Heat-Stable Malaria Vaccine That Stops Spread By Mosquitoes

More than half a million people die from malaria each year, but a new vaccine is showing promise since it not only provides powerful, long-lasting protection but also prevents mosquitoes from spreading the disease.

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Researchers say the vaccine could be inexpensive to manufacture, while its ability to remain stable without refrigeration could make distribution far easier in low-resource settings.

A next-generation malaria vaccine was developed at Griffith University's Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics.

Existing vaccines offer only partial and short-lived protection and are difficult to distribute across the globe as they require strict refrigeration. The difference with our vaccine is that not only does it not require refrigeration, but it also takes a different approach when targeting the malaria parasite.

Bernd Rehm, Director, Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University

Professor Bernd Rehm adds, “It attacks two critical stages at once – before infection and during transmission by stopping the parasite from reaching and infecting the liver, and also by preventing parasites from developing inside mosquitoes and spreading to others.”

The vaccine relies on microscopic particles produced by genetically engineered bacteria. These particles act as a framework that presents malaria surface proteins to the immune system, enabling the body to better recognise and eliminate the parasite. 

According to the researchers, this dual-action design broadens the immune response while also lowering the chances of the parasite moving from mosquitoes into humans.

Study findings showed the vaccine reduced malaria infection in the liver by as much as 80 per cent, fully protected around one-quarter of subjects from developing malaria, generated antibody levels above those considered necessary for protection, and cut mosquito-based transmission by roughly two-thirds.

The immune response also lasted for at least six months, which the researchers said compares favourably with many current malaria vaccine candidates.

One of the biggest challenges in malaria-affected regions is keeping vaccines cold and viable while in storage, and during transportation.

Dr. Nivethika Sivakumaran, Study Lead Author, Griffith University

Co-author Dr. Shuxiong Chen said: “This new vaccine remains stable and effective for at least a month in 37 °C weather, drastically improving access to rural and remote areas.”

The findings were published in the journal Small in a paper titled Robust bioconjugated antigens induce immune responses preventing malaria infection and its transmission.