Media release

From: Springer Nature

Effective new antimalarial targets parasites

Newly discovered compounds that aid in reducing the transmission of malaria by directly targeting and killing the disease-causing parasites in mosquitoes are described in Nature this week. When applied to bed nets, the antimalarials offer an economic and long-lasting alternative to current insecticide-based measures.

More than half a million people die each year from malaria. Although insecticide-treated nets have largely reduced malaria cases, their continued effectiveness is challenged by widespread insecticide resistance. Previous research suggests that targeting the parasite Plasmodium falciparum in the mosquito, which causes 90% of human malaria cases, with antimalarial drugs could be an effective way to mitigate this challenge.

To further explore this approach, Alexandra Probst and colleagues identified the most essential parts of the parasite’s genes to target with antimalarial drugs. After compiling a large library of antimalarial compounds, including some in potential development for human use, the authors found and tested 22 of the most effective at inhibiting the malaria parasite’s development in the mosquito. The discovered compounds were notably simple, easily scalable and cheap to synthesize. The most effective compound killed 100% of parasites present in mosquitoes within six minutes of contact with bed net-like material impregnated with the compound. This remained the case when tested on lab-derived insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. The effect of the compounds in the nets also lasted for a year, demonstrating their long-term functionality and potency.

The authors state that future studies into compounds that do not share the targets of clinically used antimalarials are needed. Additionally, the antimalarial-treated nets should be tested in combination with the currently used insecticide-treated ones to confirm their hypothesized complementary effectiveness. The authors conclude that this previously untapped approach could reduce human malaria cases, especially in the face of insecticide resistance.