Scientists find curbing the overuse of antimalarial drugs often replaced by overuse of antibiotics instead; study also reveals puzzling cases of malaria patients testing positive yet going untreated.

Malaria is o­ne of the few parasites that can infect red blood cells as it multiplies inside an internal compartment called parasitophorous vacuole. Eventually, both the vacuole and red blood cells break allow the release of a new generation of parasites.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) account for more than 70 percent of diagnostic testing for malaria in Africa. Most rapid test diagnostics rely o­n the detection an antigen specific to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, o­ne of every 15 children infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites is infected by a mutant, producing a false-negative result when an RDT is used, investigators report.

An interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers at Vanderbilt University headed by Stevenson Professor of Chemistry David Wright has designed a new kind of rapid diagnostic test for malaria that has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant which is designed to support innovative global health and development research projects. It is o­ne of 56 such grants announced today by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Scientists have discovered genetic markers in malaria parasites linked to resistance to the key anti-malarial medicine piperaquine, and say their work could help doctors and health officials monitor and limit the spread of such resistance.

• Malaria drugs vital to expectant mothers (09/26/2016)
• A breath test for malaria (05/13/2016)
• New Urine Test Offers Quick, Painless Check for Malaria (05/12/2016)
• Malaria during pregnancy is a lot more dangerous than Zika (05/09/2016)
• Study: New Treatment Cuts Malaria Infection Risk in Pregnant Women (03/10/2016)