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...]
World Malaria Day 2012
"Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria." World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). The day was established to provide education and understanding of malaria and disseminate information on malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria … [Read more...]
New Optical Technique for Rapid Malaria Diagnosis
Correctly and quickly diagnosing malaria is essential for effective and life-saving treatment. But rapid detection, particularly in remote areas, is not always possible because current methods are time-consuming and require precise instrumentation and highly skilled microscopic analysis. Now, a promising new optical imaging system, described in a paper published today in the Optical Society's … [Read more...]
Drug-Resistant Malaria Threatens Effort to Control Disease
A team of researchers from the United States and Thailand says the growing number of cases of drug-resistant malaria being reported in Thailand and neighboring countries threatens the worldwide campaign to control and eliminate the mosquito-borne disease. The malaria parasite in the region is becoming resistant to the first-line malaria therapy - artemisinin combination treatment - and experts say … [Read more...]
Resistance to Malaria Treatments Seriously Compromises Efforts to Eliminate Malaria
Scientists have found new evidence that resistance to the front-line treatments for malaria is increasing.They have confirmed that resistant strains of the malaria parasite on the border between Thailand and Burma, 500 miles (800km) away from previous sites.Researchers say that the rise of resistance means the effort to eliminate malaria is "seriously compromised".The details have been … [Read more...]
GM Mosquito Factory: Can Oxitec Mosquitoes Help Stamp Out Malaria?
In plastic and glass containers thousands of mosquitoes are hatching in a British "mosquito factory." On strips of brown paper there are hundreds of thousands of little black mosquito eggs. "Here we practice birth control for mosquitoes," says Hadyn Parry, CEO of Oxitec, a British bio-research company that makes genetically modified mosquito eggs. The eggs produce sterile male mosquitoes, … [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...]