Viral Rash: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment in Adults and Babies

Uncovering Key Molecular Factors Behind Malaria's Deadliest Strain

Nearly half the world's population lives in regions where malaria is endemic, with the parasite Plasmodium falciparum accounting for approximately 95% of malaria-related deaths globally. Now, a new research project funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by a malaria expert at the University of California, Riverside aims to uncover the molecular factors that govern gene regulation and chromatin organization in P. Falciparum, with a particular focus on long non-coding RNAs, or lncRNAs.

Chromatin is a combination of DNA and proteins that makes up the chromosomes in the cells of humans and other higher organisms.

Karine Le Roch

"Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive the severity of P. Falciparum infections is critical to developing effective therapies," said Karine Le Roch, a professor of molecular, cell and systems biology and the principal investigator of the five-year grant of nearly $4 million. 

LncRNAs are a class of RNA molecules that do not code for proteins but have been shown to play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and influencing biological processes such as cell differentiation, development, and disease progression. They help regulate gene activity by interacting with DNA, proteins, and other RNA molecules. Their specific roles in parasite biology and malaria pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Le Roch and her team will use state-of-the-art genome-wide and functional genomics techniques to explore how lncRNAs influence P. Falciparum's lifecycle and its ability to evade immune responses.

"We want to identify how lncRNAs contribute to the survival and transmission of P. Falciparum, and whether targeting these molecules could lead to novel therapeutic strategies," said Le Roch, who is director of the UCR Center for Infectious Disease and Vector Research. "If successful, our work could provide new avenues for drug development, offering hope for more effective treatments or vaccines to fight malaria."

The project's findings could enhance scientists' understanding of malaria biology and pave the way for targeted interventions that may disrupt the parasite's ability to develop resistance to existing treatments. 

"We hope to provide insight into the intricate ways in which parasites regulate their genes during infection," Le Roch said.

Le Roch will be joined in the research by scientists at the Stowers Institutes for Medical Research, University of Georgia, University of Washington, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The title of the research project is "Deciphering the Role of Non-Coding RNA in Gene Regulation."

Header image credit: abadonian/iStock/Getty Images Plus.

Groundbreaking First Malaria Vaccine Shows Promise As Cases Surge Worldwide: Report

In the ongoing fight against malaria, a new vaccine is offering hope amid rising global cases. The groundbreaking blood-stage malaria vaccine, RH5.1/Matrix-M, has shown significant promise in clinical trials, potentially adding a vital layer of defense against the mosquito-borne disease. As malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, this new development marks a critical step forward in malaria prevention strategies.

According to a recent study conducted by researchers in Burkina Faso and the UK, the RH5.1/Matrix-M vaccine is not only safe but also highly effective and immunogenic. The double-blind, randomized, controlled Phase 2b trial involved 361 children between the ages of 5 and 17 months. The results demonstrated that the vaccine was 55% effective against clinical malaria when administered in a delayed third-dose regimen at 0, 1, and 5 months.

In addition, the vaccine exhibited over 80% efficacy against high levels of malaria parasites, suggesting that it could be instrumental in preventing severe malaria infections. Importantly, the vaccine was well-tolerated by the participants, and no serious adverse effects were reported, as noted in findings published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Stephanie Kurdach, an infectious disease analyst at GlobalData, highlighted the potential of RH5.1/Matrix-M, stating, "This could be a much-needed addition to the currently available malaria vaccines and provide an important second line of defense for those most at risk."

How RH5.1/Matrix-M Differs from Existing Vaccines

Currently, there are two World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified malaria vaccines recommended for children: GSK's Mosquirix (RTS,S) and the Serum Institute of India's R21/Matrix-M. These vaccines target the sporozoite stage of the parasite, which occurs early in the infection cycle. While these vaccines have shown effectiveness in reducing malaria cases, their protection wanes over time, and they do not prevent the progression to blood-stage infections.

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This is where RH5.1/Matrix-M stands out. It targets the blood-stage of the malaria parasite after the sporozoites have infected the liver and transitioned into the bloodstream. By focusing on this stage, RH5.1/Matrix-M could complement existing vaccines and offer more robust and long-lasting protection.

The Growing Need for New Malaria Solutions

Despite progress in eradicating malaria in some regions, the disease continues to cause a high burden of illness and death, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the WHO, malaria remains a significant public health threat, with millions of cases reported annually. The emergence of new vaccines like RH5.1/Matrix-M is essential to address gaps in current prevention strategies.

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Kurdach pointed out that while advancements have been made, "the burden of malaria remains high, particularly within the WHO African Region." She also noted that 11 other malaria vaccines are currently in Phase II clinical trials, including efforts from major players like BioNTech, GSK, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Vac4All SAS. However, none of these vaccines have yet reached Phase III trials or pre-registration, making the success of RH5.1/Matrix-M even more critical.

What the Future Holds

If the RH5.1/Matrix-M vaccine continues to demonstrate efficacy in future trials, it could become the first blood-stage malaria vaccine to enter the market. This development would be a major milestone in the fight against malaria, providing a second line of defence for vulnerable populations and potentially reducing the incidence of severe malaria cases worldwide.

The combination of existing sporozoite-targeting vaccines with a blood-stage vaccine like RH5.1/Matrix-M could offer comprehensive protection, improving long-term immunity and reducing the overall disease burden.

Bottomline

As malaria cases surge worldwide, the RH5.1/Matrix-M vaccine represents a beacon of hope. With promising trial results and a strong safety profile, it has the potential to revolutionize malaria prevention strategies. While challenges remain, including the need for further trials and approvals, this innovative vaccine could significantly bolster the fight against malaria, saving countless lives in regions hardest hit by the disease.

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After Long Decline, Malaria Cases Rising Amid Worsening Floods

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Malaria killed almost 600,000 people in 2023, as cases rose for the fifth consecutive year, according to a new report from the World Health Organization.

Biological threats such as rising resistance to drugs and insecticides, and climate and humanitarian disasters continue to hamper control efforts, world health leaders warned.

Globally, there were 263 million cases last year, 11 million more than the previous year. The vast majority (94 percent) occurred in Africa.

Officials said a $4.3 billion annual funding shortfall was among further challenges, which also include the spread of a new insecticide-resistant species of mosquito, genetic mutations in the malaria parasite that stop tests working, and the emergence of a new type of malaria parasite in Southeast Asia.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said: "No one should die of malaria. Yet the disease continues to disproportionately harm people living in the African region, especially young children and pregnant women."

There was now "an expanded package of life-saving tools" that protected against the disease, he said, but a need for more investment and action in the African countries with the highest rates.

About $4 billion went into fighting malaria globally last year, less than half of the $8.3 billion that official control plans consider necessary. That has meant gaps in the provision of tools such as medicines and insecticide-treated bed nets, with the most vulnerable groups often missing out, said the report.

Only half of those at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa slept under insecticide-treated nets, and only 45 percent of pregnant women in the region had the recommended three doses of preventive malaria therapy. About 80 million people in countries where malaria is found are refugees or internally displaced, making it harder for them to access prevention and treatment services.

Meanwhile, the climate crisis is increasing rates of extreme weather events that cause flooding, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and disrupting access to healthcare in countries such as Pakistan and Madagascar, the report said.

Earlier this month British health officials warned that they were seeing rising numbers of malaria cases in travelers returning to the U.K. In 2023, there were 2,106 cases of imported malaria, up 26 percent on the 1,555 reported in 2022. Six people died from the illness. Provisional figures recorded 753 cases in the first half of 2024.

A separate report published last month by the Malaria Atlas Project and Boston Consulting Group, with funding from the Gates Foundation, predicts that Africa will see more than 550,000 additional deaths from malaria in Africa between 2030 and 2049 due to extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones.

Resistance to drugs that have been the gold-standard treatment for malaria is spreading, the report said, and mosquitoes are increasingly resistant to the insecticides used to treat bed nets.

However, the report included grounds for optimism, including the introduction in 17 countries so far of malaria vaccines for young children that have cut death rates by 13 percent. And the development of new bed nets made more effective by using more than one type of insecticide to combat resistance accounted for 78 percent of nets delivered to sub-Saharan Africa last year.

The WHO has certified 44 countries and one territory to be free of malaria, including Egypt in October. There are 83 countries where malaria is considered endemic and 25 of those now report fewer than 10 cases a year.

—Kat Lay, The Guardian

In Warming World, Global Heat Deaths Are Grossly Undercounted

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