Microsoft founder Bill Gates decided to contribute in an unusual way to combat malaria: bet on sweets. Through his charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates, the billionaire gave on Tuesday $ 100,000 for unconventional solutions to world problems. Disease, two proposals have drawn attention. One speaks of gum, the other in chocolate.

The first idea, developed by Andrew Fung, University of California, intends to use chewing gum to detect malaria. The test, according to Fung, could be done through saliva left in the gum, eliminating the need for blood withdrawal and analysis on computers – and be painless. The disadvantage is that the indicators of the disease are less present in saliva than in blood.

In a second study, all the sweeter, a scientist will use the money from Gates to study the effects of chocolate against the parasite that causes malaria. The author of the proposal is Steven Maranz, from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. The Maranz argument is that the chocolate sticks to cholesterol and takes the movement, causing the parasite, which feeds on the blood fat, be weakened.

The studies by Fung and Maranz are part of the 76 studies selected in the effort Grand Challenges in Global Health, a project of the Gates funding “bold” ideas in combating various diseases such as AIDS, malaria and pneumonia. Among other works that have won funding on Tuesday, are also a study that seeks to diagnose tuberculosis by breathing and the ability to apply vaccines under the tongue.

Via: Telegraph.