In a shocking development, scientists have engineered a mosquito that delivers a genetically modified malaria-causing parasite into humans. This parasite travels to the liver and infects red blood cells. The details of this experiment were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and conducted by Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has funded LUMC with over $2. 2 million for developing new malaria vaccine candidates, in addition to funding for understanding malaria vaccine responses in endemic areas.
The study involved a double-blind, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of immunization delivered through mosquito bites using genetically engineered parasites known as GA1 and GA2. These parasites were modified to limit their lifecycle and reduce the chances of severe malaria. Participants were exposed to bites from infected mosquitoes, and in one part of the trial, healthy adults received bites intended to immunize them.
The experiment showed that the GA1 parasite provided protection to only 13% of participants, leading the researchers to create GA2, which offered a reported 89% protection. However, the follow-up period lasted only 25 days, raising concerns that other infections could occur after this short duration.
In addition, two participants experienced elevated troponin T levels, which indicate potential heart damage, though the authors claim this was unrelated to the trial. Dr. Richard Bartlett expressed significant concerns regarding the study, noting that the brief tracking period is inadequate for assessing long-term safety and effectiveness. He emphasized the need for longer monitoring and scrutiny of participant health, especially regarding preexisting conditions and the potential for complications.
Dr. Bartlett also highlighted the importance of informed consent and the need for participants to be fully aware of known risks before agreeing to the study. He criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in the study’s design, stating that critical safety signals, like elevated troponin levels, were seemingly dismissed without thorough investigation.
The ethical and scientific issues raised by this study have prompted some experts to call for a halt to similar research until there is a clearer understanding of long-term risks and better safety measures. They stress that without more rigorous oversight and comprehensive long-term safety data, future experiments might lead to unsafe and unpredictable outcomes, especially in light of recent global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
In summary, the engineered mosquitoes intended to deliver a malaria vaccine raise crucial questions about the safety, ethics, and long-term implications of such research. Critics demand stronger safeguards and a thorough evaluation before moving forward with these types of studies.
https://jonfleetwood.substack.com/p/bill-gates-tied-vaccine-delivered
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