Scientists Attack Malaria in Blood Cells by Altering Parasite Genes
Scientists at Yale University have found a way to slow the development of malaria inside blood cells. By altering gene expression of RNA, they were able to block other molecules from accessing specific sequences. This leads to a disruption of the parasite's development once it is inside a blood cell.
Malaria, a disease which claims the lives of over 600,000 people every year, is becoming an even bigger problem when drug-resistant strains pop up and render common anti-malaria drugs useless. An amazing advantage to this gene alteration is that even strains resistant to drugs used to treat malaria are affected. Gene alteration, along with the crime scene compoud Luminol, and playing around with the host's blood proteins are new ways that researchers are developing to combat malaria.
If you'd like to read the news release from Yale, click here.
Considering how many people have died of Malaria, this is HUGE. The numbers could be significantly decreased each year if scientists perfect this tactic and stop Malaria in its tracks.
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