Routine malaria vaccination in Africa: a step toward malaria eradication?

Malaria Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: Jan. 5, 2025

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, with nearly half of the world's population at risk infection. In 2022 alone, malaria claimed approximately 608,000 lives, 76% these fatalities occurring in children under age five, underscoring disease's disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Africa bears highest burden, accounting for 94% cases. For over 60 years, development vaccine has been critical objective scientists and governments, substantial efforts directed toward this goal. Recent progress led to approval first vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix®) R21/Matrix-M vaccine. Inspired by promise community renewed its focus eradication, 50 years after flawed earlier eradication mid-twentieth century. Since World Health Organization's endorsement RTS,S 2021 R21 2023, several African countries, beginning Cameroon, have integrated vaccines into routine immunization programmes. This review examines role vaccination as key strategy elimination, explores challenges solutions widespread implementation, discusses future directions ongoing fight eliminate continent.

Language: Английский

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Effective vaccination for malaria and wider implications for future global child health

Paediatrics and Child Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Virus-like particle-based vaccines targeting the Anopheles mosquito salivary protein TRIO

mSphere, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

ABSTRACT Malaria is a highly lethal infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. These parasites are transmitted to vertebrate hosts when mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus probe for blood meal. Sporozoites, stage , transit liver within hours injection into dermis. Vaccine efforts hindered complexity parasite’s lifecycle and speed at which infection established in liver. In an effort enhance immunity against we produced virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine displaying epitope TRIO, salivary protein that has been shown mobility dispersal sporozoites Previous work demonstrated passive immunization with TRIO offered protection from acted synergistically -targeted vaccine. Immunization mice VLPs resulted high-titer long-lasting antibody responses did not significantly drop over 18 months post-immunization. were similarly immunogenic combined anti-malaria targeting L9 falciparum circumsporozoite protein. However, used malaria challenge mouse model, only provided modest boost VLPs. IMPORTANCE Proteins present glands mosquitos have transmission efficiency mosquito-borne pathogens, suggesting interventions activity these proteins could reduce transmission. Here, looked efficacy mosquito reported infection. We show this can elicit strong anti-TRIO responses, but antibodies result decrease

Language: Английский

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Structure of endogenous Pfs230:Pfs48/45 in complex with potent malaria transmission-blocking antibodies

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 15, 2025

The Pfs230:Pfs48/45 complex is essential for malaria parasites to infect mosquitoes and forms the basis current leading transmission-blocking vaccine candidates, yet little known about its molecular assembly. Here, we used cryogenic electron microscopy elucidate structure of endogenous bound six potent antibodies. Pfs230 consists multiple domain clusters rigidified by interactions mediated through insertion domains. Membrane-anchored Pfs48/45 a disc-like interacts with short C-terminal peptide on that critical membrane-retention in vivo . Analyses Pfs48/45- Pfs230-targeted antibodies identify conserved epitopes provides structural paradigm complement-dependent activity Pfs230-targeting Altogether, antibody-complex presented improves our understanding transmission biology mechanisms action antibodies, informing development next-generation interventions.

Language: Английский

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Having your cake and eating it too – a new target for sporozoite-neutralising mAbs

Trends in Parasitology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Malaria “chemoprevention and vaccination strategies” for children living in endemic areas of Africa: a review

Frontiers in Malaria, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 3

Published: Feb. 24, 2025

There has been significant progress in malaria prevention over the past 20 years, but impact of current interventions may have peaked and moderate to high transmission areas, earlier gains either since stalled or reversed. Newer more innovative strategies are urgently needed. These include different chemoprevention strategies, vaccines, injectable forms long-acting antimalarial drugs used combination with other interventions. In this paper, we describe strategies; their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, uptake, potential impact, contextual factors that implementation. We also assess effectiveness reducing burden emerging concerns drug resistance, stock-outs, funding, equity suggestions improve application.

Language: Английский

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PfRH5 vaccine; from the bench to the vial

npj Vaccines, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: April 24, 2025

Language: Английский

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How to Accelerate Early Stage of Malaria Vaccine Development by Optimizing Functional Assays

Vaccines, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(6), P. 586 - 586

Published: May 28, 2024

While two Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based pre-erythrocytic vaccines (PEV), RTS,S and R21, have been approved by the WHO, no blood-stage vaccine (BSV) or transmission-blocking (TBV) has reached a phase 3 trial. One of major obstacles that slows down malaria development is shortage (or lack) in vitro assays animal models which investigators can reasonably select best formulation (e.g., antigen, adjuvant, platform) and/or immunization strategy interval inoculation route immunization) before human 2 In case PEV, R21 set benchmark, new be compared with (one of) PEV directly preclinical early clinical studies. However, such an approach cannot utilized for BSV TBV at this moment. The focus review vivo used P. development, I discuss important considerations during assay selection, standardization, qualification, validation, interpretation results. Establishment robust assay/model proper results one key elements to accelerate future development.

Language: Английский

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Global Fight against Malaria: Goals and Achievements 1900–2022

Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 13(19), P. 5680 - 5680

Published: Sept. 24, 2024

This article examines the historical and ongoing efforts to fight malaria, a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium species transmitted Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite over century of control efforts, malaria remains major global health issue. In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million cases across 85 countries, leading approximately 600,000 deaths. recently published Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030, World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized eradication. The main goals are reduce incidence mortality 90% 2030 compared 2015 levels. However, as progress been limited, with only 2% reduction in 6% mortality. review traces context highlighting its ancient origins pivotal scientific discoveries late 19th that paved way modern measures. Eradication Programme launched WHO 1955 initially showed promise, largely due insecticide DDT, but ultimately failed achieve mainly logistical problems, vector resistance inadequate funding. significant advances early 21st century, including Roll Back initiative increased international funding, eradication distant goal. Persistent challenges, such weak healthcare systems, parasite drugs insecticides, continue hamper efforts. Therefore, this underscores need deeper understanding malaria’s history recent evolution inform future strategies

Language: Английский

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Repertoire, function, and structure of serological antibodies induced by the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 11, 2024

ABSTRACT The World Health Organization recently recommended the programmatic use of R21/Matrix-M vaccine for Plasmodium falciparum malaria prevention in children living malaria-endemic areas. To determine its effects on humoral immunity, we conducted a proteomic analysis polyclonal IgG antibodies directed against NANP tetrapeptide circumsporozoite protein (CSP) which comprises vaccine’s core immunogen. In ten malaria-naïve adult volunteers, induced polarized anti-NANP repertoires, heavily skewed IGHV3-30/3-33 genes bearing minimal somatic mutation, remained static composition following controlled human infection challenge. Notably, these vaccine-generated cross-reacted with another protective CSP epitope, N-terminal junction region, despite absence from R21 construct. NANP-specific monoclonal mined repertoires blocked sporozoite invasion vitro and prevented parasitemia vivo . Overall, elicits polarized, minimally mutated, responses that can target multiple epitopes, offering molecular insight into serological basis demonstrated efficacy P. malaria.

Language: Английский

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