They have produced compounds capable of killing the malaria parasite inside the mosquito

2025/05/27 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza

A study led by Harvard has shown that a combination of compounds is able to kill the parasite Plasmodium falciparum (the causative agent of most malaria cases) inside mosquitoes. In addition, this combination is ideal for insertion into the mosquito net and prevents the appearance of resistance to insecticides. Therefore, it has been confirmed that it can be an effective solution for the prevention of malaria.

The researchers studied 81 antiparasitic compounds by direct application to mosquitoes of Anopheles gambiae, the main vectors of the disease. Thus, 22 compounds were found that affect the development of the parasite. Two of them stood out for their action at different points in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. These compounds are easily and inexpensively synthesized, and one of them destroyed all parasites with 6 minutes of contact, even in mosquitoes resistant to insecticides. Integrated into the mosquito nets, and after one year, the repaired ones remained effective. The results are published in the journal Nature.