Long-lasting insecticide treated nets and indoor spraying are the main malaria vector control interventions recommended by the World Health Organisation. All other mosquito repellents are measured against it. We took nonanoic acid – a compound which is used as an additive in the food industry – and added it to a compound used in most repellants: ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, more commonly known as IR3535. The second is that the parasite that spreads malaria Plasmodium falciparum has developed resistance to anti-malarials. Our research opens the door to a new mosquito repellent formulation that improves the armoury against malaria.

Source: The Star April 25, 2018 06:00 UTC