Global health R&D at work in Oklahoma
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have discovered a new approach to block the malaria parasite from infecting mosquitoes. This important discovery could lead to a new vaccine. The researchers found that an antibody used against a key mosquito protein stopped the malaria parasite from invading mosquitoes. Vaccination with this protein could dramatically reduce the number of malaria cases around the world by preventing mosquitoes from transmitting the disease. Each year, more than 200 million people are infected with malaria and half a million die from the disease, most of whom are young children. Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk. Scientists are racing to create a malaria vaccine and new drug treatments before resistance to current antimalarials spreads.