Malaria

[Flutterby]

We always use Peaceful Sleep.

[Richprins]

And one can put a drop of whiskey on bites!

[Lisbeth]

Too late, when already bitten

Whisky might work better as prophylaxis

[Lisbeth]

Anti-PfGARP activates programmed cell death of parasites and reduces severe malaria

22 April 2020

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum remains the leading single-agent cause of mortality in children1, yet the promise of an effective vaccine has not been fulfilled. Here, using our previously described differential screening method to analyse the proteome of blood-stage P. falciparum parasites2, we identify P. falciparum glutamic-acid-rich protein (PfGARP) as a parasite antigen that is recognized by antibodies in the plasma of children who are relatively resistant—but not those who are susceptible—to malaria caused by P. falciparum. PfGARP is a parasite antigen of 80 kDa that is expressed on the exofacial surface of erythrocytes infected by early-to-late-trophozoite-stage parasites. We demonstrate that antibodies against PfGARP kill trophozoite-infected erythrocytes in culture by inducing programmed cell death in the parasites, and that vaccinating non-human primates with PfGARP partially protects against a challenge with P. falciparum. Furthermore, our longitudinal cohort studies showed that, compared to individuals who had naturally occurring anti-PfGARP antibodies, Tanzanian children without anti-PfGARP antibodies had a 2.5-fold-higher risk of severe malaria and Kenyan adolescents and adults without these antibodies had a twofold-higher parasite density. By killing trophozoite-infected erythrocytes, PfGARP could synergize with other vaccines that target parasite invasion of hepatocytes or the invasion of and egress from erythrocytes. ./..

[Lisbeth]

Every day in the world over a thousand malaria deaths

23 aprile 2020 , 13:19

With 405 thousand deaths in a year, well over 1,100 a day, malaria remains one of the main threats to the health of the world population, especially for children. For this reason, attention should not be lowered during the coronavirus emergency.

To remind of this, in view of the World Malaria Day, which is celebrated on April 25, is the World Health Organization (WHO), which "urges countries to guarantee continuity of service" and to "support efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria, using best practices to protect healthcare professionals and communities from COVID-19 infection. "
Since 2000, global efforts to contain malaria have prevented millions of cases and deaths, this is proof that progress is possible," recalls WHO. Between 2000 and 2014, the number of malaria-related deaths worldwide dropped by 40%, from 743,000 to 446,000. But in recent years, progress has stopped: according to the World Malaria Report 2019, there were 228 million infections in 2018 and 405 thousand deaths, compared to 219 million cases and 435 thousand deaths in 2017.

The majority of these infections - according to the portal - occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where, in 2018, around 11 million pregnant women were infected with malaria. As a result, nearly 900,000 babies are born with a low birth weight. Achieving "Zero malaria cases depends on me" is the slogan of the WHO campaign for 2020. The goal is to put this disease on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources and give greater impetus to prevention.

[Dzombo]

Positive news re Malaria vaccine:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56858158

[Lisbeth]

But for the time being is it only effective on children. It is old news

[Lisbeth]

Three things you should know about mosquitoes


GUANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 21: Adult female mosquitos are seen uder a microscope at the Sun Yat-Sen University-Michigan University Joint Center of Vector Control for Tropical Disease on June 21, 2016 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

For thousands of years malaria was a mysterious illness affecting people across the globe. Even the name of the disease, ‘malaria’, derived from two Italian words meaning ‘bad air’, highlights the confusion around the transmission of this disease. It was only following the discovery of malaria parasites in the gut of Anopheles mosquitoes in India by Sir Ronald Ross on 20 August 1897 that a clearer picture of the role of the mosquito in the malaria transmission cycle emerged. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article ... osquitoes/

[Lisbeth]

WHO endorses use of first ever malaria vaccine for children

AFP - 06 Oct 2021

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday endorsed the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine for children, the first against the mosquito-borne disease that kills more than 400 000 a year.

The decision followed a review of a pilot programme deployed since 2019 in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi where more than two million doses were given of the vaccine, first made by the pharmaceutical company GSK in 1987.

After reviewing evidence from those countries, WHO said it was "recommending the broad use of the world's first malaria vaccine", the agency's director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

The WHO said in a statement it was recommending the widespread application of the vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high malaria transmission.

Many vaccines exists against viruses and bacteria but this was the first time that the WHO recommended for broad use a vaccine against a human parasite.

"From a scientific perspective this is a massive breakthrough," said Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme.

The vaccine acts against plasmodium falciparum - one of five parasite species and the most deadly.

Malaria symptoms include fever, headaches and muscle pain, then cycles of chills, fever and sweating.

Every two minutes, a child dies of malaria, according to the World Health Organization.

Before the newly recommended vaccine can reach African children, the next step will be funding.

[Richprins]