The Sporobot Pulls Insects Apart in Hopes of Creating a Malaria Vaccine
Alyson Wyers — May 31, 2014 — Tech
References: sporobot & fastcoexist
A scientific organization dedicated to developing a malaria vaccine is developing a robot that dissects mosquitos. Salaria Inc.'s Sporobot pulls the insects apart to collect malaria parasites, making the manufacture of the potential vaccine more efficient. This will prevent the spread of the deadly disease and save hundreds of thousands of lives.
While preventative measures like nets exists, a malaria vaccine could make the biggest impact. So far Salaria has successfully trialled six patients and using the Sporobot will speed up the next step. Currently the company harvests malaria parasites from the salivary glands of mosquitos by hand, an impractical and expensive method. They are now working with a team from Harvard to develop the Sporobot, which will automate the process.
While preventative measures like nets exists, a malaria vaccine could make the biggest impact. So far Salaria has successfully trialled six patients and using the Sporobot will speed up the next step. Currently the company harvests malaria parasites from the salivary glands of mosquitos by hand, an impractical and expensive method. They are now working with a team from Harvard to develop the Sporobot, which will automate the process.
Trend Themes
1. Automated-insect-dissection - The development of the Sporobot could disrupt the process of malaria vaccine production by efficiently collecting malaria parasites from dissected insects.
2. Robotic-scientific-research - The use of robots for scientific research can revolutionize the field by increasing efficiency and accuracy.
3. Innovative-medical-treatments - The development of a malaria vaccine using the Sporobot could lead to the creation of other life-saving medical treatments using automated processes.
Industry Implications
1. Biotechnology - The biotechnology industry could benefit from the use of robotics to automate and streamline processes in medical research and development.
2. Pharmaceuticals - The pharmaceutical industry can use robotic technology to improve the manufacture of drugs and vaccines, especially for diseases that are costly to produce vaccines for.
3. Scientific Research - The use of robots in scientific research and experimentation can accelerate the process of discovery and enable scientists to collect data more efficiently and accurately.
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