In analyzing malaria mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa, a Cornell-led team of researchers finds evidence of two very different evolutionary paths in the immune systems of neighboring mosquito groups. Genes in animal immune systems may evolve in one of two main ways in the constant fight against pathogens: They may evolve diverse forms of genes (alleles) to fight a wide variety of pathogens, or … [Read more...]
Canadian Researchers Develop Inexpensive Malaria Treatment
Scientists in Saskatoon, Canada have developed a malaria treatment that will help fight malaria, which kills about one million people each year. The new developments which will provide an affordable, reliable, and stable treatment for malaria and is likely to save millions of lives, especially those of women and children in Africa. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and … [Read more...]
Anacor Pharmaceuticals Enters Development Agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)
Anacor Pharmaceuticals has entered into a development agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) to develop Anacor’s compound AN3661 for the treatment of malaria. Under the agreement, Anacor and MMV will work together on the development of AN3661 through human proof-of-concept studies. AN3661 was developed as part of a research agreement signed by the two parties in April 2010 to … [Read more...]
African Leaders Malaria Alliance Receives $250K Grant to Help Fight Malaria
The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), an alliance of 39 African leaders, has been awarded a $250,000 grant to help with its campaign to combat malaria. ALMA, chaired by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and recently elected Deputy Chair, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, was launched in 2009 as a collaborative effort for African leaders to work together with the African … [Read more...]
Disease Burdens Shifting from Communicable to Chronic Diseases
Those working for healthier humans around the globe are making headway in fighting communicable diseases such as AIDS, malaria and diarrheal illness, and researchers at the University of Denver have found that there is a transition occurring in global health from disease burdens due to communicable diseases to chronic ones such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. "Because of great … [Read more...]
Hoolywood Bites Back Fundraiser to Fight Malaria
Conan O'Brien, Elizabeth Banks, B.J. Novak, and David Arquette are among the many comedians, musicians and public figures performing stand-up, sketches and musical acts when some of today's hottest stars from television, film and music will take the stage at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on April 16th for Hollywood Bites Back!, a night of comedy to benefit the nonprofit Malaria No More. "I am … [Read more...]
Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets (ITMNs) Helps Prevent Japanese Encephalitis
A new study reveals that using treated mosquito nets could drastically reduce the transmission of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) to humans. The study, conducted by the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Dibrugarh, North East Region (NE), Indian Council of Medical Research and released in the March issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, showed that the use of … [Read more...]
APL1 Malaria Resistance Genes of Anopheles Gambiae
Immune defense genes are sometimes highly variable in host populations, reflecting selective pressure to combat diverse pathogens. In other instances, where there are only a few dominant pathogens, natural selection may favor only one or a few defense alleles. Here, we show that both adaptive strategies can occur in the same genes under different circumstances. We examined diversity in the … [Read more...]
Liquidia Technologies Gets $10M from Gates Foundation for Malaria Vaccine
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation invested $10 million in Liquidia Technologies, a closely held biotechnology company developing vaccines, as part of a $400 million initiative to fund activities to help poorer countries. Liquidia is developing a seasonal flu vaccine and has an agreement with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative to use its technology to work on new malaria vaccines, the … [Read more...]
Inexpensive Lens-Free Mobile Phone Microscope May Improve Detection of Malaria
Aydogan Ozcan, an associate professor of electrical engineering at UCLA, is working on a low-cost microscope that uses the silicon sensor found in mobile phone cameras. According to Ozcan, his microscope, which currently has a resolution of one millionth of a meter, which is powerful enough to reliably image the malaria parasite. While a traditional microscope can have a six-figure price tag, … [Read more...]