From which host did the most malignant human malaria come: birds, primates, or rodents? When did the transfer occur? Over the last half century, these have been some of the questions up for debate about the origin of Plasmodium falciparum, the most common and deadliest human malaria parasite, which is responsible for at least one million deaths every year.

Measles remains an important cause of child mortality, although the numbers of measles-related deaths has decreased during the last decade  through childhood immunisation programmes and follow-up measles vaccine campaigns.

Many of the most dangerous human diseases are transmitted by insect
vectors. After decades of repeated insecticide use, all of these vector
species have demonstrated the capacity to evolve resistance to
insecticides.

Bacillus thuringiensis is one of the most useful bacteria in insect pest management: it is used as an environmentally friendly biopesticide and its insecticidal toxins are incorporated into genetically modified crops. Concerns for its ongoing economic exploitation include the rapidity with which insects can evolve resistance to its toxins and whether B.

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