Cost effectiveness of seasonal intermittent preventive treatment using amodiaquine & artesunate or sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in Ghanaian children (Publications)
drug regimen at US$67.77 (61.71-74.75, CI 95%) per malaria case averted based on intervention costs only, US$64.93 (58.92-71.92, CI 95%) per malaria case averted once the provider cost savings are included [...] and AS & AQ bimonthly US$211.80 (127.05-399.14, CI 95%) per malaria case averted based on intervention costs only. The incidence of malaria in the post intervention period was higher in children who were [...] BACKGROUND: Intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in children (IPTc)...
Repellents and new "spaces of concern" in global health (Publications)
Today, malaria prevention hinges upon two domestic interventions: insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying. As mosquitoes grow resistant to these tools, however, novel approaches to vector [...] vector control have become a priority area of malaria research and development. Spatial repellency, a volumetric mode of action that seeks to reduce disease transmission by creating an atmosphere inimical [...] of a non-insecticidal paradigm of vector control for how we understand the...
Comparison of a new IgG-EIA for the detection of anti-plasmodium antibodies with two currently used assays (Publications)
Material and Methods: In the present study two routine Plasmodium spp. ELISA (CAPTIA™ Malaria EIA, Trinity Biotech, and Malaria EIA, Bio-Rad) were compared with a new commercial ELISA (ELISA IgG, EUROIMMUN). [...] Conclusion: The comparison of the new EUROIMMUN ELISA and the established CAPTIA™ Malaria EIA (Trinity Biotech) and Ma-laria EIA (BioRad) used for routine blood donor screening in two laboratory blood donation [...] Background: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by...
Mechanistic within-host models of the asexual <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> infection: a review and analytical assessment (Publications)
the last 30 years, several mechanistic mathematical models of malaria parasite within-host dynamics have been published and used in malaria transmission models. METHODS: Mechanistic within-host models of [...] and inter-individual variability. RESULTS: The assessed within-host malaria models generally replicate infection dynamics in malaria-naive individuals. However, there are substantial differences between [...] BACKGROUND: Malaria blood-stage infection length and intensity are important...
The treatment of non-malarial febrile illness in Papua New Guinea: findings from cross sectional and longitudinal studies of health worker practice (Publications)
recently shifted from a presumptive to a 'test and treat' malaria case management policy. This shift was supported by the widespread introduction of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in health facilities across [...] detailing how to conduct and interpret a malaria rapid diagnostic test and how to treat test positive cases; however, little instruction on treating non-malaria febrile cases was provided. Accordingly, [...] l febrile patients in the 12-month period immediately following the...
Contribution of dengue fever to the burden of acute febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea: an age-specific prospective study (Publications)
were enrolled, and 317 patients with a negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria were tested for dengue. Malaria was confirmed in 52% (301/578, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 48-56%), DF was diagnosed [...] Abstract. Malaria is a major contributor to the burden of febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Dengue fever (DF) is likely to contribute; however, its epidemiology in PNG is poorly understood. [...] diagnosed in 8% (46/578, 95% CI = 6-10%), and 40% (95% CI = 36-44%) had neither...
KAF156 is an antimalarial clinical candidate with potential for use in prophylaxis, treatment and prevention of disease transmission (Publications)
Renewed global efforts toward malaria eradication have highlighted the need for novel antimalarial agents with activity against multiple stages of the parasite life-cycle. We have previously reported the [...] that have activity in the prevention and treatment of blood stage infection in a mouse model of malaria. Consistent with the activity profile of this series the clinical candidate KAF156 shows blood s [...] drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains as well as potent therapeutic activity in...
The use of the polymerase chain reaction for more sensitive detection of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> (Publications)
positive for P. vivax and P. malariae an underlying P. falciparum infection remained undetected by microscopy. The introduction of PCR has opened up new possibilities in malaria diagnosis and research. [...] The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in children and adults living in a malaria-endemic area in Papua New Guinea was determined by microscopy and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sensitivity
The activities of current antimalarial drugs on the life cycle stages of <em>Plasmodium</em>: a comparative study with human and rodent parasites (Publications)
to alleviate symptoms of malaria in the blood stage. To overcome this critical gap, we developed assays to measure activity of antimalarials against all life stages of malaria parasites, using a diverse [...] BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a disease of devastating global impact, killing more than 800,000 people every year-the vast majority being children under the age of 5. While effective therapies are available [...] available, if malaria is to be eradicated a broader range of small molecule...
Using a mobile nanopore sequencing lab for end-to-end genomic surveillance of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>: a feasibility study (Publications)
Genomic epidemiology holds promise for malaria control and elimination efforts, for example by informing on Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and prevalence of mutations conferring anti-malarial [...] drug resistance. Limited sequencing infrastructure in many malaria-endemic areas prevents the rapid generation of genomic data. To address these issues, we developed and validated assays for P. falciparum [...] resistance markers. We developed a bioinformatics workflow that allows genotyping...
