Although more malaria vaccines and medications have been approved recently, the truth is there’s still a lot we don’t know about the disease. However, some ground-breaking new research has shed some light on how the disease infects its victim.
A recent discovery has revealed how the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, infiltrates human red blood cells. Spearheaded by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics, this study unveils the pivotal role played by sialic acid, a type of sugar, in facilitating this invasion process.
These findings, which were published in Cell Reports, may eventually help researchers in the pursuit of more malaria vaccines and medications.
Malaria remains one of the most devastating infectious diseases on the planet, causing widespread destruction, particularly in poorer countries. Each year, it claims the lives of over 400,000 individuals, with a tragic proportion of these deaths being children under the age of five.
Despite significant advancements in technology and medicine, including the development of more effective treatments and preventative measures such as mosquito nets and vaccines, many nations continue to struggle with eradicating the disease.
Malaria is most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, where inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited access to essential medical services exacerbate the challenge of overcoming this disease.
The fight against malaria is ongoing, highlighting the urgent need for continued investment in healthcare systems, research, and global cooperation to reduce its impact on vulnerable populations.
Mystery Unlocked
Although it’s been long known that the disease invades red blood cells, nobody knew why – until now. Likewise, it was known that the malaria protein, cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA), plays a critical role in this invasion, though its specific function had not been fully understood.
However, a collaborative effort involving six institutions, headed by researchers from Swiss TPH in Switzerland and the Institute for Glycomics in Australia, has shed light on this process.
The team’s research into the binding characteristics of CyRPA revealed that sialic acid, a sugar present on the surface of red blood cells, is crucially recognised by the parasite. This discovery highlights the importance of sialic acid in the parasite’s ability to invade red blood cells, providing new insight into the intricate process of malaria infection.
“We are now demonstrating that P. falciparum CyRPA binds to a specific carbohydrate structure (glycan) present on the red blood cell surface,” said Gerd Pluschke, Group Leader of Molecular Immunology at Swiss TPH, and co-corresponding author of the publication.
“The CyRPA protein is highly adapted to bind to a glycan terminating with a sialic acid. The discovery of the key function of CyRPA in host cell invasion provides an explanation for the parasite inhibitory activity of CyRPA-specific antibodies,”
Protecting Yourself Against Malaria
Are you travelling to any place affected by malaria? Then you’ll need to make sure you’re protected against this potentially deadly disease.
Antimalarial medication can do just that, by fighting the disease and preventing the multiplication and spread of the parasite within the body. Although these medications don’t prevent malaria from entering the body, they do stop the disease in its tracks and ensure no symptoms occur.
The exact medication you will need will depend on the destination you’re travelling to. In some regions, the strains of malaria are more resistant to certain medications so the type of antimalarial you should take will depend largely on where you’re going.
For instance, in some countries, malaria is resistant to chloroquine, so if you were travelling to one of these places then you’d need to take a different medication.
This makes it important to speak to a medical professional before opting for the first anti-malarial you see. That way you know you’re properly protected. You should also discuss with them what you’ve learned in this article as it’s becoming clear that people are at risk in places that were previously thought to be malaria-free zones.
We offer a number of malaria tablets in our pharmacies so if you’re looking for some advice then speak to one of our experts today who will be able to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
A malaria research centre is an organisation dedicated to studying malaria, improving diagnosis and treatment, developing new vaccines and medicines, and understanding how the parasite spreads. Research carried out at these centres helps improve malaria prevention and patient outcomes worldwide.
Although effective malaria medicines and vaccines are available, malaria continues to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Researchers are working to overcome drug resistance, improve vaccine effectiveness and better understand how the parasite infects red blood cells to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Yes. Advances in malaria research have led to improved antimalarial medicines, better diagnostic tests and new vaccines in some regions. However, travellers should still seek professional travel health advice, take recommended malaria tablets where appropriate and use effective mosquito bite prevention measures.