Newly discovered microbe can help stop malaria transmission

NAIROBI, KENYA — Researchers in Kenya discovered a microbe that can completely prevent mosquitoes from carrying malaria.

According to the study published in Nature Communications, the microbe could be used to check the spread of malaria around the world.

The research teams from the UK and Kenya found that the malaria-stopping fungal microbe called Microsporidia MB was present in 5 percent of the mosquitoes they sampled.

The fungus grows in the genitalia and digestive system of mosquitoes, and the data suggests it is 100 percent effective in stopping malaria from infecting mosquitoes.

Speaking to the BBC, the authors say they do not as yet know how the fungus stops malaria.

The paper's lead author Jeremy Heren says at least 40 percent of mosquitoes in a region need to be infected with the fungus to curb malaria transmission.