Yes, you read that right
Spoiler Alert: This is not a Spiderman like
super hero post an insect bit.
 |
| Source: Wikipedia |
A bunch of researchers from Seattle
BioMed are conducting a research in the US, where people who have never had
Malaria infection will get bitten by Anopheles
Stephensi Mosquitoes !!?
These are no
ordinary mosquitoes. They are genetically attenuated (weakened) and are aimed
to produce immunity in the people who suffer the bite. The science behind this,
in simple, is the concept behind the Small pox or a Polio vaccine. A disease causing microorganism is weakened
and injected into human beings to generate immunity.
If we remember
the life cycle, when a mosquito bites, sporozoites enter the bloodstream, and reach
the liver. They infect liver cells, where they multiply into merozoites,
rupture the liver cells, and return to the bloodstream and infect the Red blood
cells.
The scientists
genetically modify the sporozoites by deleting critical genes from their DNA,
so that upon reaching the liver, they will trigger an immune response, generate
immunity and die without causing the infection.
In animal
studies, the vaccine has shown 100% efficacy in preventing the infection. Research in human beings is underway before
the vaccine could be approved for use publicly.
Of course, it is
highly impossible and impractical to immunize large number of people by subjecting
them to mosquito bites. The scientists are working their way out to find a
large scale manufacturing solution to mass produce the vaccine.
Though treatment is
available, no vaccine is currently available to prevent Malaria although
several vaccines are in late stage research. The lead in that group is the
RTS,S vaccine developed by GSK in collaboration with The Path Malaria
Vaccine Initiative which is currently under regulatory review.
A 2014 WHO report on Malaria indicates that globally,
- 3.3bn people are at risk of being infected with malaria and developing disease (1.2 bn are at high risk [>1 in 1000 chance of getting malaria in a year])
- 198 million cases of malaria occurred globally in 2013
- led to 0.58 mn deaths ( ~90% of all malaria deaths occur In the WHO African Region of which children aged under 5 years, account for 78% of all deaths)
Drug resistance is a serious concern and many countries have
banned the use of oral artemisinin based monotherapy medicines to treat
Malaria. Unfortunately, India still allows its use as monotherapy.
25 April 2015 is the World Malaria Day and the WHO is
calling for high-level commitment to the vision of a world free of malaria.
A mosquito bite might lead to Malaria infection. Try to keep the surroundings clean and prevent
breeding of mosquitos. Stay healthy!!
