Malaria is a common illness in many developing countries
and much research has gone into this field as the mortality rate is very high -
especially amongst children. Malaria is caused by a parasite and the problem
with many of the treatments developed over the years is that the parasite has
managed to develop a resistance to many of the treatments. Recently published
research now explains how targeting the parasite’s salt-pump may pave the way
for a novel treatment currently being considered in clinical trials.
The single-cell parasites, which are transferred to humans
via mosquitoes, stay in red blood cells. As it is well known that red blood
cells contain large amounts of salt, researchers have long suspected that the
parasites must have a way of handling the salt. Researchers at the Research
School of Biology at Australia National University have demonstrated that the
parasite has an extremely efficient pump on its surface. Their research also
ties in with recent discoveries in Singapore regarding spiroindolone anti-malarials.
Until now, the underlying mechanism of spiroindolone anti-malarials
has not been clear. However, the collaboration between the two teams suggests
that they work by blocking the parasite’s salt pump, which results in a salt overload
that kills the parasite. This of course, is very encouraging news in the field
of malaria treatment where the development of novel treatments is rare.
Although clinical trials are underway, it will be a long
time before the treatment is out on the market. One of the key issues, which
remain to be seen, is whether the parasite will be able to change the shape of
its pump and thereby develop resistance to treatments. However, knowledge of
this salt pump is cause for optimism; not only does it open up the possibility
to consider whether any other drugs on the market may work to block the pump.
It also indicates that this rudimentary functioning in the parasite’s
physiology may be particularly vulnerable to attack.
We are glad to hear about
research that aims to explain underlying mechanisms in more detail. However,
until we have full details of the clinical trials, we cannot make any firm
conclusions regarding the efficacy of the treatment.