Study used computational analysis to distinguish non-essential genes from essential, non-mutable ones in the malarial parasite.
More Antimalarial Artemisinin can Be Extracted from Chinese Shrubs
Artemisinin antimalarial compound which is commonly extracted from a Chinese shrub called Artemisia annua is usually produced only in little amount. So in order to increase its production, they have genetically engineered the plant to produce more compound.
Artemisinin antimalarial compound which is commonly extracted from a Chinese shrub called Artemisia annua is usually produced only in little amount. So in order to increase its production, they have genetically engineered the plant to produce more compound.
‘Around 2,600 genes were identified as indispensable for growth and survival during the malarial parasite's asexual, blood stage.’
The international research team led by John H. Adams, Ph.D., of the University of South Florida, was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study appears in Science. Rays H.Y. Jiang, Ph.D., of Universtiy of South Florida, and Julian C. Rayner, Ph.D., of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, U.K., collaborated with Dr. Adams in this research. The complete genetic sequence of P. falciparum was determined more than a decade ago, but the functions of most of its genes remain unknown, and until now only a few hundred mutant strains had been created in the lab. The difficulties in manipulating P. falciparum stem in part from the extremely high percentage of adenine or thymine (two of the four chemical building blocks that make up DNA) in its genome. Standard methods for creating mutants rely on more variation in gene sequences and so do not work on P. falciparum. In the new research, Dr. Adams and his colleagues created mutated versions of nearly all the parasite's 6,000 genes with a technique that preferentially targets areas rich in adenine and thymine, thus exploiting the very feature that had foiled previous attempts at genetic manipulation.
The team used computational analysis to distinguish non-essential genes (those that could be mutated) from essential, non-mutable ones. About 2,600 were identified as indispensable for growth and survival during the parasite's asexual, blood stage. These included ones associated with P. falciparum's ability to resist antimalaria drugs, highlighting them as high-priority targets for new or improved antimalarial compounds, the researchers note.
Why Antimalarial Drugs Have Become Ineffective
Prohibitin protein present in the mitochondrion of the malaria parasite is the cause for making drugs ineffective in humans.There is a need to develop new drugs, which can help disable the protein.
Prohibitin protein present in the mitochondrion of the malaria parasite is the cause for making drugs ineffective in humans.There is a need to develop new drugs, which can help disable the protein.
Source-Eurekalert
Malaria Mosquitoes are Attracted to Your Body Odor
Malaria mosquitoes were found to be more attracted towards individuals who carry the Plasmodium parasites, as the individual produces distinctive skin smells.
Malaria mosquitoes were found to be more attracted towards individuals who carry the Plasmodium parasites, as the individual produces distinctive skin smells.
Why Are Mosquitoes More Attracted to Bite Children With Malaria?
Children who carry malaria parasite, Plasmodium emit a specific smell from their skin that attracts mosquitoes to bite through skin and further infect bloodstreams increasing malaria spread.
Children who carry malaria parasite, Plasmodium emit a specific smell from their skin that attracts mosquitoes to bite through skin and further infect bloodstreams increasing malaria spread.
