Scientists at GSK have discovered a naturally occurring bacteria, known as TC1, that has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of malaria parasite in mosquitoes. This discovery could be a crucial step in efforts to combat malaria, a disease that causes more than 600,000 deaths annually.
The study, published in the journal Science, found that the TC1 bacteria could lower the parasite load in both the mosquito’s gut and salivary glands, potentially reducing transmission to humans. The World Health Organization aims to drastically reduce malaria incidence and mortality by 2030, but drug and insecticide resistance, coupled with the threat of climate change expanding transmission zones, poses challenges.
Unlike some approaches, TC1 doesn’t kill mosquitoes or hinder their reproduction, which means there’s less risk of the mosquito or parasite developing resistance to the bacteria. This makes TC1 an attractive candidate for a biological control method. It’s also believed to be environmentally safe.
The deployment of this biological control is still under consideration. Possible methods include treating mosquito breeding water, using feed traps, and coating or spraying indoor surfaces and bed nets. These methods are already employed in Africa, where the majority of global malaria cases occur.
Initial semi-field studies were conducted in Burkina Faso, and larger field studies are the next step in the research process. GSK previously developed the first malaria vaccine in 2021 after decades of work and significant investment.
