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synthetic molecules that can tolerate extreme environments. Biosensors are normally made from natural antibodies, but these do not tolerate high temperatures; many attempts have thus failed. The speciallytailored molecules, often of the peptide family, are manufactured with the help of recipes from a former professor at Linkping University, Lars Baltzer. Malaria is caused by single-cell parasites of the genus Plasmodium; dengue fever by viruses, but both are spread by mosquito bites. The pathogens are encased in proteins that can be captured and detected by the right sort of peptide. A couple of drops of blood on a test card could be all that is needed for an early diagnosis and to stem the parasites rampage through the body.