Malaria parasites hiding from the human immune system- Alyssa Butts
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/malaria-parasite-mosquitoes-genetics-immune-system
Malaria parasites is a disease caused by plasmodium falciparum, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Malaria infects red blood cells as part of a complex life cycle. The parasite hides in the human by keeping the cells they infect from clinging to blood vessels. By doing that infected cells get removed from circulation and parasite levels in the body remain low, making people less sick and allowing the parasite to be undetected.
Doctors observed malaria and it tends to wane during the dry season, which runs from January to May
Max Planck had seen that 1,131 genes were turned on that was off in wet season parasites. Another 476 were turned off in dry season parasites. The loss of stickiness could be because the parasite makes fewer of these proteins or because the proteins are different in some way. Max thinks malaria may alter its genetics to make red blood cells less sticky allowing parasites to replicate and persist without setting off alarm bells that alert the immune system to fight the infection.
If malaria is a disease that can go undetected how would doctors know a person has it?
What is the connection between sickle cell disease and malaria?
Scientists say that there is an effective human immune response to the malaria parasite. Why is this parasite still infecting people?
The parasite is still infecting people most likely because it is evolving and is getting stronger and also not every human has strong immune systems and we have to factor other diseases that could make them more vulnerable to the parasite.
ReplyDelete-Angeline Upchurch
The gene that causes sickle cell disease decreases the risk for malaria, therefore, in regions particularly impacted by malaria the genes for sickle cell disease are selected for. Despite having an immune response, it may not be strong enough to completely fight off malaria. If the levels of malaria are low enough that it can't be detected, then it may not have a severe impact on the infected person.
ReplyDeleteCarissa Bersche
This disease could be detected not by itself but by other diseases or if there is a malaria outbreak in the area, for example sickle cell disease and how it affects the body in which malaria can be detected, scientists have said its still infecting people due to weaker immune systems and poor conditions.
ReplyDelete-Tyler
My pathogen was Plasmodium falciparum and in my research I learned that it is becoming more and more resistant to medicines such as Chloroquine Phosphate. In areas where Malaria is not as common, it does often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Doctors can take blood smears and view the samples under a microscope in order to tell the state of the red blood cell and if this parasite is present. -Trinity Mathis
ReplyDeleteMy parents are both from West Africa where malaria is really common. My mother got it multiple times as a kid and I think it's because even when you start taking chloroquine and you're able to get rid of the parasite, your immune system is still weak so it makes you prone to getting it again.
ReplyDelete-Ilori T
If malaria is a disease that can go undetected i would imagine the doctors, if unable to detect it by looking at antibodies, would have to do detailed blood tests in order to see them. or look at symptoms. as for the sickle cell connection, people with sickle cell are resistant to Malaria, and I believe the gene originated in a place where malaria was quite high. So it is a form of human adaptation - Nathan Clark
ReplyDeleteMalaria and sickle cell disease are connected because they both affect red blood cells. And also, I think people are still being infected by malaria because the parasite is evolving and becoming more resistant to the human immune response. Also other factors such as environment and hygiene can make some populations more prone to the sickness. -Shirin Saha
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