A multiplex qPCR approach for detection of <em>pfhrp2 </em>and <em>pfhrp3</em> gene deletions in multiple strain infections of <em>Plasmodium... (Publications)
The rapid and accurate diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection is an essential factor in malaria control. Currently, malaria diagnosis in the field depends heavily on using rapid diagnostic [...] blood. P. falciparum strains lacking PfHRP2, due to pfhrp2 gene deletions, are an emerging threat to malaria control programs. The novel assay described here, named qHRP2/3-del, is well suited for high-throughput
Antimalarial efficacy of MMV390048, an inhibitor of <em>Plasmodium</em> phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (Publications)
of MMV390048 to block all life cycle stages of the malaria parasite suggests that this compound should be further developed and may contribute to malaria control and eradication as part of a single-dose [...] As part of the global effort toward malaria eradication, phenotypic whole-cell screening revealed the 2-aminopyridine class of small molecules as a good starting point to develop new antimalarial drugs [...] we found that the derivative, MMV390048, lacked cross-resistance with current drugs...
Repeated mass distributions and continuous distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets: modelling sustainability of health benefits from mosquito... (Publications)
LLIN distribution were also examined. METHODS: Dynamic simulations of malaria in humans and mosquitoes were run on the OpenMalaria platform, using stochastic individual-based simulation models. LLINs were [...] BACKGROUND: Stagnating funds for malaria control have spurred interest in the question of how to sustain the gains of recent successes with long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and improved case management [...] management (CM). This simulation study examined the malaria transmission...
Differential expression of var gene groups is associated with morbidity caused by <em>Plasmodium falciparum </em>infection in Tanzanian children (Publications)
uncomplicated, and asymptomatic malaria. Transcripts of var group A and B genes were more abundant in patients with severe malaria than in patients with uncomplicated malaria. In general, the transcript [...] abundances of var group A and B genes were higher for children with clinical malaria than for children with asymptomatic infections. The var group C and var1-like transcript abundances were similar between
Rapid diagnostic tests for non-malarial febrile illness in the tropics (Publications)
of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria has highlighted the decreasing proportion of malaria-attributable illness in endemic areas. Unfortunately, once malaria is excluded, there are few accessible [...] pressing need for sensitive pathogen-detection-based RDTs, as have been successfully developed for malaria and dengue. Ultimately, integration of RDTs into a validated syndromic approach to tropical fevers
Aetiology of fever in returning travelers and migrants: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Publications)
openia and hyperbilirubinemia were respectively 5-14, 3-11 and 5-7 times more likely in malaria than non-malaria patients. High variability of results between studies reflects heterogeneity in study design [...] investigations performed, and diseases included. CONCLUSION: Malaria accounted for one fifth of febrile cases, highlighting the importance of rapid malaria testing in febrile returning travelers, followed by other [...] met criteria for data extraction. Tropical infections accounted for...
The activities of current antimalarial drugs on the life cycle stages of <em>Plasmodium</em>: a comparative study with human and rodent parasites (Publications)
to alleviate symptoms of malaria in the blood stage. To overcome this critical gap, we developed assays to measure activity of antimalarials against all life stages of malaria parasites, using a diverse [...] BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a disease of devastating global impact, killing more than 800,000 people every year-the vast majority being children under the age of 5. While effective therapies are available [...] available, if malaria is to be eradicated a broader range of small molecule...
Immunoglobulin G subclass-specific responses against <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> merozoite antigens are associated with control of parasitemia and... (Publications)
merozoite antigens play a role in protection from malaria, although the precise targets and mechanisms mediating immunity remain unclear. Different malaria antigens induce distinct immunoglobulin G (IgG) [...] (IgG) subclass responses, but the importance of different responses in protective immunity from malaria is not known and the factors determining subclass responses in vivo are poorly understood. We examined [...] AMA-1-specific IgG3 and MSP1-19-specific IgG1 were strongly predictive of a...
Withholding antimalarials in febrile children who have a negative result for a rapid diagnostic test (Publications)
admitted to the hospital subsequently, all with negative results for malaria tests upon admission. Two of them died, of causes other than malaria. Conclusions. Not giving antimalarial drugs in febrile children [...] Background. The availability of a rapid diagnostic test for malaria (RDTm) allows accurate diagnosis at all levels of health facilities. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety of [...] prospective 2-arm longitudinal study in areas of Tanzania that are...
Intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment for Tanzanian infants: follow-up to age 2 years of a randomised, placebo-controlled trial (Publications)
Stopping antimalarial chemoprophylaxis can be followed by increased risk of malaria, suggesting that it interferes with the development of antimalarial immunity. We report analysis of extended follow-up [...] double-blind trial of intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment in infants. The rate of clinical malaria (events per person-year at risk, starting 1 month after final dose of intermittent treatment) was [...] 36%, 95% CI 11-53). Intermittent treatment produced a sustained reduction in...