Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against malaria. A naturally occurring strain of bacteria has been found that can prevent the transmission of the disease from mosquitoes to humans.
The discovery was made by chance when a colony of mosquitoes being used for drug development did not develop the malaria parasite. Intrigued by this finding, researchers at a research facility in Spain decided to further investigate. They froze the samples from their experiment and examined them two years later.
It was found that a specific strain of bacteria called TC1, which is naturally present in the environment, had stopped the development of malaria parasites in the mosquitoes’ guts. This bacteria colonizes the mosquito and lasts for its entire lifespan, effectively reducing the transmission of malaria.
Further studies revealed that the bacteria secretes a small molecule called harmane, which inhibits the early stages of the malaria parasite’s growth in the mosquito’s gut. Harmane can either be ingested orally by the mosquito if mixed with sugar or absorbed through its cuticle on contact. This opens up the possibility of treating surfaces in areas where mosquitoes rest with the active compound.
New data published in Science magazine suggests that the bacteria can reduce a mosquito’s parasite load by up to 73%. Safety trials are currently being conducted in Burkina Faso to assess the effectiveness and safety of using harmane on a larger scale.
Malaria is one of the world’s oldest diseases and claims the lives of approximately 600,000 people each year, primarily children under the age of five. While vaccines have been developed, they are still in the early stages of being implemented in Africa.
The discovery of this bacteria-based intervention provides hope for a new tool in the fight against malaria. Gareth Jenkins from the charity Malaria No More stated, “With a strong innovation pipeline, it is possible to end the threat of malaria in our lifetimes.” Continued research and development in this area could greatly contribute to reducing the global burden of malaria and saving countless lives.