The official MedZine Blog

Scientists of the Imperial College London developed a method to prevent the spreading of malaria. They did this by adapting the genetic material of Anopheles gambiae, one of the malaria-spreading mosquito species. The researchers published their findings in Nature Biotechnology. Continue reading

American scientists have discovered a specific odour produced by malaria-infected cells which attracts mosquitoes. This might explain why malaria mosquitoes are more likely to bite infected individuals. The study was published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Continue reading

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that is caused by a parasite that invades red blood cells. Scientists at the University of Cambridge used a laser optical tweezer technique to study the interaction between the parasite and red blood cells on a very small scale, which proved that the instrument can be used for such detailed research purposes. The results are published in Biophysical Journal. Continue reading

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) this week, researchers presented data that indicate that the world’s most common malaria parasite is becoming a bigger threat. MedZine tells you what is happening. In addition, MedZine also highlights another study, showing successful persistent gene therapy without suppressing the immune system. Continue reading

Also this week MedZine brings you the latest medical news on various medical specialisms. In this editorial two striking studies are highlighted. The first describes how bacteria can be used to stop malaria. The second study sheds light on how modifications in key epigenetic markers influence human embryonic development. Continue reading