Malaria has been the greatest scourge of humankind for many millennia, and as a consequence has had more impact than any other pathogen in shaping the human genome. The sequencing of the human genome provides a new opportunity to determine the genetic traits that confer resistance to infection or disease. The identification of these traits can reveal immune responses, or host–parasite interactions, which may be useful for designing vaccines or new drugs. Similarly, the parasite genome sequence is being exploited to accelerate the development of new antimalarial interventions, for example by identifying parasite metabolic pathways that may be targeted by drugs. The malaria parasites are well known for their ability to undergo antigenic variation, and in parallel to cause a diverse array of disease syndromes, including the severe syndromes that commonly cause death. Genome-based technologies are being harnessed to relate gene and protein expression levels, or genetic variation, to the parasite forms that are targets of protective immunity. Well-conducted clinical studies are required to relate host or parasite diversity with disease. However, genomics studies of human populations raise important ethical issues, such as the disposition of data related to disease susceptibility or paternity, and the ability of communities to understand the nature of the research.
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As countries move toward malaria elimination, imported infections become increasingly significant as they often represent the majority of cases, can sustain transmission, cause resurgences, and lead to mortality. Here we review and critique current methods to prevent malaria importation in countries pursuing elimination and explore methods applied in other transmission settings and to other diseases that could be transferred to support malaria elimination. To improve intervention targeting we need a better understanding of the characteristics of populations importing infections and their patterns of migration, improved methods to reliably classify infections as imported or acquired locally, and ensure early and accurate diagnosis. The potential for onward transmission in the most receptive and vulnerable locations can be predicted through high-resolution risk mapping that can help malaria elimination or prevention of reintroduction programs target resources. Cross border and regional initiatives can be highly effective when based on an understanding of human and parasite movement. Ultimately, determining the optimal combinations of approaches to address malaria importation will require an evaluation of their impact, cost effectiveness, and operational feasibility.
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The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is a peer-reviewed journal published monthly by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and consists of two complete, sequentially numbered volumes each calendar year.
Journal Affiliation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is the official scientific journal of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). The Society is a nonprofit, professional organization whose mission is to promote world health by the prevention and control of tropical disease through research and education.
Frequency: Monthly
Coverage: 1921 -
Etiology and Outcomes of Meningitis among Adults in Three Ugandan Referral Hospitals, 2018–2023: A Prospective Cohort Study in a High-HIV Endemic Setting
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Assessment of Health Status and Creation of a Registry of Potential Research Participants Aged 1.5 to 50 Years on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
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Costs, Coverage, and Acceptability of Azithromycin Mass Administration to Children 1–11 Versus 1–59 Months Old to Reduce Mortality: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Niger
Identification of Anthrax as the Cause of a Cluster of Unexplained Deaths, Uganda, 2023: The Role of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing and Postmortem Specimens
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Increased Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Vibrio cholerae in the Capital and Provincial Areas of Zambia, January 2023–February 2024
Journal Facts
- Impact factor: 2019 Impact Factor is 2.126 : 5-year Impact Factor is 2.439.
- Manuscripts and number of pages published: Over 500 articles and 3,000 pages are published every year.
- Submissions: Over 1,000 submissions each year, mostly unsolicited, with 2/3 from outside the US.
- Turnaround time: Average time between submission and first decision is 40 days.
- Frequency: Monthly, with articles online ahead of print on a weekly basis.
- Circulation: Spans six continents with an average of 65,000+ monthly website visits.
Description
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, established in 1921, is published monthly by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. It is among the top-ranked tropical medicine journals in the world publishing original scientific articles and the latest science covering new research with an emphasis on population, clinical and laboratory science and the application of technology in the fields of tropical medicine, parasitology, immunology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, basic and molecular biology, virology and international medicine. The Journal publishes unsolicited peer-reviewed manuscripts, review articles, short reports, images in Clinical Tropical Medicine, case studies, reports on the efficacy of new drugs and methods of treatment, prevention and control methodologies,new testing methods and equipment, book reports and Letters to the Editor. Topics range from applied epidemiology in such relevant areas as AIDS to the molecular biology of vaccine development. The Journal is of interest to epidemiologists, parasitologists, virologists, clinicians, entomologists and public health officials who are concerned with health issues of the tropics, developing nations and emerging infectious diseases. Major granting institutions including philanthropic and governmental institutions active in the public health field, and medical and scientific libraries throughout the world purchase the Journal. Two or more supplements to the Journal on topics of special interest are published annually. These supplements represent comprehensive and multidisciplinary discussions of issues of concern to tropical disease specialists and health issues of developing countries.
History
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine was published by the American Society of Tropical Medicine (ASTM) beginning in 1921. Thirty years later, the ASTM merged with the National Malaria Society (NMS) and the two organizations together became what is now known as the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). In 1952 they published Volume 1 of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (AJTMH). The archived journals of the National Malaria Society can be found here.