New Vaccine May Ward Against Malaria: How to Fight Mosquitoes

There may be a new vaccine for malaria. Scientists have found that an investigational malaria vaccine is safe, can generate an immune system response and can offer protection against malaria infection in healthy adults. The findings could spell a way for countries to better protect against diseased mosquitoes.

Malaria can race through human populations, transmitted to people through infected mosquitoes. After a bite occurs, infectious malaria sporozoites first travel to the liver. There, the immature malaria multiply and then spread through the bloodstream; that's when symptoms begin to develop.

"The global burden of malaria is extraordinary and unacceptable," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci in a news release. "Scientists and health care providers have made significant gains in characterizing, treating and preventing malaria; however, a vaccine has remained an elusive goal. We are encouraged by this important step forward."

The vaccine itself is known as PfSPZ Vaccine.  In order to test its effectiveness against malaria, the scientists tested 57 healthy adult volunteers between the ages of 18 to 45 who had never had malaria. Of these, 40 participants received the vaccine and 17 did not. The ones that did receive the vaccine were split into groups that had varying dosages. After receiving the vaccination, the participants were then monitored closely. There were no adverse side effects and no malaria infections occurred.

The scientists then examined the blood of those involved in the study. They found that higher doses of the vaccine were associated with protection against malaria infection. In fact, only three of the 15 participants who received the higher dosages of the vaccine became infected. That's compared to the 16 of 17 participants in the lower dosage group who became infected.

"In this trial, we showed in principle that sporozoites can be developed into a malaria vaccine that confers high levels of protection and is made using the good manufacturing practices that are required for vaccine licensure," said Robert A. Seder, principal investigator of the trial, in a news release.

The findings reveal the possibility of an eventual, full-proof defense against malaria. Yet there are still some hurdles to be overcome. The vaccine is delivered intravenously, a rare delivery route for vaccines. Currently, scientists are working on perfecting this vaccine, which could hold hope for the future.

The findings are published in the journal Science.