MALARIA

World’s most lethal parasite is now going to be under human command, latest by 2015

There have been many trials and failures for the development of a vaccine against malaria since 1980 but now it seems that the moment of success is near at hand. There are three types of promising vaccination strategies against plasmodium.

1. Antibodies developed from mosquito enzyme called aminopeptidase injected into human beings. These antibodies when ingested by mosquito mask the enzymes in its gut. Without the enzyme, the gametocytes in the mosquito die and the cycle ends, thus rendering that mosquito harmless. Interestingly, this is A VACCINE FOR MOSQUITOES (!)

2. A VACCINE FROM MOSQUITOES: in this method, scientists grow genetically modified or irradiated parasites in the mosquitoes gut. These parasites are extracted and fragments from the weakened parasites are injected into a previously uninfected human, triggering an immune response that protects the individual from further infection.

3. A STRONGER TRADITIONAL VACCINE: Proteins from the surface of healthy sporozoites are isolated and fragments are incorporated into a scaffold. Now a chemical called an adjuvant is added to enhance the immune response by increasing the participation of B cells (antibody producing) and T cells. The resulting vaccine is injected into a previously uninfected child triggering an immune response that is partly effective at protecting individuals from future infection. A year and a half after the first injection the child receives a final booster shot to reinforce immunity.

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Extracts from article published in Scientific American Nov 2010

Author: Mary Carmichael, senior writer at Newsweek covering health and science.