Malaria could be fought by bacteria in mosquitoes – 04/08/2023 – Health

Scientists are developing a promising new weapon in the fight against malaria, in the form of bacteria found in the gut of mosquitoes, which limit the growth of the microscopic parasites that cause the disease.

The TC1 strain of delphia tsuruhatensisa naturally occurring bacterium, was discovered by chance in the Spanish laboratories of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company GSK, during their work investigating a disease that kills more than 600,000 people a year.

Thomas Breuer, director of global health at GSK, hailed a “wholly new approach to malaria control”. He continued, “TC1 has the potential to further reduce the enormous burden of malaria in endemic countries, and is further evidence that, through the deployment of a variety of prevention approaches, we can finally eradicate this terrible disease.”

Almost half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. the mosquito anopheleswhich transmits the parasite Plasmodium, responsible for malaria, is currently fought with insecticidal mosquito nets, household aerosols and antimalarial drugs. But the effectiveness of these methods is decreasing as mosquitoes and parasites become resistant to chemical treatments.

Field trials at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) in Burkina Faso (West Africa) and additional research in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University in the US and other international partners suggested that TC1 could be developed as a safe and effective way to control malaria. The results were published in the journal Science.

Janneth Rodrigues, project leader at GSK’s Tres Cantos laboratory, said the experiments showed that mosquitoes infected with the bacteria no longer carried the parasite at any stage of their life cycle.

When the scientists introduced TC1 into mosquito colonies in controlled environments, the insects were not harmed by the infection. The study showed that the bacteria was not transmitted to humans when the mosquito fed on their blood.

the bacteria delphia tsuruhatensis It is routinely found in natural environments. Although the species has been shown to cause disease rarely in immunocompromised individuals, researchers do not expect this to be a serious safety concern.

They found that TC1 produced a small molecule called harmane that inhibited parasite development. Harmano is a neurotoxin in high doses, but is considered safe in the small amounts produced by the bacteria in mosquitoes.

“Harmano can be found in most foods, coffee and grilled meats, and is produced naturally within the human body,” said Rodrigues.

The safety record of Delftia-based products already marketed as plant growth promoters in agriculture builds more confidence.

Mathematical modeling from Imperial College London predicted that the use of TC1 over three years would reduce clinical cases of malaria by 15%, not only saving lives but also reducing hospital admissions and freeing up healthcare resources to fight other life-threatening diseases.

Rodrigues said future research and development would help GSK and its public health partners decide how to deploy TC1 in malaria control. It may be possible to use live bacteria, a cell-free extract containing harmane or purified harmane under different circumstances.

“The successful implementation of this biological control tool could have a profound impact on public health, helping to save the lives of millions of children and promoting sustainable development in malaria-endemic regions,” said Abdoulaye Diabaté, director of medical entomology and IRSS parasitology in Burkina Faso.

Translated by Luiz Roberto M. Gonçalves