Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute Podcast

The extent to which malaria vaccines reduce cases and deaths is a key consideration. But there's another factor, too. with Dr. Lemu Golassa, Head of Medical Parasitology at Addis Ababa University. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

A recent study in Ethiopia reveals that local malaria parasite strains differ genetically from those targeted by current vaccines, potentially reducing their effectiveness. Transcript The recent introduction of two malaria vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa represents a major success in global health, and the culmination of decades of research and development. The two jabs – RTS,S and R21 – target a protein on the surface of the malaria parasite as it enters the skin, called the circumsporozoite protein, or CSP. The vaccines are based on a specific form of CSP. The challenge is that there are many forms of CSP – called haplotypes – across regions. Vaccine efficacy, therefore, may in part depend on how closely local CSP haplotypes match those used to develop the vaccine. If they're a close match, the vaccine should work well, but if there's a mismatch, the vaccine may be less effective.  A recent study in Ethiopia collected blood samples from malaria-infected children over the age of five from three health centres in different parts of the country. Of the 120 blood samples collected, CSP was successfully sequenced in 85. Whilst there was little variation in samples from the same region, there was significant variation between regions, highlighting the genetic polymorphism of CSP. Importantly, none of the Ethiopian CSP haplotypes matched the vaccine haplotype, indicating the jabs may not achieve optimal efficacy in the country. Source Unveiling mismatch of RTS S AS01 and R21 Matrix M malaria vaccines haplotype among Ethiopian Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates (Scientific Reports) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

The podcast explores the importance of advocacy for malaria research and control. It follows over 120 advocates gathering in Washington, DC, as part of the ‘United to Beat Malaria' campaign, urging Congress to continue supporting global malaria efforts. Key topics include: The US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), founded in 2005, which provides bed nets, test kits, and treatments to combat malaria The role of global partnerships, including the Global Fund, in distributing resources efficiently. How Uganda's malaria response is supported by international funding for the dissemination of key public health interventions. The importance of sustained funding for malaria research, with US agencies like NIH, CDC, and PMI contributing to vaccine development and disease surveillance. Featuring: Margaret Reilly McDonnell (United to Beat Malaria), Dr David Walton (formerly PMI), Dr Jimmy Opigo (Uganda National Malaria Control Program), Jamie Bay Nishi (ASTMH) and Ed Royce (former House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman).

With a shortage of entomologists in malaria-endemic regions, could AI fill the gap? We explore VectorCam, an offline tool powered by a Convolutional Neural Network that aims to support local vector surveillance. with Dr. Soumya Acharya and Sunny Patel of Johns Hopkins University. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Can AI identify mosquito species? VectorCAM, a pocket-sized device, uses machine learning to differentiate species with 95% accuracy, enhancing malaria surveillance efforts Transcript Not all mosquitoes are created equal. Of the more than three thousand species, only a limited number of the Anopheles genus can transmit malaria. Even within that subset, subtle physiological differences affect how malaria spreads. Some mosquitoes prefer to bite indoors, while others outdoors. Some need large bodies of water to breed, while others only need a small puddle. Distinguishing these species is critical for effective malaria control—whether using bed nets, indoor spraying, or outdoor larval management. But identifying them by eye takes expert, entomological knowledge. Could AI help? The VectorCAM team at Johns Hopkins is working on just that. Their pocket-sized device uses a small light and magnifying lens, allowing a phone camera to capture close-up images of mosquitoes placed on slides. With up to 95% accuracy, it can identify mosquito species based on morphology in seconds. The hope is that VectorCAM will help health teams better understand mosquito populations, paving the way for more targeted and relevant malaria control efforts. Source Towards transforming malaria vector surveillance using VectorBrain: a novel convolutional neural network for mosquito species, sex, and abdomen status identifications (Scientific Reports) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

For decades, insecticides have shielded us from malaria—but cracks are showing. Resistance is spreading, and environmental concerns are growing. Could a simple pouch of fruit juice with a powerful secret be the breakthrough we need? with George Dimopoulos of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

One of the main ways of controlling malaria is to reduce mosquito populations through insecticides. But the mosquitoes are developing resistance, making most insecticides less effective. What if the answer lies beneath our feet? Transcript One of the main ways of controlling malaria is to reduce mosquito populations through insecticides. But the mosquitoes are developing resistance, making most insecticides less effective. We need new vector control interventions – what if the answer lies beneath our feet? Researchers from the Dimopoulos Group at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have turned to an unexpected source of inspiration—soil. They've produced a natural biopesticide, derived from a type of bacteria found in soil called Chromobacterium. When you deliver this biopesticide through a sugar bait – which lures the mosquitoes to feed on it – it kills the mosquitoes, regardless of their resistance to insecticides. Additionally, at non-lethal doses, Chromobacterium can enhance the effectiveness of other insecticides, acting as a synergist, as well as making mosquitoes incapable of finding a human to feed on. These findings were first demonstrated in the lab, but have now been confirmed in enclosed field trials in Burkina Faso. It's hoped that this naturally-occurring insecticide could support vector control efforts to curb disease transmission. Source Chromobacterium biopesticide overcomes insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes (Science) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

The prevention of malaria depends upon multiple layers of interventions that work together to reduce cases and deaths. But what makes someone decide to sleep under a bed net, or apply an insecticidal cream? What makes one person take up more interventions than another? How influential are government-accredited health experts versus friends and family?  With András Vörös, an Associate Professor in Quantitative Methods at the University of Birmingham and Elisa Bellotti, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Malaria prevention depends on the adoption of multiple behaviors –  like sleeping under a bednet and wearing clothes that cover the skin. Researchers find that conversations with people in one's own social circle are the strongest factors that influence behavior uptake. Transcript Malaria prevention depends on the adoption of multiple behaviors –  like sleeping under a bednet and wearing clothes that cover the skin – to reduce exposure to infectious mosquitoes. Theories of ‘social influence' are often used to explain the uptake of single behaviors, in which an individual's relationship to others explains their adoption of certain behaviors. Yet, to better understand the uptake of different malaria prevention behaviors in a broader context, researchers looked beyond just social ties to consider the influence of behavior carry-over: where an individual who already adopts one prevention behavior is more likely to adopt another. Researchers applied this multi-level social network analysis to structured interviews from 10 villages in Northeast India, all conducted at a single point in time. They found that network exposure – talking to someone in your network who adopts a certain behavior – was the most important and consistent factor in explaining behavior uptake. This was more influential than individual behavior carry-over (which had no effect), existing village behavior patterns, or ties with health workers (which had minimal effect). This reinforces the importance of social discussion as the most significant factor in determining behavior uptake. Source A multilevel social network approach to studying multiple disease-prevention behaviors (Nature Scientific Reports) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Today, the discovery of antibodies targeting a new region of the malaria parasite that could serve as a promising target for drugs and vaccines.

Scientists discover new antibodies - a promising target for clinical exploration. Transcript The currently licenced malaria vaccines and monoclonal antibodies all target a well-known region of the same malaria protein. That protein – the circumsporozoite protein, commonly known as CSP – covers the surface of the parasite as it enters the human skin through a mosquito bite. By targeting CSP, the vaccines aim to stop each malaria parasite in its tracks. But what about other proteins on the sporozoite - the parasite form injected into the blood by the mosquito - or other regions of the CSP protein? In a recent study, scientists screened plasma from malaria-infected individuals for immune responses against sporozoites. Many had developed antibodies against these well-known regions of CSP, but some had developed antibodies targeting a different region of the sporozoite surface. Out of ten new antibodies isolated from these individuals, several were functional – inhibiting the development of later parasite stages that occur in the liver and preventing sporozoite infection in a mouse model of malaria. However, they were targeting a different region of CSP that was only uncovered after processing by the sporozoite. This new region – called pGlu-CSP – is, the authors say, a site of vulnerability and a promising target for future clinical exploration. Source Protective antibodies target cryptic epitope unmasked by cleavage of malaria sporozoite protein (Science) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

We focus on drug resistance and the troubling news that the frontline drug against malaria, artemisinin, is failing due to resistant parasites in severe cases of malaria, and how the collective efforts of drug development – and the data produced – could be used to build an AI chatbot capable of predicting resistance before it strikes. With Robert Opoka and Elizabeth Winzeler. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Researchers search for ways to predict antimalarial drug resistance and identify more effective drug combinations. Transcript The front-line treatment for malaria is typically a combination of drugs called artemisinin-based combination therapy. Resistance to treatment has already been reported in mild cases of malaria, but now, for the first time, it's also being reported in severe cases of malaria. Severe malaria cases are more likely to end in a fatal outcome, so drug resistance in these scenarios poses a risk to human life. To try and stay one step ahead of resistance, researchers tested compounds and combed through publications to identify 118 compounds active against over 700 parasite clones to see how the parasites evolve under pressure, and to identify mutations in the parasite genome likely to be associated with drug resistance. They confirmed that Plasmodium falciparum – the deadliest and most prevalent species of the malaria parasite – evolves relatively easily, with mutations that affect the drug's mechanism of action and which move through the population. The hope is that this dataset of drug resistance markers could provide an ‘early warning system' – to predict drug resistance in the field and to identify a more effective drug combination. Source Artemisinin Partial Resistance in Ugandan Children With Complicated Malaria (JAMA) Systematic in vitro evolution in Plasmodium falciparum reveals key determinants of drug resistance (Science)   About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.  

The World Health Organization has today released its annual World Malaria Report. Here are the takeaways. Transcript The World Health Organization has today released its annual World Malaria Report. Here are the takeaways. Since the turn of the century, the global malaria community has averted over 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths, with over a million deaths prevented in 2023 alone. Yet, despite significant progress, major gaps remain. In 2023, there were 263 million malaria cases globally, up 11 million from the year before, and nearly the same number of deaths. This means we're off course against key WHO targets, with the case rate amongst at-risk populations three times higher than hoped, and a funding gap of over $4bn. It's hoped that a ‘Big Push' of political and capital commitment could accelerate efforts against the disease, help overcome drug and insecticide resistance, and improve access to new bed nets, drugs, and vaccines. But, as ever, this is dependent on funding, political will, and as this year's report notes, a special focus on equity. There's a need to disaggregate data to reveal the nuances of malaria transmission and understand how the disease intersects with gender equality, health equity and human rights. Source World malaria report 2024 About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

An innovative, non-invasive diagnostic tool that could revolutionize malaria testing, with the potential to be built into wearable devices. In this extended episode of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute, we ask: What are the limitations of current malaria diagnostic methods? How is a 'cytophone' - and what makes it innovative? Why is the detection of hemozoin significant in malaria diagnostics? How does interdisciplinary collaboration contribute to technological innovation? With Sunil Parikh, Vladimir Zharov and Yap Boum About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Using lasers and ultrasound, the ‘cytophone' detects a key byproduct of all malaria parasites. Transcript Among the most commonly used malaria diagnostic tests is the rapid diagnostic test (RDT), which detects malaria antigens from a drop of blood. Whilst RDTs are small and cheap, they're invasive and new strains of the parasite have evolved that can escape RDT diagnosis. Now, engineers have developed new diagnostic technology –  a cytophone – which doesn't require a blood draw. About the size of a desktop printer, the cytophone uses lasers and ultrasound to detect infected red blood cells in the vein on a patient's hand or forearm. The cytophone works by detecting hemozoin, a byproduct of all malaria parasites from their consumption of hemoglobin for energy. When hemozoin absorbs a certain amount of the laser energy, it heats up and expands, generating ultrasound waves that indicate malaria infection within the red blood cell. In a trial of 20 adults in Cameroon with symptomatic malaria, the cytophone prototype performed as well as current point-of-care diagnostic methods. Source Noninvasive in vivo photoacoustic detection of malaria with Cytophone in Cameroon About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.  

Today, how DNA from a single patient in Ethiopia can shed light on the big picture of malaria. Why is Plasmodium vivax significant in malaria research, especially in Ethiopia? How does genomic sequencing contribute to understanding and controlling malaria? How are advances in sequencing technology influencing malaria research? With Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

'Comparative genomics' helps identify genes that can serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines. Transcript Not all parasites are alike. Genetic mutations mean that malaria parasites evolve differently in different regions – and even within the same region. One species thought to be particularly genetically diverse is Plasmodium vivax. It's the second most common species of malaria, found in South East Asia, South America, and some parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, 20% of malaria cases are thought to be caused by P. vivax. In a new paper, scientists made a ‘reference genome' from a sample of P. vivax in Ethiopia. They collected blood from an infected patient, extracted the DNA, and ‘read' its fragments to form the parasite genome. This allows scientists to compare P. vivax samples across regions – and understand their similarities and differences. Importantly, this study of ‘comparative genomics' ie comparing genomes will help identify the genes that stay the same – the conserved genes – and those which are different - the unique genes -which could serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines. Source Assembled genome of an Ethiopian Plasmodium vivax isolate generated using GridION long-read technology About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

The World Health Organisation has recommended two licenced malaria vaccines. Those vaccines have been a long time coming - but are they the best? In this extended episode of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute, we ask: Why is developing a malaria vaccine so challenging? How does antigen variation play affect the effectiveness of malaria vaccines? What are transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), and why haven't they gained much interest despite their potential? With Ilinca Ciubotariu, Qixin He and Giovanna Carpi. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.    

A key challenge in developing a malaria vaccine is choosing which stage to target. Transcript A key challenge in developing a malaria vaccine is choosing which stage of the infection to target. You can target the parasite when it enters the body, multiplies in the liver and the blood, or is in the sexual stage, preparing to be picked up by a mosquito. Along with selecting the right vaccine target, it's also important to consider how these targets naturally vary in the population. To identify the optimal target, researchers examined the genetic and structural variation of ten antigens in over 1,000 samples of malaria parasites from six African countries. Interestingly, antigens involved in human infection showed the most genetic and structural variation across countries. Transmission-blocking antigens—ones that induce antibodies in humans that disrupt the parasite's development in the mosquito, thus preventing further transmission —were more conserved across regions. This makes transmission-blocking antigens excellent targets as standalone or multi-stage vaccines to prevent onward transmission to other people. Source Diversity and selection analyses identify transmission-blocking antigens as the optimal solution. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

We share a special episode of our podcast to mark World Mosqutio Day. World Mosquito Day, observed annually on August 20th, commemorates British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. More than a century later, major advancements like genetically modifying mosquitoes—AKA gene drives—have the potential to reduce malaria cases and deaths dramatically, but not without hurdles.   About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

People often talk about the 'malaria toolkit' - how might gene drives fit? Transcript When people talk about malaria, they often mention the 'malaria toolkit' – a set of tools, like bed nets and indoor residual spraying, that are available to help curb the spread of disease. In the past, these tools were trusty go-to's – thanks to their efficacy, scalability and cost. Like the antimalarial drugs used to prevent and treat the disease, they're primarily aimed at protecting individuals. Yet, a new technology called gene drives – which releases and spreads genetically modified mosquitoes that can't transmit the disease – aims to protect whole communities. How might they fit into the toolkit? Dr Damaris Matoka-Muhia of the Kenya Medical Research Institute considers gene drives a potentially sustainable, long-term and cost-effective solution for malaria – especially as resistance dulls other tools. And in Kenya, there are regulations in place to support gene drive implementation. The National Biosafety Authority, already used for GM crops like cotton can be leveraged, ready to roll out this innovation in the future. Source How could genetic approaches be integrated in the malaria toolkit? About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Gene drives are a novel way of genetically editing the mosquitoes that transmit malaria. They have the potential to dramatically reduce cases and deaths. But the technology they're based on is new and requires new thinking on regulation.  In this first episode of our two-part focus on gene drives, we ask how drives work – examining the CRISPR technology behind them – and explore the hurdles for their release, including the risks, regulations and questions of consent. With Professor Anthony James (University of California, Irvine) and Dr John Connolly (Target Malaria) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Gene drives are a promising tool for malaria control - how can we tell they actually work? Transcript Gene drives are a promising new tool for malaria control. They involve releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild – mosquitoes engineered to halt the parasites from developing inside the insects, or that cause the mosquitoes to die. These GM mosquitoes are then released into new habitats. Over time and across multiple generations, the gene drive spreads, reducing malaria transmission. That's the theory. But one fundamental question remains: how can we tell they actually work? Experts say there are three distinct measures of gene drive efficacy. First, smaller-scale trials of releases should emphasize genetic efficacy, measuring the spread and frequency of the gene drive across time and space. Then, examine entomological efficacy by measuring the density of mosquitoes or the number of parasites they carry. Finally, consider the epidemiological data, by measuring the number of malaria cases in the areas where the gene drive has been released. This approach aims to ensure that the ‘causal pathway' of gene drives effectively reduces cases and deaths. Source Considerations for first field trials of low-threshold gene drive for malaria vector control About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Temperature, rainfall, and humidity determine malaria transmission - but climate change is altering each one of those variables. What might this mean for cases of the disease? With Alex Eapen, from the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) in Chennai, India. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Researchers compare the temperature of mosquito breeding spots with a decade early to examine its impact on malaria transmission. Transcript The effects of climate change on malaria are becoming clearer. Anopheles stephensi – an urban form of the malaria mosquito – is changing its geography, moving from Southeast Asia to parts of Africa and India. To investigate the link between temperature and malaria, between 2021 and 2022 researchers in Chennai, India placed data loggers that recorded temperature – and the daily range of temperature - in both indoor and outdoor settings. They took those measurements and compared them to ten years earlier, from 2012 to 2013. The daily temperature range of indoor asbestos structures increased from 4.3 to 12.6 degrees Celsius — compared to a marginal increase in other structures. Importantly, an increase in temperature was associated with a decrease in the incubation period – that's the time it takes for the parasite to develop in the mosquito. With invasive mosquito species entering new areas, combined with the shorter time it takes to transmit, it's becoming more clear that rising temperatures will lead to an increase in malaria cases in certain areas – and that preparation will be key. Source Impact of climate change on temperature variations and extrinsic incubation period of malaria parasites in Chennai, India: implications for its disease transmission potential About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

A single protein helps malaria parasites develop in the blood and cause disease symptoms. Could inhibiting this essential protein help curb the spread of disease? With Abhishek Kanyal and Krishanpal Karmodiya. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

A poorly studied malaria protein could serve as a key drug target to help combat the growing problem of resistance. Transcript A poorly studied malaria protein – Plasmodium falciparum histone deacetylase 1 – could serve as a key drug target to help combat the growing problem of resistance. The protein helps regulate the ‘intraerythrocytic' stage of the parasite: a 48-hour cycle in which the parasite invades, replicates, and bursts free from red blood cells, causing disease symptoms. By making this protein fluorescent, researchers found that it is associated with a range of major biological functions that help the parasite progress through this stage, particularly during the ‘trophozoite' (or mature) stage. When PfHDAC1 was overexpressed, the number of malaria parasites increased – along with the expression of other genes responsible for parasite development. Dihydroartemisinin—a key antimalarial drug—ordinarily interferes with these biological processes, but overexpression of the protein leads to reduced sensitivity and resistance. This research reveals more about the parasite lifecycle in the human body and suggests a new drug target against it. Source PfHDAC1 is an essential regulator of P. falciparum asexual proliferation and host cell invasion genes with a dynamic genomic occupancy responsive to artemisinin stress About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

How sickle cell disease can be a blessing and a curse. And why we need equity in genomic research and to diversify the genomes we sequence. With Ambroise Wonkam (Johns Hopkins University). About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Malaria is one of humanity's oldest diseases – and one with which we have evolved. Transcript Malaria is one of humanity's oldest diseases – and one with which we have evolved. Over time, it's put selective pressure on our genome to respond better to its infection. Sickle cell disease is one example. It causes a defect in hemoglobin – transforming red blood cells into a banana or sickle shape – reducing the amount of oxygen transported to the body's cells. The mutation has been around for more than 20,000 years – and is thought to originate near present-day Cameroon. But in one of the many evolutionary twists, under the right conditions, sickle cell disease can protect humans from malaria, because it makes it harder for malaria parasites to infect red blood cells. Possessing one copy is an asset, providing resistance to severe malaria, but if two copies of the mutation appear, it is a liability, leading to premature death. The evolutionary relationship between malaria endemicity and sickle cell disease is evident geographically. This complex, genetic legacy is the focus of an upcoming talk by Ambroise Wonkam at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute's World Malaria Day symposium on April 25th.  Source Evolutionary history of sickle-cell mutation: implications for global genetic medicine About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

On the steps of Capitol Hill, we meet the scientists bringing their scientific battle against malaria into the world of political advocacy. They join a 100+ group of advocates lobbying their members of Congress to fund critical interventions against malaria – becoming ‘malaria champions' as well. We ask: Why have they decided to join the world of political advocacy? How are they using their expertise to strengthen the champion's efforts?  What scientific message do they have to share? With David Sullivan (Johns Hopkins University), Tracey Lamb and Jenna Reed (University of Utah) and Louisa Messenger (University of Las Nevas Nevada) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Malaria champions from 43 states gather in Washington D.C. to lobby their members of Congress about malaria. Transcript The malaria community is diverse. Some work on the parasites, others the mosquito. Others still focus on public health. The battle is being waged on the bench and the field. But there's another community fighting the disease on a different frontline: in the corridors and offices of Capitol Hill. This week, ‘malaria champions' from 43 states gather in Washington DC for the annual ‘United to Beat Malaria' conference. And this year, there's a focus on how critical scientific research is to the fight. JHMRI's David Sullivan reiterated that sound policy must be based on sound science. By communicating the science, scientists can help explain the significance of malaria and define policy problems – and solutions – more clearly. Because, despite reductions in cases and deaths, significant, interconnected challenges remain, including drug and insecticide resistance, the need to strengthen health systems, and the looming threat of climate change. With the United States government being the largest government donor to malaria efforts, the champions hope that by persuading their representatives to continue the fight, they can be part of the solution. Source United to Beat Malaria 2023 Year in Review About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Until recently, health workers were the only means to prevent and treat malaria in Odisha, India. In 2017, the state government tried a new strategy: pooling health resources into regional ‘malaria camps'.  In this podcast, we ask: What is the current state of malaria in Odisha, India? What challenges does Odisha face in malaria control, especially in hard-to-reach areas? What inspired the Odisha government to introduce the concept of malaria camps? What makes this approach encouraging and potentially translatable to regions with higher malaria endemicity, such as Africa? With Praveen Sahu, Senior Researcher in Molecular Biology and Infectious Diseases, and Jane Carlton, Director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. and Jane Carlton. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Malaria in India has fallen in recent decades — but the risk is still high among hard-to-reach communities. A new study has evaluated the system of ‘malaria camps' — in which health workers provide targeted interventions before the monsoon. Transcript Malaria in India has diminished in past decades — yet the risk is still high among hard-to-reach communities in forested areas that are isolated particularly during the monsoon season. To control the disease in these areas, the government has started a system of ‘malaria camps', where health workers come to the villages to deliver key interventions, like mass screening and treatment, combined with education, intensified vector control, and maternal and child health visits. A new study has examined the effectiveness of these camps. In 15 villages in the state of Odisha nearly twenty-five hundred people were split into three arms, all receiving the malaria camps at different points. Tests were conducted at baseline and three follow-ups. The first group of villages received the malaria camps for the first time at the baseline visit and subsequently for the duration of the study. The second received the malaria camps for the first time after one year of routine malaria control strategies. The third group of villages was considered a control that had already received malaria camps before the study commenced. There was a statistically significant reduction in malaria parasite infection in study participants overall and for Arm A – the experimental group that received the intervention the longest. The researchers argue that this lower incidence – and the financial feasibility of the program – make malaria camps a promising tool for malaria control in remote areas of Odisha State – in pursuit of India's goal of malaria elimination by 2030. Source The effectiveness of malaria camps as part of the malaria control program in Odisha, India About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

A new documentary tells a story of global scientific collaboration in the development of a new malaria vaccine, R21. Today, we take you behind the scenes with director and producer, Catherine Gale. In this podcast, we ask: Why are malaria vaccines gaining so much attention now? What was the serendipidous origin of the documentary? What are the key moments of the documentary? What is the role of collaboration in scientific discovery? With Catherine, Producer and Director at Wingspan Productions, and Bill Moss, a Deputy Director at the Johns Hopkins Malaria  About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

A new documentary from NOVA shines a light on the creation of R21, a new malaria vaccine. Transcript This month, a new documentary from NOVA shines a light on the creation of a new malaria vaccine. ‘The Battle to Beat Malaria' tells the story of the development of R21 – from creation to WHO approval. Taking you behind the scenes in Oxford, UK, where the jab was developed as a PhD project, to the Serum Institute of India where millions of doses are prepared and stored. The documentary reveals the challenge of increasing the amount of protein that the vaccine creates, thereby the number of protective antibodies that the body creates. Of 142 vaccines developed, only a handful made it to clinical trials. And only two of those were approved for widespread use, R21 included. Through trial and error, the Oxford group eventually reached between 70 and 80% efficacy. Source The Batte to Beat Malaria (via PBS) About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

As COP28 emphasises the human cost of climate change, what will be the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather events on malaria transmission? In this podcast, we ask: How was health represented this year at COP? What is the impact of rising temperatures on malaria? How will extreme weather events, like flooding, affect malaria prevalence? Why is health resilience so important in mitigating climate-related disruption? With Martin Edlund, CEO of Malaria No More and Courtney Murdock, Associate Professor at Cornell University About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

The WHO launches its annual World Malaria Report at COP28, the UN's Climate Change Conference. Transcript The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its World Malaria Report for 2023 at the start of COP28, the UN's Climate Change Conference. The headline figures are concerning. The WHO estimates that there were 249 million cases of malaria last year, resulting in 608000 deaths. These figures surpass pre-pandemic levels, with five countries bearing the brunt of this increase. This year, the report stressed the importance of climate change to malaria. Released at the start of COP, during its first-ever Health Day, it argues that extreme weather events, the frequency of which increase with global warming, could lead to unexpected outbreaks of malaria. In Pakistan, for example, there were an additional two million malaria cases as a result of flooding. Yet, looking beyond the raw numbers reveals a more nuanced reality. Malaria incidence – that's the number of cases for every thousand people at risk – has fallen since the year 2000. But, despite averting over 2 billion cases globally, progress has stalled. Since 2015, malaria incidence has remained largely constant. We're currently 55% off track of the WHO's targets. Source WHO World Malaria Report 2023 About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

An old malaria drug gets a new formulation. But how good is it – and will it drive resistance? In this podcast, we ask: What are the limitations of current malaria vaccines? What is the concept of long-acting injectable (LAI) drugs? What are the clinical and chemical properties of atovaquone that make it suitable for this purpose? With Theresa Shapiro, Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Division Director, Division of Clinical Pharmacology. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.  

How ‘chemical vaccines' could offer long-term protection against malaria in endemic areas, and combat the problems of dosing and drug resistance. Transcript Drugs used to prevent and treat malaria are vital tools in the malaria toolkit – but they aren't perfect. When used to prevent malaria, people must remember to take them regularly, or they won't be as effective. And when they're used to treat the disease, the sheer scale of infection – with billions of parasites in the body – makes it likely that some of those parasites will be drug-resistant, leading to treatment failure. But, when you formulate the drugs differently, as nano-particles in a water-based solution, and inject them, like a vaccine, those same drugs can offer effective, long-lasting protection against the disease. This so-called ‘chemical vaccine', based on the antimalarial drug atovaquone, has been shown in mice to effectively stop the infection and subsequently, the onward transmission of the parasites to mosquitoes. The long-term hope is that a single dose of the ‘chemical vaccine' could offer long-term protection against malaria in endemic areas, and help combat the problems of dosing and drug resistance. Source Clinically relevant atovaquone-resistant human malaria parasites fail to transmit by mosquito About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Drug efficacy studies are revealing the spatial distribution of mutations causing artemisinin resistance - and it all starts with a drop of blood. In this podcast, we ask: What is artemisinin resistance? What are some of the key molecular markers underpinning it? How can we overcome it? With Didier Ménard, Director of the Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases at the University of Strasbourg, and a visiting researcher at the Pasteur Institute. About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Researchers examine the rise of artemisinin drug resistance in Eritrea - and search for its genetic basis. Transcript Artemisinin – a key antimalarial drug – and other drugs derived from it, are fast losing their effectiveness across South East Asia and increasingly in Africa, too. To investigate this, researchers conducted a review of drug efficacy studies in the East African country of Eritrea. They looked for the rates of delayed parasite clearance in the three days following treatment – a key marker of partial drug resistance. They found a troubling pattern: delayed parasite clearance climbed from 0.4% in 2016 to 1.9% in 2017, followed by a marked increase to 4.2% in 2019. By isolating and sequencing parasitic DNA, they found that this trend was associated with the rise of a novel mutation to the Kelch13 region of the parasite, called R622I. Given the lack of alternative drugs, the emergence of resistance in Africa is concerning. Source Increasing Prevalence of Artemisinin-Resistant HRP2-Negative Malaria in Eritrea About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

In 1951, malaria was eliminated from the US. But just this past summer, the parasite that causes the disease has re-infected local mosquitoes and caused a handful of cases of malaria in three US states. In this interview podcast, we ask: What should we make of these cases? Is the public possibly at risk of this once-eliminated disease? How can genomics help us to better understand what's happened? With Jane Carlton, Director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/malaria-research-institute About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Malaria returns to the US for the first time in decades. We share what we know so far. Transcript Today, another reminder that infectious diseases respect no borders. Malaria, a disease that was once endemic globally, has returned to the US for the first time in two decades. A number of cases have been confirmed in Florida, Texas and, most recently, one in Maryland. Crucially, in each of those cases, the people who got the disease hadn't traveled to any malaria-endemic regions. The transmission was local. It's thought that other people carrying the parasites from abroad infected mosquitoes in the US – and that those mosquitoes went on to infect other people. The infections have been  P. vivax — a less deadly strain often found in South East Asia--and now P. falciparum — the most common and most deadly species — appearing in Maryland. The risk to the general public is low. But it's unclear whether this is a random event — or a sign of things to come. Some experts hypothesize that possibly climate change and warming temperatures are making more places more suitable for malaria-carrying mosquitos to thrive. Source Maryland Department of Health announces positive case of locally acquired malaria [Maryland Department of Health] About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

In 2013, on the outskirts of Madrid, GSK was gearing up to test new medicines against malaria. But they had a problem. In this month's podcast, we're joined by Janneth Rodrigues from GSK, Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena from Johns Hopkins University, and Etienne Bilgo from IRSS to share a story of collaboration that spans three continents, and which turned a headache into a success story. Source Delftia tsuruhatensis TC1 symbiont suppresses malaria transmission by anopheline mosquitoes About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

A naturally occurring bacterium renders the mosquito a poor transmitter of the malaria parasite. Transcript Scientists often grow mosquitos in the laboratory and infect them with malaria parasites to test new drugs and explore vector control. Unexpectedly, in a lab run by GSK in Spain, mosquitoes gradually lost the ability to sustain parasite development. To unwind this mystery, GSK turned to Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University and sent him a bacterium they suspected was the blocking agent. The Hopkins team determined that these bacteria produce a substance called harmane – a strong poison to the malaria parasite without affecting the mosquito. Harmane kills the parasite in the mosquito either by ingestion or by contact--when the mosquito lands on a surface with harmane on it. Further experiments determined that this Delftia bacterium colonizes the mosquitoes for life where it suppresses survival of the parasite. Experiments conducted by researchers in Burkina Faso showed that this bacterium can efficiently colonize mosquitoes under conditions that simulate those of the field and that it inhibits locally circulating parasites. This bacterium promises to be developed into a new tool to combat malaria. Source Delftia tsuruhatensis TC1 symbiont suppresses malaria transmission by anopheline mosquitoes About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.  

After decades of research, the world's first malaria vaccine is finally being rolled out in Africa. It's a landmark in malaria success – but will it deliver a public health victory? In this podcast, we reveal the elusive target of the malaria vaccine and unpack the complex story of its development.

To locate blood vessels and establish infection, malaria parasites alternate between two states of movement in the skin – fast and slow. Interestingly, this shift in state might be guided by a cell found on the walls of capillaries. Transcript Of the dozens of malaria parasites the mosquito injects, only a handful will make it. To survive, the parasite needs to forage around for a blood vessel, enter it, and hitch a ride to the liver, where it can set up the infection. 3D imaging and statistical modelling reveals how this foraging plays out in the skin. After moving forward quickly, in a random and chaotic manner, the parasite sidles up to a blood vessel. Then, it changes tact. It moves slowly in a circular motion around the blood vessel, trying to find a way in. Interestingly, this shift in state might be guided by the parasite's detection of a particular type of cell, called a pericyte. Pericytes are found on the walls of capillaries. Directly, or indirectly, they signal a point of entry, thereby luring the parasite in. Tracking parasites in the skin, therefore, reveals this novel finding: that pericytes play a role in the early stages of malaria infection. Source Plasmodium sporozoite search strategy to locate hotspots of blood vessel invasion About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Behavioral science is essential if the tools we develop in the lab are to generate impact in the field. So, in this episode, we take a break from malaria biology to delve deep into human psychology of malaria control. We explore the theory behind behavioral science and its implications for malaria control, and discuss a new tool from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs: the Malaria Behavior Survey. With Doug Storey and Mike Toso of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Bed nets are a staple tool in malaria control - but how do we make sure people actually use them? We discuss behavioral science, and the Malaria Behavior Survey from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Transcript Bed nets are a staple tool in malaria control. They're reliable, effective, affordable and reusable. But how do we make sure people actually use them: sleep under one every night and store them properly when not in use? This is where behavioral science comes in – in particular the ‘Malaria Behaviour Survey' from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs. It uses survey data to build an online dashboard that spells out the social, emotional and cognitive indicators that predict bed net use across sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst most surveys only measure individual behaviors related to malaria control, the ‘Malaria Behaviour Survey' examines how what goes on in somebody's head, heart and social network influences these behaviors. This wider context of individual decision-making helps malaria control programs tailor their messaging to more adequately meet the needs of their communities, and promote proper bed net use. Source Malaria Behavior Survey from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs About The Podcast The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Without funding, there can be no malaria fight. No bed nets distributed, no homes sparayed with insecticide and no scientific research to develop new tools. For World Malaria Day 2023, we head to Washington D.C. to meet advocates in the U.S. who are passionate about rallying political support around the fight against malaria and raising the bar for the role young people play in global health advocacy. Featuring Margaret Reilly McDonnell (United to Beat Malaria), Himaja Nagireddy (US Youth Observer to the UN), Joy Phumaphi (Executive Secretary, African Leaders Malaria Alliance), and David Walton (US Global Malaria Coordinator, PMI).