A “pretty good” malaria vaccine is on track to be the first to market. It only prevents infection about one-quarter to one-half the time, so it’s not as good as most vaccines. But for a disease like malaria, which kills 600,000 people a year, “pretty good” may be good enough. GlaxoSmithKline has applied for regulatory approval for its RTS,S vaccine. Partial protection A new 18-month study in … [Read more...]
Inexpensive Paper Microscope Could Help Diagnose Disease
A $1 microscope made of paper might help diagnose diseases in the developing world -- provided there are also people trained to use it. The folded-paper microscope, called the Foldscope, could also open the microscopic world to curious young minds. The Foldscope takes less than 10 minutes to put together from folded pieces of pre-cut paperboard. It’s a simple design, but powerful: its … [Read more...]
Mosquitos Can Smell Malaria, Say Scientists
Malaria infection makes mice smell a bit better to mosquitoes, raising the odds that they’ll be bitten and spread the disease according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research could point the way to a Breathalyzer-style diagnostic test for malaria infection. And it’s the latest example of how parasites manipulate the creatures they infect for their … [Read more...]