Mysterious green (and non-green) invaders
Also, why the malaria vaccine being rolled out is a big deal.
Greetings!
How have you been? I’m back from vacation in India.
April may be the cruelest month, but July is the hottest month.
Literally. The hottest month on record.
…
First up today, a perennial favorite- weird organisms on Earth.
While the thrill of discovering alien life would be a gamechanger, our home turf, Earth, is also brimming with its own biological enigmas that are incredibly captivating.
Case in point: algae.
When you think of algae, what usually springs to mind are the tiny, green, photosynthetic organisms you'd find in ponds or aquariums. Yet, algae's resume is far more diverse - some species buck the green trend, lacking chlorophyll, the component crucial for photosynthesis.
Now here's another spinner- certain types of algae can actually infect humans.
Unsettling? Absolutely. And this is the topic of my latest science column which you can read here.
But before you swear off swimming in ponds and lakes, note that these infections are incredibly rare.
Among these algae misfits, the genus Prototheca stands out. These algae are the rebellious cousins of the green variety, ditching photosynthesis. They've been linked to infections in a host of animals and, yes, even us humans.
Prototheca infections are the slow burners of disease - chronic, stealthy, and in some unfortunate cases, deadly. Yet, how these algae manage to infiltrate our bodies and kick-start illness remains a scientific puzzle still waiting to be solved.
There's good news amidst the mystery, though No known cases of this algae spreading from human to human, or from cows to us, have been documented. So, while Prototheca is a sneaky intruder, it doesn't seem to be a prolific spreader.
What about green algae which make their own food? Shockingly they can infect humans too. Green algae, can also cause infections, albeit even more infrequently than Prototheca. From a young woman’s persistent foot infection linked to river water reported back in 1983 to two men contracting infections through freshwater injuries in 2015, these rare tales of these algal encounters read like plot twists in a microbiological thriller.
Advances in genetic sleuthing have unmasked the culprit behind these green algal infections - meet Desmodesmus armatus. Still many questions linger about why and how these typically harmless, sunlight-loving organisms occasionally go rogue.
So what’s the take-home?
Even if the odds of you or me getting infected by these algae are lower than finding a four-leaf clover in a field, dismissing these strange infections misses the point. They highlight the surprise elements Earth's diverse life forms keep throwing our way.
Each rare infection underscores our planet's never-ending biological spectacle and the importance of continually delving into these mysteries. For even in the most unlikely places, there are organisms - like algae - that could unexpectedly impact our health. It's a captivating, ongoing journey of discovery and understanding.
Malaria - the perennial scourge.
Infectious diseases come and go, but some, like an unwanted houseguest, outstay their welcome. Malaria, the proverbial "uninvited guest", has been wreaking havoc on humanity since time immemorial.
Don't be fooled by malaria's ancient lineage. It's not a relic of a bygone era. On the contrary, it's as pertinent today as ever. Each year, malaria claims nearly a million lives.
And its death toll in the 20th century alone? A staggering 150 to 300 million. Children, with their still-developing immunity, bear the brunt of this relentless adversary.
Which is why the recent development of an effective malaria vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization in 2021, marks a turning point in our ongoing battle against this formidable foe. This is the topic of another column I wrote for Hindustan Times, you can read here. This vaccine, now being deployed across 12 African countries, symbolizes an arduous scientific quest finally bearing fruit.
Africa is the epicenter of the global malaria crisis. As of 2021, an alarming 95% of global malaria cases and a similar proportion of deaths occurred in Africa. Therefore, the ongoing vaccine distribution across countries like Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi offers a glimmer of hope to these hard-hit regions.
Reaching this point was no cakewalk. Unlike the speedy development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, malaria's first-ever vaccine took 30 years to get from initial development to clinical trials.
The answer lies partly in the unique challenges posed by the diseases that predominantly impact developing nations. These health issues, including malaria, often fall by the wayside when it comes to research funding and commercial development.
Additionally, the culprit behind malaria - the parasite Plasmodium - has a particularly complex life cycle. Having been around for an estimated 30 million years, it's had plenty of time to perfect its survival strategy. These complexities pose a formidable challenge for vaccine development.
Despite these hurdles, modern medicine has had its moments of victory. The drug artemisinin, the widespread use of mosquito nets, and rapid diagnostic testing have all served ain our fight against this "king of diseases". Yet, the fatality rate remained alarmingly high. Until now.
The new vaccine - a beacon of hope for those most vulnerable, children under five living in malaria-prone areas of sub-Saharan Africa - is set to change this grim picture. By reducing the risk of severe malaria, it will undoubtedly save countless lives.
The development of this vaccine, a culmination of decades of scientific collaboration, has already made a noticeable impact. While the vaccine's efficacy of 36% may not seem impressive on paper, its real-world impact is far from negligible. Vaccination is already reducing the burden of malaria among children, and we're just getting started.
So, what's next?
This vaccine has paved the way for future endeavors, ushering in a new era in our fight against malaria.
There's also hope for other malaria vaccines, like the R21/Matrix-M vaccine developed by Oxford University and slated for production by the Serum Institute of India.
While we've made significant strides in combating malaria, achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 - a 90% reduction in malaria incidence and mortality by 2030 - remains a colossal task.
One thing's for certain: widespread vaccine deployment will play a key role in reaching these targets. By 2030, the global demand for malaria vaccine doses might be between 80 to 100 million per year.
As we make headway in this battle, let's remember that the malaria story is far from over. It's a tale of human resilience and scientific ingenuity, of small victories and ongoing struggles, and ultimately, of our relentless pursuit to tip the scales in our favor in this age-old war against malaria.
That’s it for this week.
If you’ve enjoyed or learned something from this free newsletter, why not share or subscribe with someone else?
Stay cool!
Anirban
July was really hot. Yet, so many deny that it has anything to do with human activities. When did we become so unperceptive?