Sporozoite immunization: innovative translational science to support the fight against malaria.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Malaria, a devastating febrile illness caused by protozoan parasites, sickened 247,000,000 people in 2021 and killed 619,000, mostly children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. A highly effective vaccine is urgently needed, especially for Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), the deadliest human malaria parasite.

Areas covered

Sporozoites (SPZ), the parasite stage transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes to humans, are the only vaccine immunogen achieving >90% efficacy against Pf infection. This review describes >30 clinical trials of PfSPZ vaccines in the U.S.A., Europe, Africa, and Asia, based on first-hand knowledge of the trials and PubMed searches of 'sporozoites,' 'malaria,' and 'vaccines.'

Expert opinion

First generation (radiation-attenuated

SUBMITTER: Richie TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10949369 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature