5 reasons to follow the MOOC Malaria

Malaria was first identified in Mesopotamia and spread throughout the world in the Middle Ages, before being confined to intertropical areas in the 20th century. It is caused by parasites transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Here are 5 reasons to sign up for this MOOC offered by the Institut Pasteur:

Reason #1: To learn more about the parasite responsible for malaria
In this course, you will learn about the complex, fast-moving cycle (a real thriller!) of this parasite, Plasmodium, with its five known species, which undergoes numerous modifications in humans and the mosquito that transmits it, Anopheles species.

Reason #2: To be aware of the residual seriousness of malaria
Although the number of patients affected worldwide and the mortality rate have been halved in recent years, there have been 247 million cases of malaria and it is still responsible for more than 618,000 deaths in 2021, mainly in Africa and especially in children under 5, despite the development of diagnostic tests enabling treatment to be started early.

Reason #3: Track progress and treatment resistance
Since quinine, many initially effective molecules have been developed to combat malaria. Thanks to this MOOC, however, you will discover that for each of them, resistance has appeared and spread, forcing us to propose new therapeutic combinations.

Reason #4: Find out where vaccines stand
Despite the many potential sites of action for vaccines during the parasite cycle in humans and mosquitoes, no effective vaccine has yet been developed. This online course will help you to understand why, including the ability of Plasmodium to evade the immune system.

Reason #5: See what the future holds for eradicating malaria
The MOOC Malaria will present these prospects, which include the development of new drug, prophylactic and therapeutic combinations, the development of rapid and inexpensive diagnostic tests, the discovery of new vaccines, and various methods of reverse protection and vector mosquito control. The WHO has set itself the target of reducing malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.

To learn more and register for this online course, click here.
Institut Pasteur
Registration Deadline: November 4, 2025
Course: From November 5, 2024 to November 4, 2025