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Novel approach for rapid identification and development of malaria vaccines
July 25, 2007Malaria is the world's most frequent parasitic disease, affecting more than 100 countries in the tropical zones, mostly in Africa, and 40% of the world population, with more than a million deaths per year. As a consequence countries affected by malaria also tend to be economically disadvantaged. The development of a vaccine constitutes a major scientific and health challenge. Research conducted at the Biochemistry Department of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, has established a novel approach for the rapid discovery and development of vaccine candidates.
The malaria parasites injected through the bite of an infected female mosquito first develop in the liver and then in the blood. Clinical symptoms are associated with the latter stage and no vaccine is currently available. The development of an antibody-based vaccine to stop the proliferation of the parasite in the blood is thus clearly needed. The few candidates already tested or in the development process were identified over 20 years ago.
Taking advantage of the recently sequenced parasite genome, together with bioinformatics and peptide synthesis, Dr Giampietro Corradin's group, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in close collaboration with Dr Andrey Kajava, University of Montpellier, France, has developed a novel approach for the rapid identification of malaria vaccine candidates. This approach is based on a bioinformatics selection of hundreds of short ?-helical coiled coil protein segments (30-40 amino acids long) which are able to maintain their conformation once they are chemically synthesized. In the first round of selection, all of 95 peptides synthesized were shown to be recognized by sera from malaria immune donors. Purified human antibodies specific to a dozen of these peptides could effectively inhibit parasite growth in vitro. Due to the rapidity of the identification and manufacturing process, time and cost to enter new vaccine candidates in clinical trials can be drastically reduced.
Public Library of Science
Public Library of Science
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U.S. and European Experts Applaud Creation of New Transatlantic Task Force on Global Antibiotic Resistance Threat
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The Making of a Tropical Disease: A Short History of Malaria (Johns Hopkins Biographies of Disease) by Randall M. Packard (Author) Malaria sickens hundreds of millions of people -- and kills one to three million -- each year. Despite massive efforts to eradicate the disease, it remains a major public health problem in poorer tropical regions. But malaria has not always been concentrated in tropical areas. How did other regions control malaria and why does the disease still flourish in some parts of the globe? From Russia to Bengal to Palm Beach, Randall Packard's far-ranging narrative traces the natural and social forces that help malaria spread and make it deadly. He finds that war, land development, crumbling health systems, and globalization -- coupled with climate change and changes in the distribution and flow of water -- create conditions in which malaria's carrier mosquitoes thrive. The combination of... |
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The Malaria Capers : More Tales of Parasites and People, Research and Reality by Robert S. Desowitz (Author) "Reads like a murder mystery. . . . [Desowitz] writes with uncommon lucidity and verse, leaving the reader with a vivid understanding of malaria and other tropical diseases, and the ways in which culture, climate and politics have affected their spread and containment."—New York Times Why, Robert S. Desowitz asks, has biotechnical research on malaria produced so little when it had promised so much? An expert in tropical diseases, Desowtiz searches for answers in this provocative book. . |
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Humanity's Burden: A Global History of Malaria (Studies in Environment and History) by James L.A. Webb Jr. (Author) Humanity's Burden provides a panoramic overview of the history of malaria. It traces the long arc of malaria out of tropical Africa into Eurasia, its transfer to the Americas during the early years of the Columbian exchange, and its retraction from the middle latitudes into the tropics since the late nineteenth century. Adopting a broadly comparative approach to historical patterns and processes, it synthesizes research findings from the natural and social sciences and weaves these understandings into a narrative that reaches from the earliest evidence of malaria infections in tropical Africa up to the present. Written in a style that is easily accessible to non-specialists, it considers the significance of genetic mutations, diet, lifestyle, migration, warfare, palliative and curative... |
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First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria: How a Peace Corps Poster Boy Won My Heart and a Third World Adventure Changed My Life by Eve Brown-Waite (Author) In this laugh-out-loud funny memoir, a pampered city girl falls head over little black heels in love with a Peace Corps poster boy and follows him —literally–to the ends of the earth. Eve Brown always thought she would join the Peace Corps someday, although she secretly worried about life without sushi, frothy coffee drinks and air conditioning. But with college diploma in hand, it was time to put up or shut up. So with some ambivalence she arrives at the Peace Corps office–sporting her best safari chic attire –to casually look into the steps one might take if one were to become a global humanitarian, a la Angelina Jolie. But when Eve meets John, her dashing young Peace Corps recruiter, all her ambivalence flies out the window. She absolutely must join the Peace Corps -... |
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Molecular Approaches to Malaria by Irwin W. Sherman (Editor) "Molecular Approaches to Malaria" provides an overview of the rapid and significant developments that have occurred in malaria research, including the 2002 genome sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum and its mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae. This work: provides a concise source of up-to-date research findings; appeals to a diverse audience, including malaria researchers, teachers, investigators, and public health professionals; offers contributions by recognized malaria researchers with practical experience; and, presents comprehensive coverage of topics including a clearly written introduction to Plasmodium molecular biology. |
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Malaria: Fever Wars Starring: Artist Not Provided |
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Sea to Summit Personal Mosquito Shelter (Double) by Sea to Summit An indispensible item for traveling or backpacking in bug infested regions. The Sea to Summit Mosquito Net shelters are small, light and compact. Available in a Permetherin treated version. Handy stuff sack for easing packing included. Double version has 22 spreader pole that packs down to 6. |
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