Malaria continues to afflict hundreds of millions of lives annually, causing substantial fatalities despite available vaccines endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these vaccines lack efficacy against Plasmodium vivax (Pv). Concomitantly, a considerable part of residents from several Pv-endemic areas face malnutrition, compromising their immunity to diseases, including malaria.

Faria, A. C., Fock, R. A., Soares, I. S., & Silveira, E. L. (2024). Protein-energetic malnutrition hinders malaria vaccine-derived cellular and class-switched antibody responses against the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein in mice. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01545-2

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01545-2

Insecticide resistance (IR) poses a significant global challenge to public health and welfare. Here, we develop a locally-acting unitary self-eliminating allelic-drive system, inserted into the Drosophila melanogaster yellow (y) locus. The drive cassette encodes both Cas9 and a single gRNA to bias inheritance of the favored wild-type (1014 L) allele over the IR (1014 F) variant of the voltage-gated sodium ion channel (vgsc) target locus. When enduring a fitness cost, this transiently-acting drive can increase the frequency of the wild-type allele to 100%, depending on its seeding ratio, before being eliminated from the population. However, in a fitness-neutral “hover” mode, the drive maintains a constant frequency in the population, completely converting IR alleles to wild-type, even at low initial seeding ratios.

Auradkar, A., Corder, R. M., Marshall, J. M., & Bier, E. (2024). A self-eliminating allelic-drive reverses insecticide resistance in Drosophila leaving no transgene in the population. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54210-4

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54210-4

Testing and treating symptomatic malaria cases is crucial for case management, but it may also prevent future illness by reducing mean infection duration. Measuring the impact of effective treatment on burden and transmission via field studies or routine surveillance systems is difficult and potentially unethical. The most significant prevalence reduction – up to 50% – was observed in young children from lower transmission settings (prevalence below 0.2), alongside a 35% reduction in incidence, when increasing effective treatment from 28% to 60%. A nonlinear relationship between baseline transmission intensity and the impact of treatment was observed.

Camponovo, F., Jeandron, A., Skrip, L.A. et al. Malaria treatment for prevention: a modelling study of the impact of routine case management on malaria prevalence and burden. BMC Infect Dis 24, 1267 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09912-x

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09912-x

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is an exceptionally harmful virus that generally causes high levels of mortality in cultured shrimp. Attempts at viral suppression have been made to control the disease and have achieved limited efficiency. Recent advances in genome editing technology using CRISPR/Cas9 have led to potential innovations to prevent or treat many viral diseases. In this study, a CRISPR/Cas9 system was applied to WSSV genome cleavage to suppress WSSV infection in shrimp.

Pudgerd, A., Saedan, S., Santimanawong, W. et al. Genome editing of WSSV CRISPR/Cas9 and immune activation extends the survival of infected Penaeus vannamei. Sci Rep 14, 26306 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78277-7

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78277-7

CRISPR/Cas12a is a highly promising detection tool. However, detecting single nucleotide variations (SNVs) remains challenging. Here, we elucidate Cas12a specificity through crRNA engineering and profiling of single- and double-base mismatch tolerance across three targets. Our findings indicate that Cas12a specificity depends on the number, type, location, and distance of mismatches within the R-loop.

Mao, X., Xu, J., Jiang, J. et al. Iterative crRNA design and a PAM-free strategy enabled an ultra-specific RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a detection platform. Commun Biol 7, 1454 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07173-7

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07173-7

As a result of its high reactivity, furan-2(3H)-one derivative 2 can be selected as a versatile and suitable candidate for building of novel nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. Consequently, furan-2(3H)-one derivative 2 and some nitrogen nucleophiles were utilized as starting materials for the formation of new pyridazinone and pyrrolone derivatives bearing naphthalene moiety. The continuous buildup of insecticide resistance is the main obstacle facing pest control measures. Pyrrole-based insecticides are a favourable choice due to their unique mode of action and no cross-resistance with traditional neurotoxic insecticides. The larvicidal activities of pyrrolone derivatives were assessed against field and laboratory strains of Culex pipiens larvae in comparison with chlorfenapyr (pyrrole insecticide).

Hekal, M.H., Hashem, A.I., El-Azm, F.S.A. et al. Rational design and synthesis of new pyrrolone candidates as prospective insecticidal agents against Culex pipiens L. Larvae. Sci Rep 14, 24467 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74011-5

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74011-5

Malaria continues a significant public health challenge in Ethiopia, with Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) proving effective in reducing transmission. Despite their effectiveness, consistent LLIN utilization is influenced by various factors. While previous research has quantitatively analyzed LLIN ownership and usage, there is a lack of in-depth examination of the behavioral, sociocultural, socioeconomic, and distribution-related factors affecting their sustained use.

Yirsaw AN, Gebremariam RB, Getnet WA, Nigusie A, Lakew G, Getachew E, Getachew D, Tareke AA, Mihret MS. Barriers of persistent long-lasting insecticidal nets utilization in Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 15;24:2828. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20319-w. PMCID: PMC11476254.

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20319-w

Vector-borne diseases cause morbidity and mortality globally. However, some areas are more impacted than others, especially with climate change. Controlling vectors remains the primary means to prevent these diseases, but new, more effective tools are needed. The World Health Organization (WHO) prioritized evaluating novel control methods, such as sterile insect technique (SIT) for control of Aedes-borne diseases. In response, a multiagency partnership between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), WHO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supported the operational implementation and evaluation of SIT against Aedes aegypti and arboviral diseases in the Pacific through a consortium of regional partners (PAC-SIT Consortium).

Foley, N., Fouque, F., Zhong, Q., Bossin, H., Bouyer, J., Velayudhan, R., Nett, R., & Drexler, A. (2024). Building capacity for testing sterile insect technique against Aedes-borne diseases in the Pacific: A training workshop and launch of sterile insect technique trials against Aedes aegypti and arboviral diseases. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-024-01239-8

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-024-01239-8

Malaria, which is caused by infection of red blood cells with Plasmodium parasites, can be fatal in non-immune individuals if left untreated. The recent approval of the pre-erythrocytic vaccines RTS, S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M has ushered in hope of substantial reductions in mortality rates, especially when combined with other existing interventions. However, the efficacy of these vaccines is partial, and chemotherapy remains central to malaria treatment and control. For many antimalarial drugs, clinical efficacy has been compromised by the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new antimalarial medicines to complement the existing first-line artemisinin-based combination therapies. In this Review, we discuss various opportunities to expand the present malaria treatment space, appraise the current antimalarial drug development pipeline and highlight examples of promising targets. We also discuss other approaches to circumvent antimalarial resistance and how potency against drug-resistant parasites could be retained.

Okombo, J., Fidock, D.A. Towards next-generation treatment options to combat Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Nat Rev Microbiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-024-01099-x

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-024-01099-x

Genetic biocontrol approaches, such as gene drive technology is rapidly gaining interest from scientists and public health professionals due to their potential to overcome many challenges of current malaria control tools and strategies. This is particularly the case in Africa where the burden of malaria is most significant. Uncertainty exists about whether these approaches will work, how effective they might be, who is controlling them, and potential unintended consequences for human health and the environment. Therefore, efforts to enhance the understanding of genetic engineering and biotechnology are needed, to ensure that accurate information about this technology is disseminated in the media by science communicators including the journalists and scientists. In this practice insight, we review the outcomes from workshops and courses hosted by the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium aimed at equipping communicators and journalists with skilful techniques to proficiently articulate the uncertainties associated with genetic biocontrol interventions to the African public. we discuss the gaps and provide insight on how communicators can address some of the basic challenges of developing effective communication and decision-making for genetic biocontrol approaches in Africa.

Tonui, W. K., Ogoyi, D., Thuo, C., Tareh, C., Alukhaba, C. L., Ouedraogo, A., Massouroudini, M., Regine, A. W. N., Ogbaki, A. G., Andae, G., Rotich, G., Kipkoech, A. and Omungo, R. (2024). ‘Communicating the uncertainties associated with genetic biocontrol approaches: insights from communicators, science journalists and scientists in Africa’. JCOM 23(06), N02. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.23060802.

Read More: https://doi.org/10.22323/2.23060802