Abstract.
Continuous natural exposure to Plasmodium transmission by infectious Anopheles mosquitoes leads to a gradual acquisition of immunological competence against malaria. The partial immunity, observed in adolescents and adults living in endemic areas, reduces morbidity and mortality without preventing parasite infection. In experimental animal models, long-lasting sterilizing immunity can be achieved with genetically attenuated Plasmodium liver stages. Can these findings be translated to accomplish sterile protection against natural malaria transmission in the high-risk group, young infants in sub-Saharan Africa?
Keywords. Malaria, Plasmodium, protective immunity, liver stage, whole organism vaccine
Footnotes
Received 10 June 2007; received after revision 31 July 2007; accepted 22 August 2007