A new front in the fight against malaria: Experimental bed nets halt parasite growth inside mosquitoes
Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are developing experimental bed nets that target malaria parasites inside mosquitoes. By disrupting the parasite's mitochondrial energy production, scientists hope to stop the transmission of malaria to humans.
Why it matters
Malaria remains a leading cause of death globally, and this novel approach addresses the growing issue of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Malaria kills 600,000 people a year, most of them children. HHMI Investigator Flaminia Catteruccia thinks the key to stopping it isn't eliminating mosquitoes—it's killing the parasite inside them. Credit: Kent Dayton Flaminia Catteruccia is not a mosquito lover; she won't hesitate to kill one if it lands on her arm. But she does respect their adaptability and resilience. "They've been on the planet for 400 million years—much longer than humans," Catteruccia points out. "Trying to eradicate them is probably impossible. Even if it were feasible, it would have huge repercussions for our food chain and our environment."
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