ISU researchers are working to help develop new ways to combat malaria. Their research is centered around understanding malaria at a molecular level.

“Malaria has been a problem for a long time and there have been a lot of efforts to find cures,” said Richard Honzatko, professor in biochemistry biophysics and molecular biology. “Some of these have not worked well historically.”

Traditional research into fighting malaria targeted the mechanisms that created the building blocks of DNA and RNA, Honzatko said. This has not worked with malaria. The new research will specifically focus on the apicoplast, which is vital to survival of the cell.

“If you stop reproduction of the apicoplast, you stop reproduction of the organism.” Honzatko said. “At least that’s the thought.” 

Iowa State is not going to produce a vaccine, but Scott Nelson, professor in the same department and also on the research team, hopes that drug companies may use its findings.

Nelson said the team is looking to find inhibitors of the apicoplast in the malaria cell.

“The death toll of malaria is pretty high of children in Africa … We’re trying to understand the system very well at a molecular level,” Nelson said.

Roughly 700,000 people die from malaria-related infections every year, many of whom are younger than 5 years old, Honzatko said.

In order to encourage population growth, people want assurance that if they have children, there will be a high chance of them reaching adulthood Honzatko said.

Honzatko said some medications that are used to treat malaria can cause damage to the brain and central nervous system that is irreversible after longterm use.

“Even if you’re on them for short periods of time, some users report hallucinogenic effects and bizarre dreams,” Honzatko said.

He said many of the families in areas where malaria is prevalent can not afford the medications.

“If you can administer a single dose of [a] vaccination for a lifelong immunity, that’s the ideal way to go,” Honzatko said. “But that hasn’t worked yet.”

Both researchers said that developing drugs to help treat malaria will not be an easy task, but is necessary to stop the death toll.

“By the end of the day it’s about a one in 10,000 chance of coming up with a drug that actually works, but there’s a 0 percent [chance] if you don’t try,” Honzatko said.