In the News: Mixed Strain Malaria Infections

Malaria is caused by 5 species of parasite that is carried by over 30 different species of mosquitoes. This makes for some major complications. "We found that when hosts are co-infected with drug-resistant and drug-sensitive strains, both strains are competitively suppressed," said Mary Bushman. "Anti-malarial therapy, by clearing drug-sensitive parasites from mixed infections, may result in competitive release of resistant strains." Read the article from Emory Health Sciences here.

Mosquitoes feed often, exposing them to a variety of strains of the malaria infection.

Rise in Immunity Spurs International Concern

"Malaria is still a devastating disease, with nearly 250 million cases and more than one million deaths every year. Mosquitoes have developed resistance to existing insecticides and there is evidence of emerging resistance by the parasite to the drugs used to treat the disease.”-Professor Steve Ward, Deputy Director, of LSTM reports

RTS,S Has a Fighting Chance to Become Malaria Vaccine

Underlying Factors

 Malaria is a complex disease, and therefore poses several challenges for the development of a vaccine. It is important to note that the most prevalent species of the parasite (there are four known to cause malaria in humans), Plasmodium falciparum is the main focus of vaccine efforts at this point. The malaria parasite is a protozoan, which is more biologically complex than bacteria or viruses. It also creates a complicated array of potential vaccine targets. The three most promising vaccines and their modes of action are detailed below, including an analysis of which of the three is has the highest potential to become a widely used vaccine to prevent malaria from P. falciparum. A malaria vaccine would reduce the number of severe malaria cases and deaths, and by ensuring preventability would be an important step towards eradication of the disease. There are currently three vaccines in various stages of development, and, based on efficacy testing and other supporting evidence, it has been determined that RTS,S is the vaccine that will succeed over other candidates.

Even with vaccines that have shown efficacy, there are species that still pose a menacing line of defense against a potential cure.

NPR reports on Obama's mention of progress on the issue. Read the story here.