Scientists create malaria protein that could finish nine types cancer

A major breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment has occurred as scientists claim to have created a malaria parasite that could kill nine out of ten types of cancer. Experts made this amazing discovery while searching for an effective treatment to fight malaria in pregnant women, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

The team, which comprises Danish and Canadian scientists, sayS that they hope to start human trials within the next four years. Professor Ali Salanti, who is a malaria expert from the University of Copenhagen, said that the carbohydrate that the malaria parasite that attaches itself to the placenta of pregnant women is identical to a carbohydrate found in cancer cells. His team have managed to create a protein that the malaria parasite uses to affix itself to the placenta and have added a toxin.

The laboratory experiment resulted in a combination of a malaria protein and toxin that seek out cancer cells before getting absorbed by them. This causes the toxin to be released inside which triggers a process that kills cancer cells. These findings have been published in the journal Cancer Cell.