The malaria parasite PP1 phosphatase controls the initiation of the egress pathway of asexual blood-stages by regulating the rounding-up of the vacuole
Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum infections remains a major human threat in endemic countries. Its proliferation within the host relies on the iteration of red blood cell invasion, multiplication and release of newly formed parasites in the blood circulation. This last step, named egress, is tightly regulated by a signaling pathway controlled by phospho-regulation. The phosphatase PP1 […]
How can modeling responsibly inform decision-making in malaria?
Mathematical models are sets of simplifying assumptions, based on current knowledge, about how the world works, followed to their logical (mathematical) conclusion. Different models make different sets of assumptions and are calibrated to different data sets. Models have been applied to problems in malaria for many years. A century ago, models provided the theoretical basis […]
Overexpression of multiple cytochrome P450 genes with and without knockdown resistance mutations confers high resistance to deltamethrin in Culex quinquefasciatus
The cytochrome P450s-mediated metabolic resistance and the target site insensitivity caused by the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene were the main mechanisms conferring resistance to deltamethrin in Culex quinquefasciatus from Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of cytochrome P450 genes and detect mutations of the vgsc gene in deltamethrin-resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus populations in Thailand. Chamnanya, S., […]
Post-release monitoring pathway for the deployment of gene drive-modified mosquitoes for malaria control in Africa
Gene drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) have been promoted as one of the innovative technologies that may control and eliminate malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Several products are in early stages of development, targeting either population suppression or population modification of the mosquito vector. However, there is no direct experience of conducting risk assessment for environmental releases […]
Resurgence of malaria and artemisinin resistance in Africa requires a concerted response
Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, with an estimated 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths in 2022, of which 94% and 95% occurred in Africa, respectively. As a result of innovative public health measures, malaria-related mortality in Africa has decreased dramatically, from 808,000 deaths in 2000 to 580,000 in […]
Public (dis)trust in science in digital media environments
Nowadays, large parts of the population obtain information about science, technology, and topics such as climate change or COVID-19 online; this includes journalistic online media, but increasingly also social and other internet-based media. Digital media environments, especially social media, are characterized by a combination of interpersonal and mass-mediated communication; they provide heterogeneous content regarding actors, […]