Australian scientists from the Burnet Institute have found a new way to combat single-celled parasites Plasmodium, malaria-causing agents carried by mosquitoes. The cheap and widely available antibiotic bacitracin, used to treat skin infections, was effective against them. The research was published in the official gazette Web site scientific institution.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 400 people worldwide contract malaria every minute. The disease can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated at the first symptoms.
The scientific team found that batriasin effectively blocks trans-protein disulfide isomerases (PDI-Trans), which play an important role in the fertilization process of Plasmodium. The antibiotic significantly reduces the risk of malaria transmission by interrupting the parasite reproductive process.
“We are continuing research to develop small-molecule PDI inhibitors specific to the Plasmodium parasite, and determining how effective these molecules are in stopping the growth and transmission of the parasites in Burkina Faso and Papua New Guinea remains an important health challenge,” the presenter said. study author Dr. Fiona Angrisano.
Previous scientists to create Method for diagnosing asymptomatic malaria.