Structure-based virtual screening approach reveals natural multi-target compounds for the development of antimalarial drugs to combat drug resistance.

Compared to the previous year, there has been an increase of nearly 2 million malaria cases in 2021. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of , the most deadly malaria parasite, has led to a decline in the effectiveness of existing antimalarial drugs. To address this problem, the present study aimed to identify natural compounds with the potential to inhibit multiple validated antimalarial drug targets.

Genetic differentiation among Aedes aegypti populations from different eco-geographical zones of India.

The present study explicitly evaluated the genetic structure of Aedes aegypti Linn, the vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, across different geo-climatic zones of India and also elucidated the impact of ecological and topographic factors. After data quality checks and removal of samples with excess null alleles, the final analysis was performed on 589 individual samples using 10 microsatellite markers. Overall findings of this study suggested that, Ae.

Design and validation of multiplex polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic tool for species.

Background & Objectives: The highly sensitive method for a true understanding of malaria prevalence is of utmost importance for India's elimination strategy. The PCR reaction type with rapid detection, cost-effectiveness, and less workforce should be preferable. Multiplex PCR type accomplishes the present requirement by saving time and resources to find true surveillance data for malaria, especially in low-parasitemia/asymptomatic groups or populations.

Studies on the breeding potential and entomological indices of dengue vector and in the district Ghaziabad of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background & Objectives: The female Aedes mosquito is a vector of many arboviruses-borne diseases. The evidence and information regarding their breeding habitats are vital for implementing appropriate control policies.

Methods: An entomological survey was done at three sites in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, India viz.

Malaria vector sibling species distribution in different endemic districts of Punjab, India.

Background & Objectives: Malaria transmission in Punjab, India is mainly seasonal with variation in its endemicity that may be due to varying vector behaviour in different areas of the state, primarily attributed to the existence of sibling species complexes among the vector species. So far there is no report regarding the existence of malaria vectors sibling species in the state of Punjab, therefore, the present study was planned to investigate the status of sibling species of two main vectors of malaria viz. Anopheles culcifacies and Anopheles fluviatilis in different districts of Punjab.

In vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Sargassum tenerrimum - a marine seaweed.

Green nanotechnology has recently attracted a lot of attention as a potential technique for drug development. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesised by using Sargassum tenerrimum, a marine seaweed crude extract (Ag-ST), and evaluated for antimalarial activity in both in vitro and in vivo models. The results showed that Ag-ST nanoparticles exhibited good antiplasmodial activity with IC values 7.

India could harness public-private partnerships to achieve malaria elimination.

Public-private partnerships (PPP) have been beneficial in different sectors like infrastructure development and service sector across the world, including in India. Such partnerships in the healthcare sector have also been successful in providing access to affordable medical attention to all sections of society. These partnerships between public and private entities have proven to be beneficial in controlling malaria in high burden districts of India and taking these areas to the brink of elimination, thus setting examples to follow.

National Institute of Malaria Research-Malaria Dashboard (NIMR-MDB): A digital platform for analysis and visualization of epidemiological data.

Background: A digital dashboard can be an invaluable resource for the research community and can help analyze and visualize data as per the inputs provided by the user. In India, large data sets on malaria are available though presently no digital dashboard is being used to monitor and analyze the malaria data.

Methods: We have developed a dashboard (National Institute of Malaria Research-Malaria Dashboard (NIMR-MDB)) in R software using 19 different packages within which shiny and ggplot2 are used more intensively.

Climate zones are a key component of the heterogeneous presentation of malaria and should be added as a malariometric for the planning of malaria elimination.

Malaria is a climate-sensitive disease and different climatic conditions affect the propagation of malaria vectors thereby influencing malaria incidence. The present study was undertaken to delineate malaria distribution across different climate types and sub-types in India and assess its significance as a malariometric in the ongoing elimination activities. All Indian districts were classified into three major climatic zones (Tropical, Temperate, and others (Arid, Cold, and Polar) based on the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system.

Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Pregnancy: Low Coverage and High Prevalence of dhfr-dhps Quintuple Mutants as Major Challenges in Douala, an Urban Setting in Cameroon.

Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is a key component in the malaria control strategy implemented in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine IPTp-SP adherence and coverage, and the impact on maternal infection and birth outcomes in the context of widespread SP resistance in the city of Douala, Cameroon. Clinical and demographic information were documented among 888 pregnant women attending 3 health facilities, from the antenatal care visit to delivery.

Ganaplacide (KAF156) plus lumefantrine solid dispersion formulation combination for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: an open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial.

Background: Emergence of drug resistance demands novel antimalarial drugs with new mechanisms of action. We aimed to identify effective and well tolerated doses of ganaplacide plus lumefantrine solid dispersion formulation (SDF) in patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Methods: This open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial was conducted at 13 research clinics and general hospitals in ten African and Asian countries.

Artemisinin-based combination therapy successfully treated two hyperparasitaemic Plasmodium falciparum cases.

Hyperparasitaemia is an important event in the cascade of Plasmodium falciparum severe malaria (SM), and may also lead to SM associated complications and death, if left untreated. Here, we report two hyperparasitaemic patients with no life-threatening complications. Malaria diagnosis was performed using thick and thin blood smears and immunochromatographic-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) purchased from three different manufacturers.

Role of Human Twin Studies to Identify Genetic Linkage of Malaria Pathogenesis and Outcomes.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge that needs attention, especially when the world is aiming at malaria elimination in the near future. It is crucial to understand the underlying genetic factors and epigenetics involved in malaria susceptibility and the dynamics of host immune responses that affect disease outcomes and relapses in Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale. Studies in newborn and adult twins can help in understanding the comparative roles of environmental and genetic factors on disease pathogenesis and outcome.

Chemical library design, QSAR modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of naturally occurring coumarins as dual inhibitors of MAO-B and AChE.

Coumarins are a highly privileged scaffold in medicinal chemistry. It is present in many natural products and is reported to display various pharmacological properties. A large plethora of compounds based on the coumarin ring system have been synthesized and were found to possess biological activities such as anticonvulsant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant as well as neuroprotective properties.

Monoclonal antibody: future of malaria control and prevention.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are extremely specialized proteins that are cloned from B cells and bind to pathogen epitopes. There are currently no known prophylactic immune-based strategies or efficient, widespread treatments to stop the spread of malaria. In order to lower the prevalence of malaria and its associated mortality, we need mAbs that are capable of offering immediate passive protection against the disease.

Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum prohibitins as novel targets to block infection in humans by impairing the growth and transmission of the parasite.

Prohibitins (PHBs) are highly conserved pleiotropic proteins as they have been shown to mediate key cellular functions. Here, we characterize PHBs encoding putative genes ofPlasmodium falciparum by exploiting different orthologous models. We demonstrated that PfPHB1 (PF3D7_0829200) and PfPHB2 (PF3D7_1014700) are expressed in asexual and sexual blood stages of the parasite.

Culture and transfection: Two major bottlenecks in understanding biology.

The long term culture of was successfully established by Trager and Jensen in 1976; however it largely remains unachieved for . The major obstacle associated with culture is its predilection for invading younger reticulocytes and the complex remodelling of invaded reticulocytes. There are many factors under exploration for this predilection and host-parasite interactions between merozoites and invaded reticulocytes.

Malaria hemozoin: A target for point-of-care diagnosis.

The challenges in malaria diagnosis continue to threaten the malaria elimination goal in India and other malaria-endemic countries. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit is widely used in resource-constrained areas where microscopy and molecular methods are not easily deployable. Considering the problems associated with the currently available RDT kit, such as histidine-rich protein 2 gene deletion and prolonged stability of the protein in the blood, it suggests that new potential biomarkers are urgently needed.

Digital dashboards with paradata can improve data quality where disease surveillance relies on real-time data collection.

Dealing with the threats of vector-borne diseases necessitates robust disease surveillance systems. The gathered information from surveillance studies is used to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures. It also guides the allocation of resources within the healthcare system.

Vaccination coverage and breakthrough infections of COVID-19 during the second wave among staff of selected medical institutions in India.

India experienced the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection from April 3 to June 10, 2021. During the second wave, Delta variant B.1617.

Ocular conjunctival microbiome profiling in dry eye disease: A case control pilot study.

Purpose: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that results in discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface. A pilot study was undertaken to determine if there were any major substantial differences in the ocular microbiome in DED patients versus healthy controls.

Methods: The bacterial communities residing in the conjunctiva of patients with DED (n = 4) and healthy controls (n = 4) were assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing of the V4-V5 region.