Thomson Reuters Study Shows Potential Malaria Vaccine on Horizon as Global Climate Change Threatens to Increase World Incidence Rate

New analysis in support of World Malaria Day reveals key advances and challenges in malaria research

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Apr 25, 2014, 03:00 ET

PHILADELPHIA, April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of World Malaria Day, the Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today released its analysis, The Weak Links in the Malaria Cycle, featuring recent findings and advances in malaria as identified in scientific journals and the Thomson Reuters Incidence and Prevalence Database, the industry leader in epidemiology data. The study appears on Life Sciences Connect, the company's blog exploring the latest news and trends in Life Sciences, and highlights rapid advances toward developing a malaria vaccine as global climate change threatens to increase the disease's reach and prevalence.

The analysis examines the challenges and advances in research and drug development for malaria, including a new vaccine candidate to combat potential increased exposure in areas of low prevalence, such as the mountainous regions of Africa and South America as well as areas with increased world travel, including the United States and Europe.

"In recognition of World Malaria Day, we hope to raise awareness about this complex and deadly disease to spotlight the important research taking place to eradicate it," said Jon Brett-Harris, managing director, Thomson Reuters Life Sciences. "The analysis points to several statistics and scientific advances that spell out a potentially brighter future for those affected by malaria worldwide."

The analysis discusses how scientists have identified an essential protein, AP-2G, that acts as a master switch to trigger the development of malaria parasites. Researchers believe that "switching off" AP-2G can halt the full life cycle of parasites and prevent maturation, exposure and transmission, potentially leading to new drugs and vaccine development.

"By highlighting significant developments in malaria research, we hope to draw attention to a disease that is still very much a global health crisis," said Shyama Ghosh, Incidence and Prevalence Database writer at Thomson Reuters, and author of the analysis. "We are confident that discoveries such as the AP-2G protein will lead to further advancements in decreasing incidences of malaria."

Malaria affects over two million people annually, more than a quarter of who die from the disease, according to the World Health Organization. The largest population of fatalities is children.

Read the full analysis, The Weak Links in the Malaria Cycle, on Life Science Connect and learn more about the Incidence and Prevalence Database.

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SOURCE Thomson Reuters