Protective immunity to pre-erythrocytic stage malaria

Authors

Robert J. Schwenk, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Thomas L. Richie, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Springs, MD

Date of this Version

2011

Comments

Published in Trends in Parasitology (2011), doi:10.1016/j.pt.2011.02.002

Abstract

The development of a vaccine against malaria is a major research priority given the burden of disease, death and economic loss inflicted upon the tropical world by this parasite. Despite decades of effort, however, a vaccine remains elusive. The best candidate is a subunit vaccine termed RTS,S but this provides only partial protection against clinical disease. This review examines what is known about protective immunity against pre-erythrocytic stage malaria by considering the humoral and T cell-mediated immune responses that are induced by attenuated sporozoites and by the RTS,S vaccine. On the basis of these observations a set of research priorities are defined that are crucial for the development of a vaccine capable of inducing long-lasting and high-grade protection against malaria.