Read more...]
Simulations Plus Announces Preliminary Success in Malaria Drug Design Project
Simulations Plus, Inc., a provider of consulting services and software for pharmaceutical discovery and development, today announced that preliminary testing shows that one of the molecules it has designed to inhibit the malaria parasite has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of the malaria parasite. Dr. Robert Clark, director of life sciences for Simulations Plus, said: "We're excited to … [Read more...]
HIV Antiretrovirals May Help Fight Malaria
Bed nets and insecticides form the cornerstone of malaria prevention, with antimalarial drugs being used mainly to treat people who become ill with the disease. The drugs do have some protective effect, but it quickly wanes. Now a study in Uganda suggests that an antiretroviral drug given to HIV-infected children can boost the preventive power of a key malaria drug. … [Read more...]
Researches Say Hydroxychloroquine Can Help Treat Cancer
Researchers say a drug commonly used to treat malaria and rheumatoid arthritis has also proved effective in treating some aggressive cancers. When scientists administered hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, together with known cancer drugs, they found it stopped the growth of cancerous tumors in two-thirds of the patients. Scientists know that human cancer cells grow by getting energy … [Read more...]
Open Source Drug Discovery for Malaria
In open source drug discovery all data and ideas are freely and immediately shared, and anyone may participate at any level. Dr Mat Todd, from the University of Sydney's School of Chemistry, recently led a meeting titled Open Source Drug Discovery for Malaria, to discuss the application of the open source model to discovering drugs to treat malaria. "The open nature of the work means there … [Read more...]
Blood Smear Technique
Blood films are made by placing a drop of blood on one end of a slide, and using a spreader slide to disperse the blood over the slide's length. The aim is to get a region where the cells are spaced far enough apart to be counted and differentiated. The slide is left to air dry, after which the blood is fixed to the slide by immersing it briefly in methanol. The fixative is essential for good … [Read more...]
Mobile Phone Text Messaging: Tool for Malaria Control in Africa
Across many malaria-endemic areas in rural Africa, the communication gap between managers, health workers, and patients is a significant barrier to efficient malaria control. The rapid expansion of mobile network coverage and the widespread availability of basic handsets have the potential to substantively bridge the communication gap. Text messaging, as the least-expensive mobile phone function … [Read more...]
Historic Malaria Video (1943)
1943 informational cartoon from Walt Disney Studios, please note that today, pouring oil on water is obviously not recommended. … [Read more...]
Blood-Feeding Patterns of Anopheles Mosquitoes in Bangladesh
Blood-feeding patterns of mosquitoes are crucial for incriminating malaria vectors. However, little information is available on the host preferences of Anopheles mosquitoes in Bangladesh. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the hematophagic tendencies of the anophelines inhabiting a malaria-endemic area of Bangladesh. … [Read more...]