Five Minutes | Exclusive Malaria Interviews

Long-lasting insecticidal bednets, or LLINs for short, are an integral part of the global effort to fight malaria, with the WHO recommending that everyone, all 3.4 billion people, at risk of malaria should have access to one. But how effective are they? To try and understand how bednets are being used in the field, a team of researchers led by Paul Krezanoski of the University of California have developed the so-called SmartNet, a remote bednet monitor. I speak to Paul about the unreliable mechanisms of monitoring bednet use and the technology behind the SmartNet.

When testing for malaria, there are two primary options: lab-based diagnosis and RTDs, Rapid Diagnostic Tests. There are pros and cons with each. Lab-based diagnosis, whilst accurate, require expert training and a well-equipped lab, which may not be available in low-resource settings. RTDs, whilst portable and inexpensive, are not always accurate, reporting false positives and false negatives. But both of these methods require a blood sample from the patient. This in itself poses many risks; bruising, swelling and even infection. One of the new methods of malaria diagnosis in development does not require a blood sample - the so-called Matiscope by Brian Gitta, a Ugandan inventor.

A new study has found that fungus, genetically enhanced to produce spider toxin, can kill a large-number of malaria-carrying mosquitos.  I speak with Brian Lovett, who is one of the authors of the paper.

In 2018, leaders of the Commonwealth countries pledged to reduce malaria cases by half by 2023.  One year on, what has been done to try and achieve that aim?Malaria No More held a panel in London to try and answer that very question.

To take a look at where we are in the fight against malaria, I’m joined by Michal Fishman of Malaria No More.  She’s co-chairs the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, which brings together organisations to reduce malaria cases.

Malaria No More has just launched a petition, with David Beckham as its figurehead. The petition aims to get the attention of world leaders ahead of critical funding decisions for The Global Fund. But this petition is not asking for signatures or for your email address, it wants your voice, and for you to recording yourself saying ‘Malaria Must Die’. To learn more, I’m joined by Dr Elvis Eze, who is part of the campaign.

Hello, I’m Thomas Locke and this is Five Minutes, the podcast that brings you closer to the malaria experts. The Mobile Malaria team, led by Dr George Busby from the University of Oxford, are about to set off on a six-thousand-kilometre journey across Africa. They’ll be making the journey in a Land Rover, taking portable DNA sequencing technology on the road. Sequencing DNA is no mean feat, it requires lots of specialist equipment, stuff you’d normally find in a lab. But this project won’t be done in a high-tech laboratory, it’ll be done from the boot of a car. I recently spoke with Dr Busby and began by asking how they’re able to take this highly technical operation on the road.

Hello, I’m Thomas Locke and this is Five Minutes, the podcast that brings you closer to the malaria experts. All of our genetic material is made from DNA. It’s a chemical found in the nucleus of our cells, in long structures called chromosomes. The entire set of our genetic material forms our genome; each one of our is unique.  Having reference genomes, a list of the genes always occur in a particular species is really important. It allows scientists to identify genes that cause disease, understand genetic inheritance and track migration patterns. Or in the case of malaria, understand insecticide resistance. Creating reference genomes for mosquitos is a challenge. But now, in a partnership between the Sanger Institute and PacBio, it can be done with just 100 nanograms of DNA. I speak with Sarah Kingan, a scientist who helped develop the new protocol.

Hello, I’m Thomas Locke and this is Five Minutes, the podcast that brings you closer to the people fighting malaria. The world’s access to mobile phones is increasing. Quartz Africa predicts that one billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa will have one by 2023. Fatou Secka, a student at Dalhousie University in Canada, is using this to revolutionise malaria diagnosis. Using a 3D-printed lens clip that attaches the back of a smartphone camera, she hopes to detect the presence of malaria parasites in a blood sample - a useful tool in rural communities, where access to specialist equipment is limited.

Hello, I’m Thomas Locke and this is Five Minutes, the podcast that brings you closer to the people fighting malaria. There are a number of stakeholders in the fight against malaria. Hundreds of organisations, nonprofits and government schemes are united by a common objective: to eradicate malaria. But how do you align this global community to ensure that everyone’s singing off of the same song sheet? Well, the Strategic Communications Partner Committee, the SCPC, tries to do just that. Part of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the SCPC works alongside stakeholders to develop and implement global malaria communications. Right now, between the 13th and the 14th of February, key members of the committee are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland for their annual face-to-face meeting. Joining me now is Xenya Scanlon, the Committee's Manager.