Today, how DNA from a single patient in Ethiopia can shed light on the big picture of malaria.

• Why is Plasmodium vivax significant in malaria research, especially in Ethiopia?
• How does genomic sequencing contribute to understanding and controlling malaria?
• How are advances in sequencing technology influencing malaria research?

With Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez

About The Podcast

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

'Comparative genomics' helps identify genes that can serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines.

Transcript

Not all parasites are alike. Genetic mutations mean that malaria parasites evolve differently in different regions – and even within the same region. One species thought to be particularly genetically diverse is Plasmodium vivax. It’s the second most common species of malaria, found in South East Asia, South America, and some parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, 20% of malaria cases are thought to be caused by P. vivax. In a new paper, scientists made a ‘reference genome’ from a sample of P. vivax in Ethiopia. They collected blood from an infected patient, extracted the DNA, and ‘read’ its fragments to form the parasite genome. This allows scientists to compare P. vivax samples across regions – and understand their similarities and differences. Importantly, this study of ‘comparative genomics’ ie comparing genomes will help identify the genes that stay the same – the conserved genes – and those which are different - the unique genes -which could serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines.

Source

Assembled genome of an Ethiopian Plasmodium vivax isolate generated using GridION long-read technology

About The Podcast

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

The World Health Organisation has recommended two licenced malaria vaccines. Those vaccines have been a long time coming - but are they the best?

In this extended episode of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute, we ask:

• Why is developing a malaria vaccine so challenging?
• How does antigen variation play affect the effectiveness of malaria vaccines?
• What are transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), and why haven't they gained much interest despite their potential?

With Ilinca Ciubotariu, Qixin He and Giovanna Carpi.

About The Podcast

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.