- A new and potentially revolutionary weapon in the fight
against malaria has been developed by scientists who have found a way of
killing the parasite within the mosquitoes that spread the disease.
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- Most recent effort against malaria has concentrated on
treating the disease in humans or controlling mosquito populations, but
now scientists have discovered that parts of the insect's immune system
can destroy the malaria parasite.
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- The findings open the prospect of a third front against
the disease with the development of a chemical spray that stops malaria
infecting the insect, thereby preventing transmission to man. Professor
Fotis Kafatos of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg,
who led the study, said: "These studies are the first to show the
power of the mosquito's immune system and give us some very real options
for fighting the disease."
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- Scientists have known for years that some mosquitoes
can carry malaria whilst others do not. The reason, however, was not known.
The scientists found four proteins produced by the mosquito's immune system
that affect the ability of the malaria parasite, plasmodium, to survive
in the insect's gut and blood system. Two of the proteins stop plasmodium
developing, while the other two allow it to develop normally.
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- It may be now possible to create genetically altered
malaria-resistant mosquitoes, which could then be released into the wild
to interbreed with existing populations. Another approach could be to develop
a spray that caused wild mosquitoes to produce more of the parasite-blocking
protein.
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- "We now see a way to potentially stop the parasite
in its tracks," Professor Kafatos said.
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- © 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
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- http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=505095
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