We’re a step closer to figuring out why mosquitoes bite some people and not others

Posted on May 18, 2021

Mosquitoes find themselves in complex environments filled with many different cues or stimuli. Locating their preferred host involves a series of behavioural steps. This starts with the mosquito becoming aware of the host.

Malaria control needs longer lasting repellents. We’re a step closer to finding one

Posted on May 16, 2021

Numerous repellent-based products, such as creams, roll-ons and sprays, are available on the market for outdoor protection. Most of these have a very short period of protection – a few hours. People need to be protected from mosquito bites for longer.

Learn from failure and continue to grow

Posted on April 25, 2021

Featuring a scientist in Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS): Prof Lyn-Marie Birkholtz (Professor in Biochemistry and Director of the DST/NRF South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Sustainable Malaria Control. She also leads the Parasite Cluster in the UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria...

UP researcher’s team discovers new compounds with the potential to eliminate malaria

Posted on January 11, 2021

The discovery involves the identification of unique compounds that are able to kill several stages of the malaria-causing parasite and can block the transmission of the parasite between humans and mosquitoes.

UP raises the bar with Integrated Sustainable Development Report

Posted on December 15, 2020

“Universities are an integral part of society and our success is dependent on a society and world that is thriving, where human dignity and justice are paramount, all people are able to reach their full potential with nobody being left behind, and our development does not happen at the...

‘Malaria research is very close to my heart’, says UP graduate who hopes her work will make a difference in her own community

Posted on October 22, 2020

It was only after University of Pretoria (UP) graduate Takalani Makhanthisa began her postgraduate studies in entomology that she realised that more than half of South Africa’s cases of malaria occur in the Vhembe District in Limpopo, her home. Now Makhanthisa hopes her research towards her...

Invasive mosquito species could bring more malaria to Africa’s urban areas

Posted on October 19, 2020

A species of mosquito that can carry malaria – known as Anopheles stephensi – has invaded eastern Africa and is quickly moving across the region. Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked Jeremy Herren and Clifford Mutero to provide insights into why this invasion is...

Community of Practice in Evaluating Malaria Control Interventions at UP goes beyond expectations with renewal for second round of funding

Posted on September 23, 2020

The University of Pretoria's (UP) first Community of Practice (CoP) focusing on eliminating malaria, hosted in the UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), has been renewed for a second round of funding. Through the CoP initiative, the National Research Foundation (NRF) provides...