Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute
Impactful malaria science, and the trailblazers leading the fight. A podcast from the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute.
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EXTENDED: Why Malaria Vaccines May Work Better in Some Places Than Others (with Lemu Golassa)
05/28/2025
EXTENDED: Why Malaria Vaccines May Work Better in Some Places Than Others (with Lemu Golassa)
The extent to which malaria vaccines reduce cases and deaths is a key consideration. But there’s another factor, too. with Dr. Lemu Golassa, Head of Medical Parasitology at Addis Ababa University. 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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Mismatch Between Malaria Vaccines and Local Parasite Strains in Ethiopia
05/15/2025
Mismatch Between Malaria Vaccines and Local Parasite Strains in Ethiopia
A recent study in Ethiopia reveals that local malaria parasite strains differ genetically from those targeted by current vaccines, potentially reducing their effectiveness. Transcript The recent introduction of two malaria vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa represents a major success in global health, and the culmination of decades of research and development. The two jabs – RTS,S and R21 – target a protein on the surface of the malaria parasite as it enters the skin, called the circumsporozoite protein, or CSP. The vaccines are based on a specific form of CSP. The challenge is that there are many forms of CSP – called haplotypes – across regions. Vaccine efficacy, therefore, may in part depend on how closely local CSP haplotypes match those used to develop the vaccine. If they’re a close match, the vaccine should work well, but if there’s a mismatch, the vaccine may be less effective. A recent study in Ethiopia collected blood samples from malaria-infected children over the age of five from three health centres in different parts of the country. Of the 120 blood samples collected, CSP was successfully sequenced in 85. Whilst there was little variation in samples from the same region, there was significant variation between regions, highlighting the genetic polymorphism of CSP. Importantly, none of the Ethiopian CSP haplotypes matched the vaccine haplotype, indicating the jabs may not achieve optimal efficacy in the country. Source (Scientific Reports) 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.
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Malaria Advocacy on Capitol Hill: Funding, Research, and Global Impact
04/23/2025
Malaria Advocacy on Capitol Hill: Funding, Research, and Global Impact
The podcast explores the importance of advocacy for malaria research and control. It follows over 120 advocates gathering in Washington, DC, as part of the ‘United to Beat Malaria’ campaign, urging Congress to continue supporting global malaria efforts. Key topics include: The US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), founded in 2005, which provides bed nets, test kits, and treatments to combat malaria The role of global partnerships, including the Global Fund, in distributing resources efficiently. How Uganda’s malaria response is supported by international funding for the dissemination of key public health interventions. The importance of sustained funding for malaria research, with US agencies like NIH, CDC, and PMI contributing to vaccine development and disease surveillance. Featuring: Margaret Reilly McDonnell (United to Beat Malaria), Dr David Walton (formerly PMI), Dr Jimmy Opigo (Uganda National Malaria Control Program), Jamie Bay Nishi (ASTMH) and Ed Royce (former House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman).
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EXTENDED: AI-Driven Malaria Control – Neural Networks and the Task-Shifting of Vector Surveillance (with Soumya Acharya and Sunny Patel)
04/22/2025
EXTENDED: AI-Driven Malaria Control – Neural Networks and the Task-Shifting of Vector Surveillance (with Soumya Acharya and Sunny Patel)
With a shortage of entomologists in malaria-endemic regions, could AI fill the gap? We explore VectorCam, an offline tool powered by a Convolutional Neural Network that aims to support local vector surveillance. with Dr. Soumya Acharya and Sunny Patel of Johns Hopkins University. 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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VectorCAM: The AI Tool Improving Mosquito Detection
04/15/2025
VectorCAM: The AI Tool Improving Mosquito Detection
Can AI identify mosquito species? VectorCAM, a pocket-sized device, uses machine learning to differentiate species with 95% accuracy, enhancing malaria surveillance efforts Transcript Not all mosquitoes are created equal. Of the more than three thousand species, only a limited number of the Anopheles genus can transmit malaria. Even within that subset, subtle physiological differences affect how malaria spreads. Some mosquitoes prefer to bite indoors, while others outdoors. Some need large bodies of water to breed, while others only need a small puddle. Distinguishing these species is critical for effective malaria control—whether using bed nets, indoor spraying, or outdoor larval management. But identifying them by eye takes expert, entomological knowledge. Could AI help? The VectorCAM team at Johns Hopkins is working on just that. Their pocket-sized device uses a small light and magnifying lens, allowing a phone camera to capture close-up images of mosquitoes placed on slides. With up to 95% accuracy, it can identify mosquito species based on morphology in seconds. The hope is that VectorCAM will help health teams better understand mosquito populations, paving the way for more targeted and relevant malaria control efforts. Source (Scientific Reports) 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.
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EXTENDED: Could a Juice Pouch Revolutionize Mosquito Control? (with George Dimopoulos)
03/25/2025
EXTENDED: Could a Juice Pouch Revolutionize Mosquito Control? (with George Dimopoulos)
For decades, insecticides have shielded us from malaria—but cracks are showing. Resistance is spreading, and environmental concerns are growing. Could a simple pouch of fruit juice with a powerful secret be the breakthrough we need? with George Dimopoulos of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute 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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Fighting Malaria with Soil Bacteria
03/11/2025
Fighting Malaria with Soil Bacteria
One of the main ways of controlling malaria is to reduce mosquito populations through insecticides. But the mosquitoes are developing resistance, making most insecticides less effective. What if the answer lies beneath our feet? Transcript One of the main ways of controlling malaria is to reduce mosquito populations through insecticides. But the mosquitoes are developing resistance, making most insecticides less effective. We need new vector control interventions – what if the answer lies beneath our feet? Researchers from the Dimopoulos Group at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have turned to an unexpected source of inspiration—soil. They’ve produced a natural biopesticide, derived from a type of bacteria found in soil called Chromobacterium. When you deliver this biopesticide through a sugar bait – which lures the mosquitoes to feed on it – it kills the mosquitoes, regardless of their resistance to insecticides. Additionally, at non-lethal doses, Chromobacterium can enhance the effectiveness of other insecticides, acting as a synergist, as well as making mosquitoes incapable of finding a human to feed on. These findings were first demonstrated in the lab, but have now been confirmed in enclosed field trials in Burkina Faso. It's hoped that this naturally-occurring insecticide could support vector control efforts to curb disease transmission. Source (Science) 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.
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EXTENDED: Mapping Social Networks to Strengthen Malaria Prevention (with András Vörös and Elisa Bellotti)
02/25/2025
EXTENDED: Mapping Social Networks to Strengthen Malaria Prevention (with András Vörös and Elisa Bellotti)
The prevention of malaria depends upon multiple layers of interventions that work together to reduce cases and deaths. But what makes someone decide to sleep under a bed net, or apply an insecticidal cream? What makes one person take up more interventions than another? How influential are government-accredited health experts versus friends and family? With András Vörös, an Associate Professor in Quantitative Methods at the University of Birmingham and Elisa Bellotti, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester. 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 Conversations Shape Malaria Prevention Practices
02/11/2025
How Conversations Shape Malaria Prevention Practices
Malaria prevention depends on the adoption of multiple behaviors – like sleeping under a bednet and wearing clothes that cover the skin. Researchers find that conversations with people in one’s own social circle are the strongest factors that influence behavior uptake. Transcript Malaria prevention depends on the adoption of multiple behaviors – like sleeping under a bednet and wearing clothes that cover the skin – to reduce exposure to infectious mosquitoes. Theories of ‘social influence’ are often used to explain the uptake of single behaviors, in which an individual's relationship to others explains their adoption of certain behaviors. Yet, to better understand the uptake of different malaria prevention behaviors in a broader context, researchers looked beyond just social ties to consider the influence of behavior carry-over: where an individual who already adopts one prevention behavior is more likely to adopt another. Researchers applied this multi-level social network analysis to structured interviews from 10 villages in Northeast India, all conducted at a single point in time. They found that network exposure – talking to someone in your network who adopts a certain behavior – was the most important and consistent factor in explaining behavior uptake. This was more influential than individual behavior carry-over (which had no effect), existing village behavior patterns, or ties with health workers (which had minimal effect). This reinforces the importance of social discussion as the most significant factor in determining behavior uptake. Source (Nature Scientific Reports) 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.
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EXTENDED: Discovering New Targets for Malaria Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies (with Joshua Tan)
01/24/2025
EXTENDED: Discovering New Targets for Malaria Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies (with Joshua Tan)
Today, the discovery of antibodies targeting a new region of the malaria parasite that could serve as a promising target for drugs and vaccines.
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Scientists Uncover 'Site of Vulnerability' in Malaria Parasites
01/14/2025
Scientists Uncover 'Site of Vulnerability' in Malaria Parasites
Scientists discover new antibodies - a promising target for clinical exploration. Transcript The currently licenced malaria vaccines and monoclonal antibodies all target a well-known region of the same malaria protein. That protein – the circumsporozoite protein, commonly known as CSP – covers the surface of the parasite as it enters the human skin through a mosquito bite. By targeting CSP, the vaccines aim to stop each malaria parasite in its tracks. But what about other proteins on the sporozoite - the parasite form injected into the blood by the mosquito - or other regions of the CSP protein? In a recent study, scientists screened plasma from malaria-infected individuals for immune responses against sporozoites. Many had developed antibodies against these well-known regions of CSP, but some had developed antibodies targeting a different region of the sporozoite surface. Out of ten new antibodies isolated from these individuals, several were functional – inhibiting the development of later parasite stages that occur in the liver and preventing sporozoite infection in a mouse model of malaria. However, they were targeting a different region of CSP that was only uncovered after processing by the sporozoite. This new region – called pGlu-CSP – is, the authors say, a site of vulnerability and a promising target for future clinical exploration. Source (Science) 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.
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EXTENDED: How AI Chatbots Could Help Predict Antimalarial Drug Resistance Before It Strikes (with Robert Opoka and Elizabeth Winzeler)
12/20/2024
EXTENDED: How AI Chatbots Could Help Predict Antimalarial Drug Resistance Before It Strikes (with Robert Opoka and Elizabeth Winzeler)
We focus on drug resistance and the troubling news that the frontline drug against malaria, artemisinin, is failing due to resistant parasites in severe cases of malaria, and how the collective efforts of drug development – and the data produced – could be used to build an AI chatbot capable of predicting resistance before it strikes. With Robert Opoka and Elizabeth Winzeler. 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 to Predict (And Avert) Antimalarial Drug Resistance
12/13/2024
How to Predict (And Avert) Antimalarial Drug Resistance
Researchers search for ways to predict antimalarial drug resistance and identify more effective drug combinations. Transcript The front-line treatment for malaria is typically a combination of drugs called artemisinin-based combination therapy. Resistance to treatment has already been reported in mild cases of malaria, but now, for the first time, it’s also being reported in severe cases of malaria. Severe malaria cases are more likely to end in a fatal outcome, so drug resistance in these scenarios poses a risk to human life. To try and stay one step ahead of resistance, researchers tested compounds and combed through publications to identify 118 compounds active against over 700 parasite clones to see how the parasites evolve under pressure, and to identify mutations in the parasite genome likely to be associated with drug resistance. They confirmed that Plasmodium falciparum – the deadliest and most prevalent species of the malaria parasite – evolves relatively easily, with mutations that affect the drug’s mechanism of action and which move through the population. The hope is that this dataset of drug resistance markers could provide an ‘early warning system’ – to predict drug resistance in the field and to identify a more effective drug combination. Source (JAMA) (Science) 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.
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‘Big Push’ Needed to Turn Tide on Malaria – WHO
12/11/2024
‘Big Push’ Needed to Turn Tide on Malaria – WHO
The World Health Organization has today released its annual World Malaria Report. Here are the takeaways. Transcript The World Health Organization has today released its annual World Malaria Report. Here are the takeaways. Since the turn of the century, the global malaria community has averted over 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths, with over a million deaths prevented in 2023 alone. Yet, despite significant progress, major gaps remain. In 2023, there were 263 million malaria cases globally, up 11 million from the year before, and nearly the same number of deaths. This means we’re off course against key WHO targets, with the case rate amongst at-risk populations three times higher than hoped, and a funding gap of over $4bn. It’s hoped that a ‘Big Push’ of political and capital commitment could accelerate efforts against the disease, help overcome drug and insecticide resistance, and improve access to new bed nets, drugs, and vaccines. But, as ever, this is dependent on funding, political will, and as this year’s report notes, a special focus on equity. There’s a need to disaggregate data to reveal the nuances of malaria transmission and understand how the disease intersects with gender equality, health equity and human rights. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: Listening to Malaria – How Lasers and Ultrasound Could Revolutionize Diagnosis (with Sunil Parikh, Vladimir Zharov and Yap Boum)
11/26/2024
EXTENDED: Listening to Malaria – How Lasers and Ultrasound Could Revolutionize Diagnosis (with Sunil Parikh, Vladimir Zharov and Yap Boum)
An innovative, non-invasive diagnostic tool that could revolutionize malaria testing, with the potential to be built into wearable devices. In this extended episode of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute, we ask: What are the limitations of current malaria diagnostic methods? How is a 'cytophone' - and what makes it innovative? Why is the detection of hemozoin significant in malaria diagnostics? How does interdisciplinary collaboration contribute to technological innovation? With Sunil Parikh, Vladimir Zharov and Yap Boum 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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The Skin-Contact Malaria Test That Could Revolutionize Diagnostics
11/12/2024
The Skin-Contact Malaria Test That Could Revolutionize Diagnostics
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 blood cells in the vein on a patient’s hand or forearm. The cytophone works by detecting hemozoin, a byproduct of all malaria parasites from their consumption of hemoglobin for energy. When hemozoin absorbs a certain amount of the laser energy, it heats up and expands, generating ultrasound waves that indicate malaria infection within the red blood cell. In a trial of 20 adults in Cameroon with symptomatic malaria, the cytophone prototype performed as well as current point-of-care diagnostic methods. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: First Reference Genome Sequence of P. vivax from Ethiopia (with Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez)
10/29/2024
EXTENDED: First Reference Genome Sequence of P. vivax from Ethiopia (with Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez)
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
10/15/2024
How Comparative Genomics Can Help Find the Best Treatments for Malaria
'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. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: The Surprising Advantage of Transmission-Blocking Vaccines (with Ilinca Ciubotariu, Qixin He and Giovanna Carpi)
10/01/2024
EXTENDED: The Surprising Advantage of Transmission-Blocking Vaccines (with Ilinca Ciubotariu, Qixin He and Giovanna Carpi)
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 Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.
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Transmission-Blocking Antigens Show Low Variation, Making Them a Reliable Vaccine Target Across Countries
09/17/2024
Transmission-Blocking Antigens Show Low Variation, Making Them a Reliable Vaccine Target Across Countries
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 over 1,000 samples of malaria parasites from six African countries. Interestingly, antigens involved in human infection showed the most genetic and structural variation across countries. Transmission-blocking antigens—ones that induce antibodies in humans that disrupt the parasite’s development in the mosquito, thus preventing further transmission —were more conserved across regions. This makes transmission-blocking antigens excellent targets as standalone or multi-stage vaccines to prevent onward transmission to other people. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: World Mosquito Day - Gene Drives and CRISPR Technology
08/30/2024
EXTENDED: World Mosquito Day - Gene Drives and CRISPR Technology
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 research and to share it with the global community.
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Gene Drives: A Sharper Tool for the Malaria Toolkit?
08/13/2024
Gene Drives: A Sharper Tool for the Malaria Toolkit?
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 that can't transmit the disease – aims to protect whole communities. How might they fit into the toolkit? Dr Damaris Matoka-Muhia of the Kenya Medical Research Institute considers gene drives a potentially sustainable, long-term and cost-effective solution for malaria – especially as resistance dulls other tools. And in Kenya, there are regulations in place to support gene drive implementation. The National Biosafety Authority, already used for GM crops like cotton can be leveraged, ready to roll out this innovation in the future. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: CRISPR and Consent (Gene Drives Part I - with Anthony James and John Connolly)
07/30/2024
EXTENDED: CRISPR and Consent (Gene Drives Part I - with Anthony James and John Connolly)
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 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 Can We Tell Gene Drives Work?
07/16/2024
How Can We Tell Gene Drives Work?
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 actually work? Experts say there are three distinct measures of gene drive efficacy. First, smaller-scale trials of releases should emphasize genetic efficacy, measuring the spread and frequency of the gene drive across time and space. Then, examine entomological efficacy by measuring the density of mosquitoes or the number of parasites they carry. Finally, consider the epidemiological data, by measuring the number of malaria cases in the areas where the gene drive has been released. This approach aims to ensure that the ‘causal pathway’ of gene drives effectively reduces cases and deaths. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: How Climate Change Could Lead To Faster, More Intense Malaria Transmission (with Alex Eapen)
07/02/2024
EXTENDED: How Climate Change Could Lead To Faster, More Intense Malaria Transmission (with Alex Eapen)
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.
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Increase in Temperature Associated With Decrease in Incubation Period
06/18/2024
Increase in Temperature Associated With Decrease in Incubation Period
Researchers compare the temperature of mosquito breeding spots with a decade early to examine its impact on malaria transmission. Transcript The effects of climate change on malaria are becoming clearer. Anopheles stephensi – an urban form of the malaria mosquito – is changing its geography, moving from Southeast Asia to parts of Africa and India. To investigate the link between temperature and malaria, between 2021 and 2022 researchers in Chennai, India placed data loggers that recorded temperature – and the daily range of temperature - in both indoor and outdoor settings. They took those measurements and compared them to ten years earlier, from 2012 to 2013. The daily temperature range of indoor asbestos structures increased from 4.3 to 12.6 degrees Celsius — compared to a marginal increase in other structures. Importantly, an increase in temperature was associated with a decrease in the incubation period – that's the time it takes for the parasite to develop in the mosquito. With invasive mosquito species entering new areas, combined with the shorter time it takes to transmit, it's becoming more clear that rising temperatures will lead to an increase in malaria cases in certain areas – and that preparation will be key. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: Investigating PfHDAC1 – The Essential Malaria Protein Behind Human Sickness (with Abhishek Kanyal and Krishanpal Karmodiya)
05/29/2024
EXTENDED: Investigating PfHDAC1 – The Essential Malaria Protein Behind Human Sickness (with Abhishek Kanyal and Krishanpal Karmodiya)
A single protein helps malaria parasites develop in the blood and cause disease symptoms. Could inhibiting this essential protein help curb the spread of disease? With Abhishek Kanyal and Krishanpal Karmodiya. 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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Blood-Stage Protein Identified as Key Target for Antimalarial Drugs
05/21/2024
Blood-Stage Protein Identified as Key Target for Antimalarial Drugs
A poorly studied malaria protein could serve as a key drug target to help combat the growing problem of resistance. Transcript A poorly studied malaria protein – Plasmodium falciparum histone deacetylase 1 – could serve as a key drug target to help combat the growing problem of resistance. The protein helps regulate the ‘intraerythrocytic’ stage of the parasite: a 48-hour cycle in which the parasite invades, replicates, and bursts free from red blood cells, causing disease symptoms. By making this protein fluorescent, researchers found that it is associated with a range of major biological functions that help the parasite progress through this stage, particularly during the ‘trophozoite’ (or mature) stage. When PfHDAC1 was overexpressed, the number of malaria parasites increased – along with the expression of other genes responsible for parasite development. Dihydroartemisinin—a key antimalarial drug—ordinarily interferes with these biological processes, but overexpression of the protein leads to reduced sensitivity and resistance. This research reveals more about the parasite lifecycle in the human body and suggests a new drug target against it. Source 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.
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EXTENDED: What Sickle Cell Disease Reveals About Malaria and Human Evolution
04/23/2024
EXTENDED: What Sickle Cell Disease Reveals About Malaria and Human Evolution
How sickle cell disease can be a blessing and a curse. And why we need equity in genomic research and to diversify the genomes we sequence. With Ambroise Wonkam (Johns Hopkins University). 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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The Malaria Legacy of Sickle Cell Disease
04/09/2024
The Malaria Legacy of Sickle Cell Disease
Malaria is one of humanity’s oldest diseases – and one with which we have evolved. Transcript Malaria is one of humanity’s oldest diseases – and one with which we have evolved. Over time, it’s put selective pressure on our genome to respond better to its infection. Sickle cell disease is one example. It causes a defect in hemoglobin – transforming red blood cells into a banana or sickle shape – reducing the amount of oxygen transported to the body’s cells. The mutation has been around for more than 20,000 years – and is thought to originate near present-day Cameroon. But in one of the many evolutionary twists, under the right conditions, sickle cell disease can protect humans from malaria, because it makes it harder for malaria parasites to infect red blood cells. Possessing one copy is an asset, providing resistance to severe malaria, but if two copies of the mutation appear, it is a liability, leading to premature death. The evolutionary relationship between malaria endemicity and sickle cell disease is evident geographically. This complex, genetic legacy is the focus of an upcoming talk by Ambroise Wonkam at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute’s World Malaria Day symposium on April 25th. Source 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.
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