Malaria vaccines

Malaria Vaccines

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. Malaria vaccines are a critical tool in the fight against this disease.

History

The development of malaria vaccines has been a challenging process that has spanned over several decades. The first malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 (trade name Mosquirix), was approved by European regulators in 2015. This vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative.

Types of Malaria Vaccines

There are three main types of malaria vaccines that are currently under development: pre-erythrocytic vaccines, blood-stage vaccines, and transmission-blocking vaccines.

Pre-erythrocytic Vaccines

Pre-erythrocytic vaccines target the parasite during the initial stage of its life cycle, when it first enters the human host from the mosquito. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine is an example of a pre-erythrocytic vaccine.

Blood-stage Vaccines

Blood-stage vaccines aim to control the symptoms of malaria by targeting the parasites once they have infected the red blood cells. These vaccines are designed to reduce the severity of the disease.

Transmission-blocking Vaccines

Transmission-blocking vaccines are designed to prevent the spread of malaria by blocking the development of the parasite in the mosquito. These vaccines aim to reduce the transmission of the disease.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of malaria vaccines varies. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine has been shown to provide partial protection against malaria in young children. However, no vaccine provides complete protection against the disease.

Future Developments

Research is ongoing to develop more effective malaria vaccines. This includes the use of new technologies, such as genetic engineering, to create vaccines that can provide better protection against the disease.

See Also

• Malaria
• Vaccine
• RTS,S
• GlaxoSmithKline
• PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

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