Platform for Plasmodium vivax vaccine discovery and development

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the American continent. It generates a global burden of 80–100 million cases annually and represents a tremendous public health problem, particularly in the American and Asian continents. A malaria vaccine would be considered the most cost-effective measure against this vector-borne disease and it would contribute to a reduction in malaria cases and to eventual eradication. Although significant progress has been achieved in the search for Plasmodium falciparum antigens that could be used in a vaccine, limited progress has been made in the search for P. vivax components that might be eligible for vaccine development. This is primarily due to the lack of in vitro cultures to serve as an antigen source and to inadequate funding. While the most advanced P. falciparum vaccine candidate is currently being tested in Phase III trials in Africa, the most advanced P. vivax candidates have only advanced to Phase I trials. Herein, we describe the overall strategy and progress in P. vivax vaccine research, from antigen discovery to preclinical and clinical development and we discuss the regional potential of Latin America to develop a comprehensive platform for vaccine development.

Malaria transmission blocking immunity and sexual stage vaccines for interrupting malaria transmission in Latin America

“…Additionally, the availability of Aotus monkeys in several countries of LA region, namely Colombia, represents a valuable resource for addressing important questions regarding TB immunity that are difficult to study in human populations. Indeed, the possibility of infecting Aotus with strains of human malaria parasites capable of producing gametocytes opens the possibility of assessing questions regarding the levels priming and boosting required for the long-term maintenance of TB vaccines protective efficacy (Herrera et al 2011). …”

Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccines: Why are we where we are?

“…Several new candidates are currently being investigated pre-clinically and there are excellent reviews discussing these 15 , 16 . We will therefore focus on the candidates that have been tested in clinical trials up to the year 2013.…”

Approaching the Target: The Path Towards an Effective Malaria Vaccine

“…Several difficulties have been encountered to develop P. vivax vaccines. Besides the lack of resources allocated for P. vivax vaccine research, there have been few P. vivax target antigens identified with vaccine potential, as compared to P. falciparum : the CS protein, SSP2/MTRAP, the Duffy binding protein, the MSP1, the AMA1, P25 and P28 55. The different behavior of the parasite within the human host and the probably different immune response induced by P. vivax (compared to P. falciparum ) adds a lot of complexity to vaccine development 56.…”