Microwaves can kill malaria parasites non-thermally

Abstract

Microwaves can kill malaria parasites non-thermally Coronado LM, Stoute JA, Nadovich CT, Cheng J, Correa R, Chaw K, González G, Zambrano M, Gittens RA, Agrawal DK, Jemison WD, Donado Morcillo CA, Spadafora C. Microwaves can kill malaria parasites non-thermally. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Feb 2;13:955134. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.955134. Abstract Malaria, which infected more than 240 million people and killed around six hundred thousand only in 2021, has reclaimed territory after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Together with parasite resistance and a not-yet-optimal vaccine, the need for new approaches has become critical. While earlier, limited, studies have suggested that malaria parasites are affected by electromagnetic energy, the outcomes of this affectation vary and there has not been a study that looks into the mechanism of action behind these responses. In this study, through development and implementation of custom applicators for in vitro experimentation, conditions were generated in which microwave energy (MW) killed more than 90% of the parasites, not by a thermal effect but via a MW energy-induced programmed cell death that does not seem to affect mammalian cell lines. Transmission electron microscopy points to the involvement of the haemozoin-containing food vacuole, which becomes destroyed; while several other experimental approaches demonstrate the involvement of calcium signaling pathways in the resulting effects of exposure to MW. Furthermore, parasites were protected from the effects of MW by calcium channel blockers calmodulin and phosphoinositol. The findings presented here offer a molecular insight into the elusive interactions of oscillating electromagnetic fields with P. falciparum, prove that they are not related to temperature, and present an alternative technology to combat this devastating disease. Open access paper: frontiersin.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using custom applicators for in vitro experiments, microwave energy killed more than 90% of malaria parasites (P. falciparum). The authors report the effect was non-thermal and associated with microwave-induced programmed cell death, with no apparent effect on mammalian cell lines; multiple experiments implicated calcium signaling and destruction of the haemozoin-containing food vacuole, and calcium channel blockers (calmodulin and phosphoinositol) protected parasites from microwave effects.

Outcomes measured

• Parasite viability/mortality (P. falciparum)
• Programmed cell death in parasites
• Effects on mammalian cell lines (safety/viability)
• Ultrastructural changes (food vacuole/haemozoin) via transmission electron microscopy
• Calcium signaling pathway involvement
• Protection by calcium channel blockers (calmodulin, phosphoinositol)

Limitations

• Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• In vitro study; findings may not translate to in vivo/clinical settings
• Sample size and detailed experimental design not provided in the provided abstract/metadata

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "custom applicators (in vitro experimentation)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Parasite viability/mortality (P. falciparum)",
        "Programmed cell death in parasites",
        "Effects on mammalian cell lines (safety/viability)",
        "Ultrastructural changes (food vacuole/haemozoin) via transmission electron microscopy",
        "Calcium signaling pathway involvement",
        "Protection by calcium channel blockers (calmodulin, phosphoinositol)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using custom applicators for in vitro experiments, microwave energy killed more than 90% of malaria parasites (P. falciparum). The authors report the effect was non-thermal and associated with microwave-induced programmed cell death, with no apparent effect on mammalian cell lines; multiple experiments implicated calcium signaling and destruction of the haemozoin-containing food vacuole, and calcium channel blockers (calmodulin and phosphoinositol) protected parasites from microwave effects.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "In vitro study; findings may not translate to in vivo/clinical settings",
        "Sample size and detailed experimental design not provided in the provided abstract/metadata"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwaves",
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "non-thermal effects",
        "in vitro",
        "Plasmodium falciparum",
        "malaria",
        "programmed cell death",
        "calcium signaling",
        "haemozoin",
        "food vacuole",
        "transmission electron microscopy"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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