A team of scientists at the University of Glasgow have developed a new drug that could prevent the spread of malaria.
The deadly infection, carried by mosquitoes, affects more than 200 million people and kills nearly 500,000 every year across the world.
The new drug, developed by a group of international scientists led by the Scottish university, can kill the parasite at all three stages of its life-cycle.
This includes when it is in the liver and red blood cells, as well as preventing sexual development of the parasite.
Development of the drug has come as a result of “breakthrough” research at the university.
Andrew Tobin, professor of molecular pharmacology at the University of Glasgow, said: "We are tremendously excited about these new findings and hope they pave the way for the first step in the eradication of malaria.
"Our work has shown that by killing the parasites at the various stages of parasite development, we have not only discovered a potential cure for malaria but also a way of stopping the spread of malaria from person to mosquito, which can then infect other people.”
Malaria is caused by a parasite that infects humans through the bite of a mosquito, which then grows in the liver and red blood cells.
Scientists said the new drug works by stopping the activity of a protein involved in keeping the parasite alive.
By blocking this, the medicine could effectively kill off the malaria organism, which prevents it spreading, and also holds the possibility of treating the disease.
