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Immune mechanisms in malaria: new insights in vaccine development

Nature Medicine volume 19, pages 168–178 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Early data emerging from the first phase 3 trial of a malaria vaccine are raising hopes that a licensed vaccine will soon be available for use in endemic countries, but given the relatively low efficacy of the vaccine, this needs to be seen as a major step forward on the road to a malaria vaccine rather than as arrival at the final destination. The focus for vaccine developers now moves to the next generation of malaria vaccines, but it is not yet clear what characteristics these new vaccines should have or how they can be evaluated. Here we briefly review the epidemiological and immunological requirements for malaria vaccines and the recent history of malaria vaccine development and then put forward a manifesto for future research in this area. We argue that rational design of more effective malaria vaccines will be accelerated by a better understanding of the immune effector mechanisms involved in parasite regulation, control and elimination.

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Figure 1: Life cycle of Plasmodium spp.

Katie Vicari

Figure 2: Induction of humoral and T cell–mediated immune responses against malaria.

Claire Cessford

Figure 3: Malaria vaccine approaches: aims and required immune responses.

Katie Vicari

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the mentors, colleagues, students, funders and volunteers whose support, hard work, ideas and discussions have contributed to our thinking over many years. The material in this article does not reflect the endorsement, official attitude or position of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the US Department of Defense.

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  1. Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Eleanor M Riley

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    V Ann Stewart

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  2. V Ann Stewart
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Correspondence to Eleanor M Riley.

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Riley, E., Stewart, V. Immune mechanisms in malaria: new insights in vaccine development. Nat Med 19, 168–178 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3083

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