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Colombian Malaria Research May Benefit the World

Colombia is on the cutting edge of malaria research with too many studies to report them all. Here is an example of one:

"This study describes identifying and characterizing RAP1 in Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread parasite species causing malaria in humans, producing more than 80 million infections yearly, mainly in Asia and Latin America.

"This new protein is encoded by a two-exon gene, is proteolytically processed in a similar manner to its falciparum homologue and, as observed by microscopy, the immunofluorescence pattern displayed is suggestive of its rhoptry localization," wrote O. Perez-Leal and colleagues at the Foundation Institute of Immunology of Colombia in Bogota.

Investigators concluded, "Further studies evaluating P. vivax RAP1 protective efficacy in nonhuman primates should be carried out taking into account the relevance that its P. falciparum homologue has as an antimalarial vaccine candidate."

Perez-Leal and colleagues published their study in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (The Plasmodium vivax rhoptry-associated protein 1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2006;341(4):1053-1058).

For additional information, contact M.A. Patarroyo, Foundation Institute Inmunol Colombia, Dept. Biology Molecular, Bogota, Colombia.

By platano on Jun 8, 2006, 19:39 in Friendly Talkzone.

Dolfi says on Jun 9, 2006, 00:46:

Years ago I allready read about this doctor Patarroyo and about a Malaria vaccine that he allegedly had discovered. What has become of that?

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jaramillo says on Jun 9, 2006, 06:27:

His vaccine was not very good. I have spoken with several leading cell biologists without a direct interest in the vaccination field, and Patarroyo is regarded as a mediocre cell/molecular biologist with some nutty theories. Of course, that has happened to geniuses, but I don't think he is one. This recent finding is published in Biochem Biophys Res Commun, a second or third tier journal. The subject is so important that if it had a lot of merit, it would be on Nature, Science, Cell, or perhaps a top med journal like the New England Journal of Medicine, or the Lancet. But in the country of the blind, the one eyed is king.

The idea of synthetic vaccines (which I think he has claimed as his), is absolutely NOT.

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platano says on Jun 9, 2006, 17:06:

jaramillo, the journal Patarroyo published in is first tier... In fact, Biochem Biophys Res Commun is among the top five journals published in biology/biochemistry:

RANK --- JOURNAL ------ PAPERS ---- CITATIONS ----- CITATIONS PER PAPER
==========================================
1 ----- J BIOL CHEM ----- 58,332 ----- 1,690,492 ----- 28.98

2 ----- BIOCHEMISTRY-USA ----- 19,545 ----- 387,49 ----- 19.83
3 ----- PROC NAT ACAD SCI USA ----- 7,370 ----- 351,207 ----- 47.65

4 ----- BIOCHEM BIOPHYS RES COMMUN ----- 20,776 ----- 261,923 ----- 12.61

5 ----- FEBS LETT ----- 14,728 ----- 253,295 ----- 17.2

SOURCE: TOP FIVE JOURNAL RANKINGS IN BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
http://www.in-cites.com/analysis/04-fourth-bio.html

plátano

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jaramillo says on Jun 10, 2006, 08:53:

LOL!! On this one you’re not even close Platano. I am sure they would have given their right hand to publish in Nature,Science,Cell, JCB, Biochem, PNAS. THAT is the first tier if you want to play with the big boys. I bet they submitted, were rejected, and then went down the pole. Biochem Biophys Res Commun is a respectable second tier journal for good but not groundbreaking work.

Believe what you want, but Colombia is in no scientific cutting edge. But the cheerleading is nice! I’m sure it makes those lacking in education or skepticism feel better than the facts warrant, which some prefer to facing their own inadequacies. Personally, I find it patronizing.

But don’t get me wrong. Patarrroyo, although far from brilliant or scientifically successful, has done reasonably well. No need to exaggerate though.

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johna says on Jun 10, 2006, 08:59:

So where are you published? This guy is a classic snipe platano. No need responding to someone who thinks they know everything already. Personally I find him very very far from brillant. But I am sure he begs to differ.

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jaramillo says on Jun 10, 2006, 10:55:

Dear johna, I do not beg to differ You are absolutely right.

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jaramillo says on Jun 11, 2006, 02:16:

Platano, you are right too. Patarroyo is a genius and his vaccine is highly effective. Malaria has practically disapperead, let alone from Colombia, but from the world. He is being denied the Nobel prize by jealous bastards in the academic and pharmaceutical establishment because he is Colombian. But this thread is boring. I think I will not return.

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