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Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
ICMR invites partners to launch and sell its new malaria vaccine
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited the country's vaccine manufacturers to partner with it to launch and sell a malaria vaccine that its Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar, has developed. Called AdFalciVax, it is a recombinant vaccine, meaning parts of the genes that encode for targets are inserted into a cell, the target proteins are expressed, and then used to trigger an immune response. Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes. While the current vaccine protects against the most common one that causes infection in humans called plasmodium falciparum, there are at least four other parasites from the same family known to cause infection in humans. P. vivax is the other one that commonly causes malaria infections, especially in India. The others — p malariae, p ovale, and p knowlesi — cause fewer infections. While the pre-clinical studies have already shown positive indications, the company that collaborates with the ICMR will be responsible for further development, human clinical trials, and scale-up for commercial production. The vaccine contains the genetic material of two targets — one for a major protein called CSP found on the surface of the malaria parasite and another for a combination of parts of two proteins that affect the pathogen's lifecycle. 'There are some key differences in the ICMR vaccine as compared to the other two currently in the market. One, this vaccine used the DNA for the whole CSP protein instead of just a few parts, meaning it is likely to produce a stronger immune response. Two, the other target that is used prevents the development of the p. falciparum in the mosquito's midgut during its lifecycle. What this essentially means is that it prevents the infection not only in the vaccinated person, but stops the further spread of the disease by disrupting the lifecycle of the pathogen even when it has already been picked up by a mosquito from an infected person for further transmission,' said Dr Subhash Singh, project manager for development of the vaccine. Senior scientist Dr Susheel Singh and director Dr Sanghamitra Pati were part of the development process. The pre-clinical validation was done in collaboration with ICMR-National Institute of Medical Research and the National Institute of Immunology. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make groundbreaking discovery that could end a deadly disease: 'This … will be an invaluable resource'
Malaria researchers have just made a breakthrough that could transform how we fight one of the world's deadliest diseases. Scientists at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have mapped the essential genes of Plasmodium knowlesi, a parasite responsible for malaria in humans. This discovery could open new doors to more effective treatments and help curb drug resistance, a growing challenge in malaria prevention. With 249 million malaria cases worldwide each year, leading to approximately 608,000 deaths, this discovery is a huge leap forward. P. knowlesi is an emerging public health threat in Southeast Asia, and until now, researchers lacked a complete understanding of the genes necessary for its survival in human blood cells. Using a cutting-edge genetic approach called transposon mutagenesis, scientists were able to pinpoint which genes are critical for the parasite's growth — providing a road map for new, more effective drugs. Would you swallow a robot pill to improve your health? Absolutely Maybe once it's more common Only if I were sick Only as a last resort Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Emerging drug resistance to the small number of antimalarial drugs is a growing problem," said Manoj Duraisingh, one of the study's lead authors. "This map will be an invaluable resource to help researchers combat one of the leading causes of infectious disease death around the world." So why is this such a big deal? Because understanding the parasite at the genetic level gives scientists a major advantage in tackling malaria at its source. This knowledge could lead to better drug designs that target weak points in the parasite's genetic code — helping to reduce the risk of resistance before it even begins. What's more, the study's findings also shed light on another major malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium vivax, which has been notoriously difficult to study because of its inability to be cultured in lab conditions. By understanding P. knowlesi, researchers are gaining critical insights into P. vivax, bringing them one step closer to better treatments for all forms of malaria. This discovery is also timely, given that global warming is creating ideal conditions for the spread of malaria. Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are expanding mosquito habitats, allowing malaria-carrying insects to thrive in new regions. As health experts warn of an increase in mosquito-borne diseases, breakthroughs like this offer hope in the fight against their spread. As governments and organizations work to combat malaria, scientific advances like this could be game-changers. By understanding the parasite's genetic blueprint, researchers are paving the way for more targeted, effective treatments — bringing us closer to a future when malaria is no longer a major global health threat. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
