AND TALKING OF MALARIA ...
1 IN 25 HAVE NATURAL WEAPONS IN THEIR BLOOD
Some people produce special antibodies that end the malaria parasite’s life cycle. Scientists from the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands have found antibodies in 4 % of 648 malaria patients. The scientists hope that the antibodies can be used in a new vaccine that is to prevent the spread of malaria.
NEW DRUG TO END THE PARASITE’S LIFE CYCLE
While the malaria parasite exists in the blood stream, it changes into gametocytes, which can infect mosquitoes. Scientists from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute have found the protein that tells the parasite when to change shape. If they can block the protein, the parasite cannot spread.
CRISPR CAUSES IMMUNE MOSQUITO LARVAE
When scientists cut out a gene from the genetic material of mosquito larvae, they create creatures that are immune to malaria. Scientists from the US Johns Hopkins University used the CRISPR method to remove the FREP1 gene. The aim is to introduce lots of immune mosquitoes to out-compete ordinary mosquitoes.