How deadly malaria parasite jumped from gorillas to humans

\"Scientists

Western lowland gorilla Lou Lou and her daughter are seen at the zoo in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on October 14, 2019. AFP / Douglas Magno

LONDON: Scientists who resurrected a 50,000-year-old gene sequence have analysed it to figure out how the world\’s deadliest malaria parasite jumped from gorillas to humans – giving insight into the origins of one of human history\’s biggest killers.

The researchers said their work also deepens understanding of a process known as zoonosis – when a pathogen that can infect animals acquires genetic changes enabling it to infect humans – as has been the case with diseases such as flu and Ebola.

In the case of the most deadly form of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, this analysis found that it gained its ability to infect human blood cells from a section of DNA that had transferred from a gorilla parasite.

By analysing the crucial DNA sequence, the researchers found it included a gene that produces a protein called RH5 which binds to a protein receptor in human red blood cells.

\”The fact that this ancestral RH5 protein was able to bind to red blood cell receptor(s) … from both humans and gorillas immediately provided a molecular explanation for how P. falciparum evolved to infect humans,\” said Francis Galaway, who co-led the research team from Britain\’s Wellcome Sanger Institute and France\’s Montpelier University.

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes and infects around 216 million people a year worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data. The disease kills more than 400,000 people a year, the vast majority of them babies and children in the poorest parts of Africa.

\”In the history of mankind, it\’s been estimated that malaria has been responsible for more human deaths than any other disease,\” said Gavin Wright, who co-led the work.

\”So it is both important and fascinating to understand the molecular pathways that enabled this deadly parasite to infect humans.\”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Community Economy Government Health News People Religion

JUST IN: Terrorists kidnap 87 in fresh Kaduna attack

Terrorists on Sunday night kidnapped 87 people after launching a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday in Kaduna. Harisu said the terrorists also broke into some shops and stole food items […]

Read More
Community Entertainment Fashion Lifestyle News People Sports

Anthony Joshua knocks out Cameroonian Francis Ngannou in two rounds

March 9, 2024 British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has dealt his Cameroonian opponent Francis Ngannou a second-round knockout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua proved too strong for Ngannou, a former UFC champion, in their highly-anticipated match early Saturday. Ngannou entered the bout with the aura of his impressive debut against Tyson Fury back in November 2023. […]

Read More
Business Community Economy Entertainment Government Health Lifestyle News People Politics Religion Sports Technology

JUST IN: Governor Rotimi Akeredolu Is Dead

Reports reaching us just confirmed Gov Akeredolu of Ondo state is dead. Akeredolu, who became the Governor of Ondo in 2017, had announced his decision to embark on a medical leave on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his treatment and also handed over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Aiyedatiwa will be […]

Read More