Malaria-fighting bacteria discovered by chance

Malaria-fighting bacteria discovered by chance

During an experiment, researchers made a serendipitous discovery {that a} mosquito colony didn’t develop the malaria parasite, which led to potential new instruments for combating malaria, one of many world’s oldest illnesses that kills roughly 600,000 folks every year.

Scientists are at present investigating whether or not utilizing this bacterium below “real-world conditions” is secure.

HOW WAS IT NOTICED?

Researchers working for the pharmaceutical firm GSK in Spain observed {that a} mosquito colony stopped carrying malaria throughout drug improvement analysis.

Dr. Janneth Rodrigues, who led the examine, mentioned, “The infection rate in mosquitoes began to decrease, and by the end of the year, the mosquitoes were no longer infected with the malaria parasite.”

The analysis group froze samples from the 2014 experiment and reexamined them two years later to grasp what had occurred.

The analysis revealed {that a} particular bacterium referred to as TC1, naturally current within the surroundings, prevented the event of the malaria parasite within the mosquitoes’ intestines.

Dr. Rodrigues mentioned, “When this bacterium establishes itself in the mosquito’s gut, it stays there for its entire life. And we discovered that this bacterium is what reduces the transmission of malaria in mosquitoes.”

ANOTHER WEAPON AGAINST MALARIA

The analysis is ongoing in an enclosed space referred to as the “MosquitoSphere” in Burkina Faso to grasp the effectiveness and security of utilizing “harmony” (the bacterium) in the actual world.

If profitable and this bacterium-based discovery might be become a product, it may change into one other weapon in our struggle in opposition to one of many world’s oldest illnesses.

Approximately 620,000 folks die from malaria every year, with many of the victims being kids below the age of 5.

Although a vaccine has been developed in opposition to malaria, vaccination charges in Africa stay low.

Source: www.anews.com.tr