EL PASO, Texas (Nov. 17, 2023) - Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against malaria. A new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reveals that adding small quantities of liquid soap to certain classes of pesticides can significantly enhance their effectiveness, increasing their potency by more than ten-fold.

The team, led by Colince Kamdem, Ph.D., and Caroline Fouet, Ph.D., conducted laboratory tests and field trials to assess the impact of soap on neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides. With increasing resistance among malaria-carrying mosquitoes to existing insecticides, neonicotinoids have emerged as a promising alternative. However, their effectiveness was limited in some mosquito species until the addition of soap.

Malaria, a debilitating disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has a significant impact on sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headaches, and chills can escalate to life-threatening conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were approximately 241 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2020, leading to 627,000 fatalities.

Colince Kamdem, who previously worked at Cameroon's Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, discovered soap's potential while conducting routine insecticide testing. Current protocols for testing mosquito susceptibility to insecticides recommend adding a seed oil-based product. However, Kamdem noticed a significant increase in mosquito mortality when adding the compound, which shares properties with kitchen soap.

"We thought, 'Why don't we test products that have the same properties?'" Kamdem said. The team's experiment proved successful, as all three tested soap brands significantly enhanced the potency of the insecticides. "All three brands of soap increase mortality from 30 percent to 100 percent compared to when the insecticides were used on their own," stated Ashu Fred, first author of the study and Ph.D. student at Cameroon's University of Yaoundé 1.

Although soap did not provide the same benefits when added to pyrethroids, another class of insecticides, the researchers remain hopeful. Aiming to determine the optimal soap dosage, the team plans to conduct further testing.

"We would love to make a soap-insecticide formulation that can be used indoors in Africa and be healthy for users," expressed Kamdem. The researchers acknowledge that challenges remain, such as whether the formulation will adhere to materials like mosquito nets. Nevertheless, the team finds the prospects promising and exciting.

In addition to Kamdem and Fouet, the study included contributions from Marilene M. Ambadiang, a doctoral student at Cameroon's Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and the University of Yaoundé 1, and Professor Veronique Penlap-Beng, Ph.D., of the University of Yaoundé 1.

The University of Texas at El Paso, America's leading Hispanic-serving university, is situated along the Rio Grande, at the westernmost point of Texas. With a student body where 84% identify as Hispanic and over half being first-generation college attendees, UTEP offers 171 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs as the only open-access, top-tier research university in the nation.

This remarkable discovery by the University of Texas researchers provides hope in the ongoing battle against malaria. With further research and development, harnessing the power of soap could revolutionize malaria control and contribute to reducing the devastating impact of this deadly disease worldwide.