How Comparative Genomics Can Help Find the Best Treatments for Malaria
Release Date: 10/15/2024
The Skin-Contact Malaria Test That Could Revolutionize Diagnostics
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
Using lasers and ultrasound, the ‘cytophone’ detects a key byproduct of all malaria parasites. Transcript Among the most commonly used malaria diagnostic tests is the rapid diagnostic test (RDT), which detects malaria antigens from a drop of blood. Whilst RDTs are small and cheap, they're invasive and new strains of the parasite have evolved that can escape RDT diagnosis. Now, engineers have developed new diagnostic technology – a cytophone – which doesn’t require a blood draw. About the size of a desktop printer, the cytophone uses lasers and ultrasound to detect infected red...
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EXTENDED: First Reference Genome Sequence of P. vivax from Ethiopia (with Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez)
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
Today, how DNA from a single patient in Ethiopia can shed light on the big picture of malaria. Why is Plasmodium vivax significant in malaria research, especially in Ethiopia? How does genomic sequencing contribute to understanding and controlling malaria? How are advances in sequencing technology influencing malaria research? With Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.
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How Comparative Genomics Can Help Find the Best Treatments for Malaria
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
'Comparative genomics' helps identify genes that can serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines. Transcript Not all parasites are alike. Genetic mutations mean that malaria parasites evolve differently in different regions – and even within the same region. One species thought to be particularly genetically diverse is Plasmodium vivax. It’s the second most common species of malaria, found in South East Asia, South America, and some parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, 20% of malaria cases are thought to be caused by P. vivax. In a new paper, scientists made a ‘reference genome’ from a...
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EXTENDED: The Surprising Advantage of Transmission-Blocking Vaccines (with Ilinca Ciubotariu, Qixin He and Giovanna Carpi)
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
The World Health Organisation has recommended two licenced malaria vaccines. Those vaccines have been a long time coming - but are they the best? In this extended episode of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute, we ask: Why is developing a malaria vaccine so challenging? How does antigen variation play affect the effectiveness of malaria vaccines? What are transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), and why haven't they gained much interest despite their potential? With Ilinca Ciubotariu, Qixin He and Giovanna Carpi. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins...
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Transmission-Blocking Antigens Show Low Variation, Making Them a Reliable Vaccine Target Across Countries
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
A key challenge in developing a malaria vaccine is choosing which stage to target. Transcript A key challenge in developing a malaria vaccine is choosing which stage of the infection to target. You can target the parasite when it enters the body, multiplies in the liver and the blood, or is in the sexual stage, preparing to be picked up by a mosquito. Along with selecting the right vaccine target, it’s also important to consider how these targets naturally vary in the population. To identify the optimal target, researchers examined the genetic and structural variation of ten antigens in...
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EXTENDED: World Mosquito Day - Gene Drives and CRISPR Technology
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
We share a special episode of our podcast to mark World Mosqutio Day. World Mosquito Day, observed annually on August 20th, commemorates British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. More than a century later, major advancements like genetically modifying mosquitoes—AKA gene drives—have the potential to reduce malaria cases and deaths dramatically, but not without hurdles. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria...
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Gene Drives: A Sharper Tool for the Malaria Toolkit?
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
People often talk about the 'malaria toolkit' - how might gene drives fit? Transcript When people talk about malaria, they often mention the 'malaria toolkit' – a set of tools, like bed nets and indoor residual spraying, that are available to help curb the spread of disease. In the past, these tools were trusty go-to's – thanks to their efficacy, scalability and cost. Like the antimalarial drugs used to prevent and treat the disease, they’re primarily aimed at protecting individuals. Yet, a new technology called gene drives – which releases and spreads genetically modified mosquitoes...
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EXTENDED: CRISPR and Consent (Gene Drives Part I - with Anthony James and John Connolly)
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
Gene drives are a novel way of genetically editing the mosquitoes that transmit malaria. They have the potential to dramatically reduce cases and deaths. But the technology they’re based on is new and requires new thinking on regulation. In this first episode of our two-part focus on gene drives, we ask how drives work – examining the CRISPR technology behind them – and explore the hurdles for their release, including the risks, regulations and questions of consent. With Professor Anthony James (University of California, Irvine) and Dr John Connolly (Target Malaria) About The...
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How Can We Tell Gene Drives Work?
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
Gene drives are a promising tool for malaria control - how can we tell they actually work? Transcript Gene drives are a promising new tool for malaria control. They involve releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild – mosquitoes engineered to halt the parasites from developing inside the insects, or that cause the mosquitoes to die. These GM mosquitoes are then released into new habitats. Over time and across multiple generations, the gene drive spreads, reducing malaria transmission. That’s the theory. But one fundamental question remains: how can we tell they...
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EXTENDED: How Climate Change Could Lead To Faster, More Intense Malaria Transmission (with Alex Eapen)
Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
Temperature, rainfall, and humidity determine malaria transmission - but climate change is altering each one of those variables. What might this mean for cases of the disease? With Alex Eapen, from the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) in Chennai, India. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.
info_outline'Comparative genomics' helps identify genes that can serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines.
Transcript
Not all parasites are alike. Genetic mutations mean that malaria parasites evolve differently in different regions – and even within the same region. One species thought to be particularly genetically diverse is Plasmodium vivax. It’s the second most common species of malaria, found in South East Asia, South America, and some parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, 20% of malaria cases are thought to be caused by P. vivax. In a new paper, scientists made a ‘reference genome’ from a sample of P. vivax in Ethiopia. They collected blood from an infected patient, extracted the DNA, and ‘read’ its fragments to form the parasite genome. This allows scientists to compare P. vivax samples across regions – and understand their similarities and differences. Importantly, this study of ‘comparative genomics’ ie comparing genomes will help identify the genes that stay the same – the conserved genes – and those which are different - the unique genes -which could serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines.
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About The Podcast
The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.