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Mosquito bites deliver potential new malaria vaccine

A study published in Vaccine suggests that genetically engineered malaria parasites can be used as a vaccine to protect against infection. The attenuated parasites, which are stunted through precise gene deletions, induce robust immune responses that provide long-lasting protection.

SourceElsevier·JournalVaccine·DateSep 11, 2013

Quest for edible malarial vaccine leads to other potential medical uses for algae

Researchers engineered algae to produce a fusion protein that blocks malaria transmission, suggesting its potential use in treating other mucosal lining infections. The study's findings encourage the development of algae-based vaccines as a cheaper alternative for distributing life-saving medicines to developing countries.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateApr 19, 2013

Malaria's Achilles' heel revealed?

Researchers have discovered a single receptor essential for the malaria parasite to invade human red blood cells, offering a promising new focus for vaccine development. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of an effective malaria vaccine that targets this universal entry pathway.

Modified vaccine shows promise in preventing malaria

Researchers at Michigan State University have created a new malaria vaccine that combines an immune-stimulating gene with a disabled cold virus, increasing the immune response against the parasite. The vaccine was found to be more effective than previously developed systems in animal models, paving the way for human clinical trials.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 26, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: Sept. 1, 2010

Researchers have identified a way to preserve nerve cells in a rat model of stroke and developed a modified adenovirus vaccine that provides protection against malaria in mice. The vaccine targets a protein called TRPC6, which is involved in protecting nerve cells from death after a stroke.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 1, 2010

Alternative pathway to malaria infection identified

Researchers have identified the complement receptor 1 (CR1) as an alternative protein used by the malaria parasite to invade red blood cells. This finding has significant implications for the development of a vaccine against malaria, and may help prevent the proliferation of parasites that rely on this pathway.

SourcePenn State·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJun 17, 2010

UM School of Medicine scientists find new malaria vaccine is safe and promotes immune response in children

Researchers have developed a new malaria vaccine that has shown strong and long-lasting immune responses in young children, surpassing antibody levels found in adults. The vaccine, FMP2.1/AS02A, targets the blood stage of the disease and was tested in 100 Malian children, with all doses proving safe and well-tolerated.

UM School of Medicine researchers find extreme genetic variability in malaria parasite

Researchers have charted extreme genetic differences in the malaria parasite, which could make it difficult to develop a broadly protective vaccine. The study found that certain regions of the protein are recognized by the immune response, allowing researchers to narrow their focus and reduce the number of immunologically important types.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 14, 2009

New results on world's most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate to be reported in NEJM

The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative has reported promising results from two studies on the efficacy of RTS,S/AS malaria vaccine candidate. The first study showed the vaccine's efficacy when co-administered with other childhood vaccines, while the second study demonstrated its effectiveness in children aged 5 to 17 months.

SourcePATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 8, 2008

Malaria: The right vaccine in the right place?

A new study found that the most commonly used malaria vaccine may not be effective against the prevalent strain in Mali. The researchers discovered that only 16% of infections were caused by the strain included in the vaccine, highlighting the importance of testing vaccines in diverse populations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMar 12, 2007

Malaria vaccine prompts victims' immune system to eliminate parasite from mosquitoes

Researchers developed a malaria vaccine that prompts the immune system to eliminate the parasite from an area's mosquitoes. The vaccine was tested in mice and showed promise by eliminating the parasite from the digestive tract of infected mosquitoes.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 18, 2006

New malaria vaccine shows promise in early clinical trial

Researchers reported that most volunteers developed strong, specific, and long-lasting immune responses to the MSP3 protein after vaccination. The vaccine also demonstrated functional antibody responses that could inhibit malaria parasite growth in laboratory assays.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 7, 2005

A step closer to a malaria vaccine

Researchers have identified a promising protein, AMA1, as a potential component for a malaria vaccine. The protein is produced in two critical stages of the parasite life cycle and has slight structure variations called polymorphisms that impact its development.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 29, 2005

Malaria vaccine trial

A new malaria vaccine trial found only 10% vaccine efficacy in Gambian adults, but the DNA/MVA vaccine group showed a significantly stronger immune response than the rabies vaccine group. The researchers are planning further trials to address this issue and develop a more effective malaria vaccine.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 25, 2004