Malaria Bulletin - SAMRC MALARIA RESEARCH GROUP

Malaria
   Bulletin

SAMRC MALARIA RESEARCH GROUP
          January 2021

Table of Contents
Best Practices in Mitigating the effect of Covid-19 on
Malaria ...................................................................................................... 3
News Articles .......................................................................................... 3
Recently Published Articles .............................................................. 4
Funding / Opportunities .................................................................... 5
Local & Overseas Conferences ......................................................... 6
Presentation Icebreaker! ................................................................ 10

                                                                                         P a g e 2 | 10

BEST PRACTICES IN MITIGATING THE EFFECT OF
COVID-19 ON MALARIA

2020 will always be synonymous with the Covid-19 pandemic and its
devastating effects on lives, health systems, treatment programmes
and resources. “The RBM Partnership recently published a new brief
with the best practices observed and applied in the past year to
mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on malaria, highlighting practices such
as extensive advocacy, extraordinary collaboration, as well as timely
guidance and technical assistance by malaria partners.”

                            The publication can be viewed and
                            downloaded via the website:

https://endmalaria.org/sites/default/files/Best%20practices%20in
%20mitigating%20the%20effect%20of%20COVID-
19%20on%20malaria.pdf

NEWS ARTICLES
Some “light” reading – kindly visit the links to read the full articles.
•   “A new resource for building medical entomology capacity to
    fight neglected tropical diseases.” Read more about the initiative
    by TDR and Global Vector Hub by accessing the link:
    https://www.who.int/tdr/news/2020/new-resource-for-
    building-medical-entomology-capacity/en/
                                                        P a g e 3 | 10

•   “Scientists have identified novel antiplasmodial lead compounds
    for mass drug administration and vector control to eliminate
    malaria.” Read the article by researchers from the University of
    Witwatersrand.
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/2101141119
    14.htm

•   “Bacteria carried by mosquitoes may protect them against
    pesticides.” New study indicates that Wolbachia may protect
    mosquitoes against pesticides. Read the article:
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/2101131008
    22.htm

•   “Getting to Know Plasmodium knowlesi: The New Parasite on the
    Block.” More information on this public health threat can be
    accessed via the link: Getting to Know Plasmodium knowlesi: The
    New Parasite on the Block – MALARIA.com

•   “Multiple mosquito blood meals accelerate malaria transmission.”
    A new study examines how multiple blood meals can increase
    malaria transmission. Access the article:
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/2012311414
    59.htm

RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES
•   Reader J et al. Multistage and transmission-blocking targeted
    antimalarials discovered from the open-source MMV Pandemic
    Response Box. Nature Communications, 2021; 12 (1)
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20629-8

    Multistage and transmission-blocking targeted antimalarials - UP
    media release

    Multistage and transmission-blocking targeted antimalarials - UP
    Live stream discussion

                                                    P a g e 4 | 10

•   Anyorigiya TA et al. Pharmacokinetic profile of amodiaquine and
    its active metabolite desethylamodiaquine in Ghanaian patients
    with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Malar J (2021) 20:18
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03553-6

•   Cheuka PM, Centani L, Arendse LB, Fienberg S, Wambua L, Renga
    SS, Dziwornu GA, Kumar M, Lawrence N, Taylor D, Wittlin S,
    Coertzen D, Reader J, van der Watt M, Birkholtz L, Chibale K. New
    Amidated 3, 6-Diphenylated Imidazopyridazines with Potent
    Antiplasmodium Activity Are Dual Inhibitors of Plasmodium
    Phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase and cGMP-Dependent Protein
    Kinase. ACS Infectious Diseases. 2021, 7 (1); 34-36.

•   Nabet C, Kone AK, Dia AK, Sylla M, Gautier M, Yattara M, Thera MA,
    Faye O, Braack L, Manguin S, Beavogui AH, Doumbo O, Gay F,
    Piarroux R. New assessment of Anopheles vector species
    identification using MALDI-TOF MS. Malaria Journal. 2021, 20; 33.

•   Blog by Miles Markus entitled “Is temporal Plasmodium vivax
    malarial recurrence information useful?” Link to the blog:
    https://malariaworld.org/blog/temporal-plasmodium-vivax-
    malarial-recurrence-information-useful

FUNDING / OPPORTUNITIES

•   ISGlobal Presents 11 Research Proposals for “la Caixa” Doctoral
    INPhINIT Fellowships. “The programme offers a 3-year
    employment contract at research centres distinguished with the
    Spanish Seals of Excellence Severo Ochoa or María de Maeztu.”
    Apply before 4 February 2021. For more information visit:
    https://www.isglobal.org/en/-/isglobal-presenta-11-becas-de-
    doctorado-inphinit-la-caixa

                                                    P a g e 5 | 10

•   TDR, SIHI, the Social Innovation in Health Initiative, and WHO
    regional offices have issued a call for “identification of good
    practices in engaging communities in research for
    implementation and in social innovation in health in low and
    middle-income countries.” Deadline 19 February 2021. For
    more information visit the website:
    https://who.force.com/etdr/s/gs-
    solicitation/a0p3X00000avTMMQA2/ca210005

•   South Africa (NRF) / Switzerland (Swiss National Science
    Foundation (SNSF) Lead Agency. Call for applications. Closing
    date 1 April 2021. More information can be found at:
    https://www.nrf.ac.za/division/funding/south-africa-nrf-
    switzerland-swiss-national-science-foundation-snsf-lead-agency

LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONFERENCES
Below please find links to malaria related conferences advertised for
2021. For more information, please visit the relevant websites:

1. Vector Biology: Emerging Concepts and Novel Technologies
   Colorado, USA
   February 15-18, 2021
   https://www.keystonesymposia.org/KS/Online/Events/2021Q6
   /Details.aspx?EventKey=2021Q6

2. International Conference on Infectious Diseases and Public
   Health
   London, United Kingdom
   February 15-16, 2021
   https://waset.org/infectious-diseases-and-public-health-
   conference-in-february-2021-in-london

                                                     P a g e 6 | 10

3. The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) 87th Annual
   Conference
   Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
   March 1-5, 2021
   https://www.mosquito.org/page/AMCA-87th-Annual-
   Conference

4. H3D Symposium: Celebrating a Decade of Infectious Diseases
   Drug Discovery in Africa
   Cape Town, South Africa
   March 10-12, 2021
   https://www.h3dsymposium.co.za/

5. 1st International Conference on Public Health in Africa
   Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
   May 12-14, 2021
   https://africacdc.org/event/1st-international-conference-on-
   public-health-in-africa/

6. The 17th Conference of the International Society of Travel
   Medicine (CISTM)
   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
   May 19-23, 2021
   https://www.istm.org/cistm17

7. International Conference on Travel Medicine and Infectious
   Diseases (ICTMID 2021)
   Vancouver, Canada
   May 20-21, 2021
   https://waset.org/travel-medicine-and-infectious-diseases-
   conference-in-may-2021-in-vancouver

8. BioMalPar XVII: Biology and Pathology of the Malaria Parasite –
   Virtual
   May 25-27, 2021
   https://www.embl.de/training/events/2021/BMP21-01/

                                                    P a g e 7 | 10

9. Gordon Research Conference: Science Driving Malaria
   Interventions and Elimination Strategies
   Les Diablerets Conference Center, Eurotel Victoria
   Switzerland
   May 30 – June 4, 2021
   https://www.grc.org/malaria-conference/2021/

10. Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria
    Wellcome Genome Campus
    United Kingdom
    June 7-9, 2021
    https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.org/ou
    r-events/genomic-epidemiology-of-malaria-2020/

11. XXVI International Congress of Entomology
    Finlandia Hall
    Helsinki, Finland
    July 18-23, 2021
    https://ice2020helsinki.fi/

12. 6th Southern Africa Malaria Research Conference
    Venue: TBC
    South Africa
    August 3-5, 2021 (Tentative)
    https://malariaconference.mrc.ac.za/

13. The 20th International Congress for Tropical Medicine and
    Malaria (ICTMM2020)
    Bangkok, Thailand
    August 17-21, 2021
    https://ictmm2020.org/

                                                      P a g e 8 | 10

14. 5th International Conference on Malaria and related
    Haemosporidian Parasites of Wildlife
    Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
    September 13-17, 2021
    https://www.uni-
    bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/biologie/forschung/veranstaltungen/m
    alariaconference2021/

15. Pan African Travel Medicine Conference 2021
    Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa
    October 13-16, 2021
    https://sastm.eventbank.com/event/pan-african-travel-
    medicine-congress-kruger-national-park-2021-14199/#home

16. Global Summit on Infectious Diseases
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    November 17-18, 2021
    https://crgconferences.com/infectiousdiseases

17. EPIDEMICS8: 8th International Conference on Infectious Disease
    Dynamics
    Bologna, Italy
    November 30 – 3 December 2021
    https://www.elsevier.com/events/conferences/international-
    conference-on-infectious-disease-dynamics/about

                                                    P a g e 9 | 10

PRESENTATION ICEBREAKER!

                  Contact Us
                  491 Peter Mokaba Ridge Road, Overport
                  Durban, 4067
                  P.O. Box 70380, Overport, 4067
                  Phone: +27 (0)31 2034852
                  Web: www.samrc.ac.za
                  Email: malaria@mrc.ac.za

                                     P a g e 10 | 10