Working together to combat malaria.
"...information at the molecular level is vital to gain insights
into the pathogenesis of malaria, and potentially offers
the opportunity to develop better drugs."
~ Subra Suresh
Research programmesVector-Parasite Biology and Molecular EpidemiologyAn effective malaria control programme requires the ability to reliably distinguish between different mosquito species, to evaluate the role of different species in malaria transmission, which in turn requires the ability to detect parasites in mosquito salivary glands. In addition, reliable and efficient tools for surveillance of insecticide and antimalarial drug resistance are required. The vector-parasite biology programme of SAMI is establishing local facilities for studying the interaction between the malaria parasite and the mosquito vector. A better understanding of this interaction should contribute knowledge in understanding the differential responses of different mosquito species to infection by the malaria parasite. The second aim of this programme is to develop new tools to monitor insecticide resistance among vector populations, which will enhance our ability to manage insecticide use in Southern Africa. This has become increasingly important in South Africa and southern Mozambique where resistance to insecticides has been shown to be on the rise. The third aim of the programme is to develop new tools for reliable detection of parasites in mosquito salivary glands. This expertise is required in order to distinguish between those mosquito species that are involved in malaria transmission and those that are not involved. This ability prevents indiscriminate use of insecticides, which leads to the development of resistance, and also assists in ensuring that resources are used efficiently, as insecticides will not be wasted on non-vector species. The molecular epidemiology arm of this programme aims to develop and implement a surveillance system for monitoring drug resistance phenotypes in malaria parasites. It has been suggested that the importation of resistant or multi-drug resistant phenotypes that have been selected in other regions poses a threat to the malaria control programme of South Africa, due to extensive migration of individuals from malaria endemic countries into South Africa. A real-time drug resistance monitoring system, in conjunction with genetic variability of local parasite populations, will form an important node in the decision-making process regarding appropriate treatment regimes for the Southern African region.
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