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New vaccine developed against all strains of malaria
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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The leaders of an international team of scientists reported that they have recently developed a new powerful vaccine aimed at combating various strains of malaria. For the first time, the specialists have managed to use protective T-cells against the parasites that cause malaria.
The first experiments were conducted on animals and after the experiments were completed, scientists reported that the new method helped protect all animals from malaria. At the moment, the vaccine is unique, since until now no other vaccine known to medicine had such an effect.
Griffith University staff emphasize that absolutely all malaria strains are different from each other. The main difference between strains is in the surface particles (molecules) that can be recognized by antibodies. The imperfection of previously created vaccines is that they promote the formation of specific antibodies.
Immunoglobulins (aka antibodies) are a separate class of glycoproteins that are found both in the blood serum and on the surface of B-lymphocytes. Antibodies have the ability to bind to certain types of molecules. The main functions that antibodies perform in the body are binding (with molecules of a certain type) and effector (the body's immune system uses antibodies to neutralize or destroy foreign cells). Any immunoglobulins have both functions, one part of the molecule is responsible for effector functions, and the second is responsible for recognizing and binding antigens.
Over the past decades, US and European experts have been working on creating a universal vaccine that can prevent malaria. Malaria is a dangerous disease, previously called swamp fever, a group of infectious diseases. The disease is usually transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite and is accompanied by chills, fever, enlarged internal organs and anemia. Every year, more than 350 million cases of malaria are recorded worldwide, and about one and a half million cases of infection end in death.
After infection with malaria, the parasites are inside the red blood cells. The main goal of the researchers was to determine the possibility of destroying the parasites with the help of protective T-cells, which are inside the lymphocytes (white blood cells). Scientists claim that the new vaccine will be able to protect people from the disease, as well as from all currently known strains of malaria. Animal testing was successful, so experts are confident that subsequent experiments will also be successful. Scientists believe that an important point is that the financial and time costs are not too high, so the vaccine will be available even in low-income countries. The largest number of infections is recorded annually in Africa, Asia and Oceania. Over the past two decades, the number of fatal cases has doubled and if medicine does not intervene, then, according to forecasts, in twenty years, the mortality rate will increase several times more.
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