How next-generation bed nets could stop malaria by killing the parasites inside mosquitoes, not just the mosquitoes themselves.

Transcript

Bed nets have long been a cornerstone of vector control. Coated with insecticide, they serve a dual purpose: preventing bites and killing mosquitoes. But what if those nets could do more – not only kill the mosquitoes, but for those they don’t kill because of increasing insecticide resistance, at least kill the parasites hidden inside them?

Researchers assembled a library of antiparasitic compounds active against the form of the parasite in the mosquito midgut. They identified 81 promising compounds, some of which were already in clinical development. Of those, 22 were found to be effective against these early stages of parasite development in the mosquito and, therefore, capable of preventing onward transmission.

One class of compound stood out: ELQs, or endochin-like quinolones. These could be absorbed through the mosquito’s legs in tests, therefore viable for use in a mosquito net. The researchers suggest that ELQs could offer a promising new strategy for malaria control, working alongside traditional methods to reduce malaria cases and deaths.

Source

In vivo screen of Plasmodium targets for mosquito-based malaria control (Nature)

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.

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.

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

Unveiling mismatch of RTS S AS01 and R21 Matrix M malaria vaccines haplotype among Ethiopian Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates (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.

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).

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.

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

Towards transforming malaria vector surveillance using VectorBrain: a novel convolutional neural network for mosquito species, sex, and abdomen status identifications (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.

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.

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

Chromobacterium biopesticide overcomes insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes (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.