Scientists have fabricated two bed netting prototypes targeting malaria-causing blood parasites. They designed netting systems to deliver antimalarial drugs called Endochin-like Quinolones (ELQs) that destroy Plasmodium parasites transmitted by mosquitoes.
Scientists have fabricated two bed netting prototypes targeting malaria-causing blood parasites. They designed netting systems to deliver antimalarial drugs called Endochin-like Quinolones that destroy Plasmodium parasites transmitted by mosquitoes.
Southwest Research Institute tapped into its drug formulation and manufacturing expertise to fabricate two bed netting prototypes targeting malaria-causing blood parasites. In a collaboration with researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Oregon Health & Science University /Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center , SwRI designed netting systems to deliver antimalarial drugs called Endochin-like Quinolones that destroy"If an infected mosquito hits or lands on either type of netting, it's essentially disinfected," said Institute Scientist Dr. Mike Rubal, a contributor to thearticle."The best defense against malaria has been insecticide-treated bed nets or those coated with larvicides, but mosquitoes are developing an immunity to those prevention methods. This novel approach targets the source of the disease." In 2023, the World Health Organization reported 263 million cases of malaria and nearly 600,000 deaths worldwide. The disease remains pervasive even with preventative measures and available treatments. Resistance to larvicides and pesticides is a growing concern among malaria researchers. Rubal's team coated a commercially available polyester bed net with an ELQ solution synthesized at OHSU/PVAMC. SwRI also blended a second formulation of ELQ into a hot-melt extrusion of high-density polyethylene filaments, which can be woven to make yarn for netting. The team at the Catteruccia lab at Harvard evaluated both netting systems for efficacy. "We desperately need innovation in malaria control. This study offers a new, effective way to stop the transmission of malaria parasites, which we hope will reduce the burden of this devastating disease in Africa and beyond," said corresponding author Dr. Flaminia Catteruccia, the Irene Heinz Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.mosquitoes pass parasites to humans through saliva shared when they bite. Parasites attack and reproduce within the liver and red blood cells causing a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. If left untreated, malaria can lead to brain damage, organ failure and even death, especially among children and other vulnerable populations. "Our research shows that the two drugs, which are absorbed through the legs of the insect, kill parasites developing within the mosquito. By using two different ELQs, the likelihood of resistance is greatly diminished and possibly eliminated," said Dr. Michael Riscoe, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at OHSU."This emerging technology has great potential to impact efforts to control and eradicate malaria around the world."Alexandra S. Probst, Douglas G. Paton, Federico Appetecchia, Selina Bopp, Kelsey L. Adams, Tasneem A. Rinvee, Sovitj Pou, Rolf Winter, Esrah W. Du, Sabrina Yahiya, Charles Vidoudez, Naresh Singh, Janneth Rodrigues, Pablo Castañeda-Casado, Chiara Tammaro, Daisy Chen, Karla P. Godinez-Macias, Jasmine L. Jaramillo, Giovanna Poce, Michael J. Rubal, Aaron Nilsen, Elizabeth A. Winzeler, Jake Baum, Jeremy N. Burrows, Michael K. Riscoe, Dyann F. Wirth, Flaminia Catteruccia.Blocking a key protein found in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes -- the principal vector for malaria transmission to humans in Africa -- could thwart infection with malaria parasites and thus prevent ... Two U.S. Phase 1 clinical trials of a novel candidate malaria vaccine have found that the regimen conferred unprecedentedly high levels of durable protection when volunteers were later exposed to ... Malaria, a disease caused mainly by the parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, is associated with over 400,000 deaths each year. Previously, the spleen was assumed to mostly play a ... Researchers have identified how natural human antibodies can block malaria parasites from entering red blood cells, potentially indicating how new protective therapies could be developed against this ...Amuse, a Songwriting AI-Collaborator to Help Create Music
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