Malaria Parasite Taken Out By Genetically Engineered Bacteria

Malaria Parasite Taken Out By Genetically Engineered Bacteria - International Business Times

Once it took up residence in the mosquitoes, the modified bacteria inhibited up to 98 percent of human and rodent malaria parasites from developing. They also found that the number of mosquitoes carrying parasites decreased by up to 84 percent after the bacteria was introduced.

The modified bacteria also have an alternative way of attacking the malaria parasite by binding to a protein in the mosquito's blood called plasminogen. The parasite needs to recruit plasminogen in order to move out of the mosquito's gut, but the engineered bacteria swoops in and blocks off the parasite's access point to the protein.

"It's very specific. It kills only the malaria parasite and does not affect the mosquito or humans, or even other bacteria" residing in the mosquito's gut,

they modified the Pantoea agglomerans microbe, a plant pest closely related to E. coli, so that it would make proteins that target the malaria parasite at the most vulnerable stage of its life cycle -- when it hides in the gut of the mosquito. Little protein chains made by the modified P. agglomerans poke a hole in the malaria parasite's outer membrane, spilling its insides out and killing it.

Despite millions of charitable dollars poured into anti-malaria drugs and preventative measures, the disease still killed around 655,000 people in 2010 alone, mostly African children under 5 years old.

Scientists say they've found another weapon against malaria: genetically engineered bacteria assassins.