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Scientific Session - Microbiology - Update on Malaria
Scientific
Scientific
1:30 pm
22 February 2025
Meeting Room 106
Discipline Streams
Microbiology
Session Scientific Program
Peter Chiodini1
1UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Malaria Reference Laboratory
The Plasmodium falciparum genome consists of 14 chromosomes and contains around 5300 genes which make it a particularly dangerous opponent. Despite decades of basic research, drug development and attempts at control, it is estimated to have killed approximately 600,000 people in 2022. WHO estimates that 94% of malaria cases occur in Africa and this continent accounts for most of the falciparum malaria cases found in travellers from there returning to home in non-endemic countries. This lecture focuses on the challenges posed by malaria parasites to prevention, diagnosis and treatment which currently hamper efforts to reduce malaria case incidence and mortality by 90% by 2030.
1UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Malaria Reference Laboratory
The Plasmodium falciparum genome consists of 14 chromosomes and contains around 5300 genes which make it a particularly dangerous opponent. Despite decades of basic research, drug development and attempts at control, it is estimated to have killed approximately 600,000 people in 2022. WHO estimates that 94% of malaria cases occur in Africa and this continent accounts for most of the falciparum malaria cases found in travellers from there returning to home in non-endemic countries. This lecture focuses on the challenges posed by malaria parasites to prevention, diagnosis and treatment which currently hamper efforts to reduce malaria case incidence and mortality by 90% by 2030.
Marcel Leroi1
1Department of Microbiology, Austin Pathology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
This session will explore the current diagnostic approaches to Malaria within a broader historical context.
Modalities of testing covered will include Microscopic techniques, rapid testing methods involving antigen detection, molecular techniques and emerging technologies still under evaluation.
The performance characteristics, advantages and limitations of different testing methods will be discussed, with commentary regarding the place of different tests within the diagnostic cascade.
How diagnostic strategies should be tailored to the clinical, epidemiology and economic setting of testing will be addressed, and the approach and role of the WHO in leading development and utilization of testing in the global stage will conclude this session.
2:30 pm
Ric Price1
1Menzies School of Health Research
Over the last two decades huge progress has been made in reducing the burden of malaria across the Asia Pacific region, however malaria transmission continues in 21 endemic countries. In recent years progress has stalled and even reversed in some areas. The control and ultimate elimination of malaria relies on parasite surveillance, early diagnosis of malaria and administration of safe and highly effective antimalarial treatment. Key challenges include the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistant parasites and the difficulty of eliminating the hypnozoite stages of Plasmodium vivax that causes relapsing malaria that sustain ongoing parasite transmission. New tools are now available to support molecular surveillance of parasites; these can determine the origin of infection (endemic or imported) and the spread of drug resistance P. falciparum. New treatments and diagnostics have also been developed to test patients for G6PD deficiency and provide safe and effective radical cure of the parasites. Whilst the resources available to manage patients differ greatly between malaria endemic countries and Australia, there are many complementary approaches. This talk will present novel approaches for surveillance and case management that are informing better treatment practice for patients within Australia, as well as supporting surveillance and best practice in neighboring malaria endemic countries.
1Menzies School of Health Research
Over the last two decades huge progress has been made in reducing the burden of malaria across the Asia Pacific region, however malaria transmission continues in 21 endemic countries. In recent years progress has stalled and even reversed in some areas. The control and ultimate elimination of malaria relies on parasite surveillance, early diagnosis of malaria and administration of safe and highly effective antimalarial treatment. Key challenges include the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistant parasites and the difficulty of eliminating the hypnozoite stages of Plasmodium vivax that causes relapsing malaria that sustain ongoing parasite transmission. New tools are now available to support molecular surveillance of parasites; these can determine the origin of infection (endemic or imported) and the spread of drug resistance P. falciparum. New treatments and diagnostics have also been developed to test patients for G6PD deficiency and provide safe and effective radical cure of the parasites. Whilst the resources available to manage patients differ greatly between malaria endemic countries and Australia, there are many complementary approaches. This talk will present novel approaches for surveillance and case management that are informing better treatment practice for patients within Australia, as well as supporting surveillance and best practice in neighboring malaria endemic countries.