Chance discovery helps fight against malaria

[muriel_volestrangler]

Scientists at a research facility in Spain, run by the GSK pharmaceutical company, made the discovery after noticing that a colony of mosquitoes being used for drug development had stopped carrying malaria.
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Further studies revealed that a specific strain of bacteria - TC1 - which is naturally present in the environment, had stopped the development of the malaria parasites in the gut of the mosquitoes.
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New data published in Science magazine suggests the bacteria can reduce a mosquito's parasite load by up to 73%.

The bacteria works by secreting a small molecule, known as harmane, which inhibits the early stages of the malaria parasite growing in the mosquito's gut.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66394117