Research & Development World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • COVID-19
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
      • Software
    • Semiconductors
  • 2021 R&D 100 Award Winners
    • R&D 100 Awards
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Webinars

Holograms offer hope against malaria

By R&D Editors | November 5, 2013

A male malaria parasite with sperm is seen among red blood cells. Image: Univ. of EdinburghEdinburgh scientists have developed a 3-D filming technique that could inform research to stem the spread of malaria.

Creating moving digital holograms of malaria sperm has given researchers fresh insights into the behavior of these tiny life forms.

Understanding how malaria parasites mate could pave the way for improved prevention and control of this deadly disease, which poses a threat to half of the world’s population.

Malaria parasites mate in the gut of mosquitoes, and people can catch the disease when they are bitten by these infected, blood-sucking insects.

Corkscrew action

Scientists from Edinburgh and the Rowland Institute at Harvard Univ. were able to see that malaria sperm move in an irregular, lopsided corkscrew motion.

This enables them to twist to the left or the right, as well as go forwards and backwards, and is thought to help the sperm swim between red blood cells to find female mates.

Important structures

Malaria sperm use microscopic structures, known as flagella, to swim.

These structures are important because they are used by many parasites to invade parts of the body.

They also perform essential roles in embryonic development, reproduction, and nutrient uptake in all animals.

Scientists say the simple structure of the malaria sperm makes it an excellent model system in which to study flagella in animals.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was funded by the Rowland Institute at Harvard, the Natural Environmental Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the Royal Society, and the University of Edinburgh.

Source: Univ. of Edinburgh

Related Articles Read More >

World’s first Microhub makes spatial context accessible for all
Thermo Scientific Centrios HX offers precise circuit edit solution for fast prototyping
R&D 100 of the day: The Neutron and Gamma Ray Source Localization and Mapping Platform 2.0
JEOL’s new Scanning Electron Microscope has “Simple SEM” automation and live elemental and 3D Analysis
2021 R&D Global Funding Forecast

Need R&D World news in a minute?

We Deliver!
R&D World Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need in research and development. Sign up today.
Enews Signup

R&D World Digital Issues

February 2020 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R& magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • 2021 Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • COVID-19
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
      • Software
    • Semiconductors
  • 2021 R&D 100 Award Winners
    • R&D 100 Awards
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Webinars