Scientists claim breakthrough in malaria treatment

BRITISH scientists yesterday claimed to have made a breakthrough in finding a permanent treatment for malaria.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Structural Biology, could have a major impact on treatment for the disease, which kills one African child every 30 seconds. Scientists say they have identified the element in the make-up of the parasite responsible for the disease which enables it to become quickly resistant to new treatments, a property which has severely hampered drug companies’ efforts to develop a vaccine.

Researchers at Edinburgh University’s Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology have been working with scientists at the Biotec Institute in the Thai capital Bangkok to study the protein responsible.