Work

Pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines: identifying the targets

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: Pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines target Plasmodium during its sporozoite and liver stages, and can prevent progression to blood-stage disease, which causes a million deaths each year. Whole organism sporozoite vaccines induce sterile immunity in animals and humans and guide subunit vaccine development. A recombinant protein-in-adjuvant pre-erythrocytic vaccine called RTS,S reduces clinical malaria without preventing infection in field studies and additional antigens may be required to achieve sterile immunity. Although few vaccine antigens have progressed to human testing, new insights into parasite biology, expression profiles and immunobiology have offered new targets for intervention. Future advances require human trials of additional antigens, as well as platforms to induce the durable antibody and cellular responses including CD8(+) T cells that contribute to sterile protection.

Source: Expert Review of Vaccines

DOI: 10.1586/erv.12.92

Authors: Patrick E Duffy, Tejram Sahu, Adovi Akue, Neta Milman, Charles Anderson

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Infectious Disease Research

Language: English

Topic: Malaria Research and Control

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases