The parasites that cause malaria have become more difficult to kill. This threatens a new pandemic

A group of scientists from Japan and Uganda conducted a study of African malarial plasmodia. It turned out that they

have acquired drug resistance.So far it makes all treatment completely useless. However, experts have noticed that drug resistance significantly increases the lifespan of parasites in the human circulatory system. Thus, scientists have discovered several mutations that are most likely directly related to resistance. Over the past few years they have become increasingly common. 

Like viruses and bacteria, eukaryotic parasites evolve, mutate, and become resistant to vaccines and drugs. In the late 1950s this happened with Plasmodium falciparum, which has led to outbreaks of malaria infection. Then the disease was treated with chloroquine, and 40 years later with artemisinin.

A group of scientists from Japan and Uganda observedhow the number and viability of plasmodia in the blood of several hundred malaria patients changes. The researchers then tested whether the increased half-life was actually associated with drug resistance. Biologists then sequenced the Plasmodium genomes and discovered seven different mutations in the genekelch13, which has been linked to artemisinin resistance. 

Scientists are confident that even partial resistance toartemisinin can lead to disaster. If resistant plasmodia spread across Africa, which accounts for about 90% of the world's malaria cases, scientists will have to find new ways to combat Plasmodium. Otherwise, the world faces a new pandemic.

Let us remember that in February 2014, the Ebola fever epidemic began in West Africa, and then the disease spread to the United States and Europe.

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