MedWorm: Malaria Vaccine

Peter Seeberger: we can treat malaria for less

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:05:11 +0100

Artemisinin is the most effective malaria treatment yet discovered. Peter Seeberger has found a way to to make it from the waste products of its current manufactureArtemisinin, a drug extracted from the sweet wormwood plant, is the most effective treatment for malaria ever discovered. Every year, millions of doses of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are donated to Africa and Asia, greatly reducing the worldwide burden of the parasitical disease. But extracting artemisinin is expensive and because it takes time to cultivate the plant there are often bottlenecks in supply.But Peter H Seeberger, the director of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany, has just announced that he and colleague François Lévesque have discovered a simple and cost-effectiv...

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Measurement of the plasma levels of antibodies against the polymorphic vaccine candidate apical membrane antigen 1 in a malaria-exposed population

BMC Infectious Diseases — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The current data shows that levels of naturally acquired antigen-specific antibodies, especially in infants and young children, are dependent on the antigenic allele used for measurement. This may be relevant to the interpretation of antibody titre data from measurements against single PfAMA1 alleles, especially in studies involving infants and young children who have experienced fewer infections. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)

Malaria's deadly secret: a skin stage.

Trends in Parasitology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Guilbride DL, Guilbride PD, Gawlinski P Abstract The role skin plays in malaria infection has long been overlooked. Recent analysis, however, suggests skin-infecting sporozoites initiate rapid suppression of immunity, establishing early tolerance to subsequent lifecycle stages. This explains susceptibility to reinfection by mosquito bite, independent of blood stage-induced immunosuppression or semi-immunity. Vaccine trials corroborate skin-initiated immunosubversion due to skin-infecting forms, tightly correlating bite pre-exposure, live parasites in the skin and endemic vaccine failure. Rapidly advancing skin immunobiology and recently described parasite development in host skin further substantiate the proposed model, consolidating a new concept in parasite biology, exem...

Africa: Areas With Low Malaria Rates 'Need Mass Vaccination'

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:10:27 +0100

SciDev.Net (London)-The most promising malaria vaccine candidate should be rolled out through mass vaccination campaigns - rather than the WHO's routine infant vaccinations - in parts of Africa with low malaria transmission, says a study. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Areas with low malaria rates 'need mass vaccination'

SciDev.Net — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:30:35 +0100

A modelling study of a promising malaria vaccine finds low transmission areas would benefit the most from mass vaccination. (Source: SciDev.Net)

The challenge of malaria eradication in the twenty-first century: Research linked to operations is the key.

Vaccine — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Breman JG, Brandling-Bennett AD Abstract Interest and support for malaria control, eradication, and research has increased greatly over the past decade. This has resulted from appreciation of the huge medical, social, and economic burden that malaria exacts from endemic populations. Recent breakthroughs in drug development (artemisinin-based combination treatments), preventive interventions (long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets), improved diagnosis (rapid diagnostic tests), and community mobilization have resulted in deployment of new antimalarial tools. National programs supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, and other donors have resulted in substantial reductions in malaria morbidity and morta...

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$5.8 million Gates grant targets child-killing bacteria diseases in Africa

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Michigan State University) Bacteria infections -- most of which are preventable via vaccines readily available in the developed world -- and not malaria are the leading cause of death for children in sub-Saharan Africa. A new Michigan State University project based in Nigeria and funded by a $5.8 million grant aims to help prevent these diseases by collecting local data on the ailments, spurring vaccine use and development. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Enhancing humoral responses to a malaria antigen with nanoparticle vaccines that expand Tfh cells and promote germinal center induction [Applied Biological Sciences]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

For subunit vaccines, adjuvants play a key role in shaping immunological memory. Nanoparticle (NP) delivery systems for antigens and/or molecular danger signals are promising adjuvants capable of promoting both cellular and humoral immune responses, but in most cases the mechanisms of action of these materials are poorly understood. Here, we studied the immune response elicited by NPs composed of multilamellar “stapled” lipid vesicles carrying a recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite antigen, VMP001, both entrapped in the aqueous core and anchored to the lipid bilayer surfaces. Immunization with these particles and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a US Food and Drug Administration–approved immunostimulatory agonist for Toll-like receptor-4, promoted high-titer, high-avidity anti...

The British charity saving lives of African children with a new vaccination programme

Telegraph Health — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:02:44 +0100

A British charity with ties to The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry is introducing a vaccination programme to protect 750,000 African children. (Source: Telegraph Health)

Charity linked to Duke of Cambridge saving lives of African children

Telegraph Health — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:02:44 +0100

British charity Absolute Return for Kids, which has ties to The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, is introducing a vaccination programme to protect 750,000 African children. (Source: Telegraph Health)

Prospects and Pitfalls of Pregnancy-Associated Malaria Vaccination Based on the Natural Immune Response to Plasmodium falciparum VAR2CSA-Expressing Parasites

Comparative and Functional Genomics — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:29:36 +0100

Pregnancy-associated malaria, a manifestation of severe malaria, is the cause of up to 200,000 infant deaths a year, through the effects of placental insufficiency leading to growth restriction and preterm delivery. Development of a vaccine is one strategy for control. Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells accumulate in the placenta through specific binding of pregnancy-associated parasite variants that express the VAR2CSA antigen to chondroitin sulphate A on the surface of syncytiotrophoblast cells. Parasite accumulation, accompanied by an inflammatory infiltrate, disrupts the cytokine balance of pregnancy with the potential to cause placental damage and compromise foetal growth. Multigravid women develop immunity towards VAR2CSA-expressing parasites in a gravidity-dependent mann...

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Potential Malaria Vaccination: New Model Suggests Mass Vaccination For Low Transmission Areas

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

In the event that a vaccine for the prevention of malaria is licensed and ready for use (such as the research malaria vaccine RTS,S, which currently looks promising), distributing and giving the vaccine to three-month old infants via the World Health Organization's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) will be the most efficient mechanism in high transmission areas but for lower transmission areas, mass vaccination every 5 years might be a more efficient vaccination strategy, a new study has found... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New model for possible malaria vaccination suggests mass vaccination for low transmission areas

EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Public Library of Science) In the event that a vaccine for the prevention of malaria is licensed and ready for use (such as the research malaria vaccine RTS,S, which currently looks promising), distributing and giving the vaccine to three-month old infants via the World Health Organization's Expanded Programme on Immunization will be the most efficient mechanism in high transmission areas but for lower transmission areas, mass vaccination every five years might be a more efficient vaccination strategy, a new study has found. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)

Ensemble Modeling of the Likely Public Health Impact of a Pre-Erythrocytic Malaria Vaccine

PLoS Medicine — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions In higher transmission settings, EPI strategies will be most efficient, but vaccination additional to the EPI in targeted low transmission settings, even at modest coverage, might be more efficient than national-level vaccination of infants. The feasibility and economics of mass vaccination, and the circumstances under which vaccination will avert epidemics, remain unclear. The approach of using an ensemble of models provides more secure conclusions than a single-model approach, and suggests greater confidence in predictions of health effects for lower transmission settings than for higher ones. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary (Source: PLoS Medicine)

Placental malaria is associated with attenuated CD4 T-cell responses to tuberculin PPD 12 months after BCG vaccination

BMC Infectious Diseases — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Placental malaria was associated with reduced immune responses 12 months after immune challenge in infants apparently healthy at birth. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)

Antibodies against a Plasmodium falciparum antigen PfMSPDBL1 inhibit merozoite invasion into human erythrocytes.

Vaccine — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sakamoto H, Takeo S, Maier AG, Sattabongkot J, Cowman AF, Tsuboi T Abstract One approach to develop a malaria blood-stage vaccine is to target proteins that play critical roles in the erythrocyte invasion of merozoites. The merozoite surface proteins (MSPs) and the erythrocyte-binding antigens (EBAs) are considered promising vaccine candidates, for they are known to play important roles in erythrocyte invasion and are exposed to host immune system. Here we focused on a Plasmodium falciparum antigen, PfMSPDBL1 (encoded by PF10_0348 gene) that is a member of the MSP3 family and has both Duffy binding-like (DBL) domain and secreted polymorphic antigen associated with merozoites (SPAM) domain. Therefore, we aimed to characterize PfMSPDBL1 as a vaccine candidate. Recombinant fu...

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Cholera epidemic passes, teams continue to monitor for cases

MSF News — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:06:00 +0100

A cholera epidemic in Chad between 2010 and 2011 was the largest to hit the country in the last 15 years, with more than 17, 000 registered cases. Over the last year MSF has treated more than 12,700 patients, approximately three quarters of all the cases in the country. In order to prevent another emergency, Chadians need improved access to uncontaminated water and sanitation facilities. In 2011, Chad was affected by a cholera outbreak on a large scale. More than 450 deaths and 17,200 cases of the disease were reported, numbers that have not been seen in this central African country since 1996. At the height of the epidemic in August, up to 1,250 new cases per week were recorded, a third of those in the capital city of N'Djamena. Over the course of the outbreak, Médecins Sans Frontière...

Malaria vaccine: promising results

Archives of Disease in Childhood — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Over 780 million people, mostly children in Africa, die of malaria each year. Although malaria control measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets, insecticides and artemisinin-combination treatments, have resulted in reduced malaria morbidity and mortality in some countries, an effective vaccine is badly needed. The RTS,S vaccine targets the circumsporozoite protein. It is given with an adjuvant system (AS01 or AS02) and has shown efficacy in phase 2 trials. Now the initial results of a phase 3 trial in seven countries in subSaharan Africa (The RTS,S Clinical Trials Partnership. New Engl J Med 2011;365:1863–75; see also editorial, ibid: 1926–7) have confirmed that the vaccine is protective. A total of 15460 children in two age groups (6–12 weeks and 5–17 months) ...

Plasmodium vivax gametocyte protein Pvs230 is a transmission-blocking vaccine candidate.

Vaccine — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, our results show that Pvs230 is a transmission-blocking vaccine candidate of P. vivax. PMID: 22245309 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Geographic differentiation of polymorphism in the Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine candidate gene SERA5.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we performed evolutionary and population genetic analysis of sera5. The level of inter-species divergence (kS=0.076) between P. falciparum and Plasmodium reichenowi, a closely related chimpanzee malaria parasite is comparable to that of housekeeping protein genes. A signature of purifying selection was detected in the proenzyme and enzyme domains. Analysis of 445 near full-length P. falciparum sera5 sequences from nine countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, Oceania and South America revealed extensive variations in the number of octamer repeat (OR) and serine repeat (SR) regions as well as substantial level of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in non-repeat regions (2562bp). Remarkably, a 14 amino acid sequence of SERA5 (amino acids 59-72) that is known to be the in vitro t...

Identification of Id1-DBL2X of VAR2CSA as a key domain inducing highly inhibitory and cross-reactive antibodies.

Vaccine — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: We raised high-titer antibodies against several parts of the protein, and identified Id1-DBL2X as the minimal VAR2CSA fragment inducing antibodies with CSA-binding inhibitory efficiency in the same range as the full-length extracellular part of VAR2CSA. PMID: 22226864 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

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Vaccine reduces malaria in african children.

The American Journal of Nursing — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Singh Joy SD, Rosenberg K PMID: 22222409 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Nursing)

Plasmodium knowlesi Phosphatidylserine Decarboxylase [Lipids]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study defines a new system for probing the function of Plasmodium genes by library-based genetic complementation and its usefulness in revealing new biochemical properties of encoded proteins. (Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry)

Electroporation-mediated genetic vaccination for antigen mapping: Application to Plasmodium falciparum VAR2CSA protein.

Bioelectrochemistry — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bordbar B, Gnidehou S, Ndam NT, Doritchamou J, Moussiliou A, Quiviger M, Deloron P, Scherman D, Bigey P Abstract Genetic vaccination, consisting in delivering a genetically engineered plasmid DNA by a non-viral vector or technique into a tissue, is currently of great interest. New delivery technique including DNA transfer by electroporation recently greatly improved the potency of this concept. Because it avoids the step of producing a recombinant protein, it is particularly of use in studying the immunogenic properties of large proteins. Here we describe the use of electroporation mediated DNA immunization to identify important protective epitopes from the large VAR2CSA protein from Plasmodium falciparum implicated in the pathology of placental malaria. Immunizing mice an...

Human adenovirus-specific T cells modulate HIV-specific T cell responses to an Ad5-vectored HIV-1 vaccine

Journal of Clinical Investigation — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:17:32 +0100

Recombinant viruses hold promise as vectors for vaccines to prevent infectious diseases with significant global health impacts. One of their major limitations is that preexisting anti-vector neutralizing antibodies can reduce T cell responses to the insert antigens; however, the impact of vector-specific cellular immunity on subsequent insert-specific T cell responses has not been assessed in humans. Here, we have identified and compared adenovirus-specific and HIV-specific T cell responses in subjects participating in two HIV-1 vaccine trials using a vaccine vectored by adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5). Higher frequencies of pre-immunization adenovirus-specific CD4+ T cells were associated with substantially decreased magnitude of HIV-specific CD4+ T cell responses and decreased breadth of HIV...

Africa: Top Female Kenyan Scientist Reflects on Historic Research

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:02:43 +0100

At the Malaria Forum hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in October, the latest findings on what is currently the most viable malaria vaccine candidate in medical history, known as RTS,S, were announced. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Africa: Malaria Scientist Does Groundbreaking Research

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:02:43 +0100

New Candidate Vaccine Neutralizes All Tested Strains Of Malaria Parasite

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0100

A new candidate malaria vaccine with the potential to neutralise all strains of the most deadly species of malaria parasite has been developed by a team led by scientists at the University of Oxford. The results of this new vaccine independently confirm the utility of a key discovery reported last month from scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute who had identified this target within the parasite as a potential 'Achilles' heel' that could hold significant promise for vaccine development... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

[Special Issue News] Breakthrough of the Year: The Runners-Up

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:32:20 +0100

This year's runners-up for Breakthrough of the Year include what makes asteroids red, ancient DNA in modern humans, the structure of photosystem II, pristine gas in the early universe, the microbiome, a new malaria vaccine, alien solar systems, zeolites, and senescent cells. (Source: Science: Current Issue)

[Special Issue News] Breakthrough of the Year: Scorecard

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:32:20 +0100

Science's editors foresaw this year's advances in developing a new malaria vaccine. But last year's other predictions were a mixed bag. (Source: Science: Current Issue)

Quarter-century quest for malaria vaccine shows signs of success

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 11, 168 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrd3650 Author: Alisa Opar Nature Reviews Drug Discovery10, 887–888 (2011) The spelling of Stephen Hoffman's name has been corrected online, as has his affiliation. (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery)

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Emergencies unfolding one after the other

MSF News — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:14:00 +0100

Six months after the birth of South Sudan as the world’s newest independent country, a series of emergencies are unfolding that require urgent humanitarian responses. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has scaled up into full emergency mode in Upper Nile State to respond to the sudden influx of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Around the town of Agok in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State, MSF is facing the spectre of a food shortage and has launched a preventive supplementary feeding program for children who risk becoming malnourished in the months ahead. The 22-year war that ended in 2005 left South Sudan’s healthcare provision in a perilous state that could be described as an emergency in its own right. Now, in the contested area of Abyei between the two Sud...

New malaria vaccine candidate to enter safety trials

SciDev.Net — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:54:28 +0100

A vaccine candidate that exploits how the malaria parasite enters human red blood cells is set to enter safety trials. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Experimental malaria vaccine shows early promise

Modern Medicine — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists have developed an experimental malaria vaccine that may have the potential to neutralize all strains of the most deadly species of malaria parasite. (Source: Modern Medicine)

MSF releases 10 stories that mattered in 2011

MSF News — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:31:00 +0100

A list of 10 Stories that Mattered in Access to Medicines in 2011 was released this week by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The list looks at developments in 2011 that had an impact – whether positive or negative – on people’s ability to access needed drugs, diagnostics and vaccines in developing countries. “For the diseases our medical teams encounter every day in places where we work, 2011 was a year of both critical progress and dangerous backsliding,” said Tido von Schoen-Angerer, a physician and executive director of MSF’s Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. “At a time of so much promise, it is crucial to continue pushing forward, and refuse to accept a double standard in care between rich and poor countries.” The list covers key developments regarding ...

Malaria Vaccine A Game Changer

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Scientists at Oxford University say they have developed a vaccine against the malaria parasite, and shown it to be effective against all the most deadly strains. Lead researcher Dr Sandy Douglas of the University of Oxford says: 'We have created a vaccine that confirms the recent discovery relating to the biology of RH5, given it can generate an immune response in animal models capable of neutralising many ... and potentially all strains of the P. falciparum parasite, the deadliest species of malaria parasite... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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MSF Releases 'Ten Stories That Mattered in Access to Medicines in 2011'

MSF News — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:14:00 +0100

Geneva/New York, December 20, 2011—A list of "Ten Stories that Mattered in Access to Medicines in 2011" was released today by the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The list looks at developments in 2011 that had an impact—whether positive or negative—on people’s ability to access needed drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines in developing countries. Access to Essential Medicines: Ten Stories That Mattered in 2011 Download full report [1989 KB] For the diseases our medical teams encounter every day in places where we work, 2011 was a year of both critical progress and dangerous backsliding,” said Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, executive director of MSF’s...

Life-saving malaria vaccine could enter clinical trials within 2 years

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:39:00 +0100

The experimental drug appears capable of neutralising most - or even all - strains of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for nine out of 10 malaria deaths. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Experimental malaria vaccine shows early promise

Reuters: Health — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:02:03 +0100

New approach to malaria vaccine

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:08 +0100

A potential new malaria vaccine has shown promise in animal studies, according to research. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

New candidate vaccine neutralizes all tested strains of malaria parasite

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Wellcome Trust) A new candidate malaria vaccine with the potential to neutralize all strains of the most deadly species of malaria parasite has been developed by a team led by scientists at the University of Oxford. The results of this new vaccine independently confirm the utility of a key discovery reported last month from scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute who had identified this target within the parasite as a potential 'Achilles' heel' that could hold significant promise for vaccine development. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Effective Malaria Vaccine [Global Health]

JAMA — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Genetic analysis of the merozoite surface protein-1 block 2 allelic types in Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates from Lao PDR

Malaria Journal — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Paper measures genetic diversity among natural parasite populations of Plasmodium falciparum from Lao PDR. The report is relevant as it may help understand local parasite population structure and transmission dynamics, and provides important data for future vaccine and drug deployment. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Erythrocyte and reticulocyte binding-like proteins of Plasmodium falciparum.

Trends in Parasitology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tham WH, Healer J, Cowman AF Abstract The global agenda for malaria eradication would benefit from development of a highly efficacious vaccine that protects against disease and interrupts transmission of Plasmodium falciparum. It is likely that such a vaccine will be multi-component, with antigens from different stages of the parasite life cycle. In this review, inclusion of blood stage antigens in such a vaccine is discussed. Erythrocyte binding-like (EBL) and P. falciparum reticulocyte binding-like (PfRh) proteins are reviewed with respect to their function in erythrocyte invasion, their role in eliciting antibodies contributing to protective immunity and reduction of invasion, leading subsequently to inhibition of parasite multiplication. PMID: 22178537 [PubMed - as...

Production, characterisation and immunogenicity of a plant-made Plasmodium antigen-the 19 kDa C-terminal fragment of Plasmodium yoelii merozoite surface protein 1.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study adds to an increasing body of research supporting the feasibility of plants as both a factory for the production of malaria antigens, and as a safe and affordable platform for oral delivery of a temperature-stable malaria vaccine. PMID: 22170105 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology)

Bloodstream Malaria Infection Cleared In Mice

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0100

University of Iowa researchers and colleagues have discovered how malaria manipulates the immune system to allow the parasite to persist in the bloodstream. By rescuing this immune system pathway, the research team was able to cure mice of bloodstream malaria infections. The findings, which were published in the Advance Online Publication of the journal Nature Immunology, could point the way to a new approach for treating malaria that does not rely on vaccination and is not susceptible to the parasite's notorious ability to develop drug resistance... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Age-Dependent IgG Subclass Responses to Plasmodium falciparum EBA-175 are Differentially Associated with Incidence of Malaria in Mozambican Children.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Dobaño C, Quelhas D, Quintó L, Puyol L, Serra-Casas E, Mayor A, Nhampossa T, Macete E, Aide P, Mandomando I, Sanz S, Puniya SK, Singh B, Gupta P, Bhattacharya A, Chauhan VS, Aponte JJ, Chitnis CE, Alonso PL, Menéndez C Abstract Plasmodium falciparum blood stage antigens such as the merozoite surface protein (MSP)-1, the apical membrane antigen (AMA)-1, and the 175 kDa erythrocyte binding antigen (EBA-175) are considered important targets of naturally acquired immunity to malaria. However, it is not clear whether antibodies to these antigens are effectors in protection against clinical disease or mere markers of exposure. In the context of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment in infants conducted between 2002 and 2004, antibody resp...

Fya/Fyb antigen polymorphism in human erythrocyte Duffy antigen affects susceptibility to Plasmodium vivax malaria [Medical Sciences]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Plasmodium vivax (Pv) is a major cause of human malaria and is increasing in public health importance compared with falciparum malaria. Pv is unique among human malarias in that invasion of erythrocytes is almost solely dependent on the red cell's surface receptor, known as the Duffy blood-group antigen (Fy). Fy is an important minor blood-group antigen that has two immunologically distinct alleles, referred to as Fya or Fyb, resulting from a single-point mutation. This mutation occurs within the binding domain of the parasite's red cell invasion ligand. Whether this polymorphism affects susceptibility to clinical vivax malaria is unknown. Here we show that Fya, compared with Fyb, significantly diminishes binding of Pv Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) at the erythrocyte surface, and is associ...

Immunogenicity of a virosomally-formulated Plasmodium falciparum GLURP-MSP3 chimeric protein-based malaria vaccine candidate in comparison to adjuvanted formulations

Malaria Journal — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The paper reports results of immunogenicity studies with GMZ2 formulated with various adjuvants in different mouse strains.Since vaccines with virosomal formulations are already commercial available and display a good safety profile a malaria vaccine formulated with virosomes may be developed fast if they prove to be better. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Application of genomics to field investigations of malaria by the international centers for excellence in malaria research.

Acta Tropica — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Volkman SK, Ndiaye D, Diakite M, Koita O, Nwakanma D, Daniels R, Park D, Neafsey D, Muskavitch M, Krogstad D, Sabeti P, Hartl D, Wirth D Abstract Success of the global research agenda toward eradication of malaria will depend on development of new tools, including drugs, vaccines, insecticides and diagnostics. Genomic information, now available for the malaria parasites, their mosquito vectors, and human host, can be leveraged to both develop these tools and monitor their effectiveness. Although knowledge of genomic sequences for the malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, have helped advance our understanding of malaria biology, simply knowing this sequence information has not yielded a plethora of new interventions to reduce the burden of malaria. ...

Refugee numbers grow

MSF News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:53:00 +0100

The registered number of refugees gathering at the tiny village of Doro, in South Sudan, as of Dec. 7, was 21,500 and increasing daily. Anywhere from 500 to 1,000 newcomers are registering every day. The walk from their homelands in Blue Nile State, Sudan, took anywhere from one week to one month. Although the work to set up a properly organized refugee camp is under way, no family groups arriving at the gathering point at Doro have yet been allocated a plot. So the reality for most is still to find a small tree or bush under which to spread the belongings they were able to carry. South Sudan © Jean-Marc Jacobs/MSFRefugees fleeing from Blue Nile State in Sudan have been arriving in Doro, South Sudan since mid-November. The refugees say they have fled war in Blue Nile State in neighbour...

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Nematode‐induced interference with anti‐Plasmodium CD8+ T‐cell response can be overcome by optimizing antigen administration

European Journal of Immunology — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMalaria is still responsible for up to 1 million deaths per year worldwide, highlighting the need for protective malaria vaccines. Helminth infections that are prevalent in malaria endemic areas can modulate immune responses of the host. Here we show that Strongyloides ratti, a gut‐dwelling nematode that causes transient infections, did not change the efficacy of vaccination against Plasmodium berghei. An ongoing infection with Litomosoides sigmodontis, a tissue‐dwelling filaria that induces chronic infections in BALB/c mice, significantly interfered with vaccination efficacy. The induction of P. berghei circumsporozoite protein (CSP)‐specific CD8+ T cells, achieved by a single immunization with a CSP fusion protein, was diminished in L. sigmodontis‐infected mice. This modu...

Nematode‐induced interference with the anti‐Plasmodium CD8+ T‐cell response can be overcome by optimizing antigen administration

European Journal of Immunology — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Malaria Transmission-blocking Vaccine Assessment

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0100

At a presentation during the 60th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, three leaders in malaria vaccine development announced their collaboration of assessing a potential vaccine candidate designed to prevent transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans. Researchers believe that the type of vaccine could contribute to the eventual eradication of malaria... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Fall in funding to combat 'neglected' diseases

FT.com - Drugs and Healthcare — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:35:41 +0100

Potential new treatments and vaccines for diseases including malaria and tuberculosis may never reach patients because of a downturn in international funding for research into 'neglected' diseases (Source: FT.com - Drugs and Healthcare)

Bloomberg School to Join Evaluation of New Malaria Vaccine

Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:32:19 +0100

(Source: Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins)

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GlaxoSmithKline malaria vaccine phase 3 trial heralded

Nature Biotechnology — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature Biotechnology 29, 1060 (2011). doi:10.1038/nbt1211-1060b Author: Simon Franz (Source: Nature Biotechnology)

Malaria vaccine to get human trial

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:52:11 +0100

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Three U.S. health institutions say they've joined to evaluate a potential vaccine designed to prevent transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Africa: Advancing the Development of a Malaria Transmission-Blocking Vaccine

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:39:11 +0100

Three leaders in malaria vaccine development announced today a collaboration to evaluate a potential vaccine candidate designed to prevent transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans-a type of vaccine that researchers think could contribute to the eventual eradication of malaria. The partners-the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Immunization Research (CIR)-are wor (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Mixed results for a malaria vaccine

Nature Medicine — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature Medicine 17, 1560 (2011). doi:10.1038/nm1211-1560 (Source: Nature Medicine)

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Cures for killer diseases at risk from cuts

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:09:31 +0100

As budgets are slashed, academics are warning that crucial breakthroughs will be jeopardisedScientific breakthroughs with the potential to cure Parkinson's disease, provide vaccines for global killers such as HIV/Aids and malaria, and deliver solutions to curtail the environmental costs of building homes could be delayed by "ruinous" cuts to the development of research facilities at the country's leading universities, according to academics.They warn that the development of world-beating laboratories, manufacturing workshops and even the country's leading position in the field of computer technology are at risk from the government's cuts to spending on building projects and facilities maintenance at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Manchester, and Imperial College and University ...

Thousands of refugees fleeing conflict

MSF News — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:20:00 +0100

Over the past two weeks thousands of refugees have crossed the border from Sudan into the newly independent South Sudan. On Nov. 28, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started an emergency medical intervention in the village of Doro, some 40 kilometres from the border where the refugees have fled fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile State. An estimated 13,000 men, women and children have already arrived and the MSF team has seen thousands more walking with what possessions they can carry from the border area towards the gathering-point at Doro. South Sudan © Dana KrausePeople fleeing from violence in Abyei, South Sudan in May 2011. “The place they are gathering is not a refugee camp yet, as the organization and the allocation of plots to families is just starting,” says Jean-Marc Jacobs,...

Quarter-century quest for malaria vaccine shows signs of success

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 10, 887 (2011). doi:10.1038/nrd3611 Author: Alisa Opar The long development of RTS,S, the leading malaria vaccine candidate, has yielded preliminary positive Phase III results, and laid a path for future success. (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery)

Dendritic cell‐targeted protein vaccines: a novel approach to induce T cell immunity

Journal of Internal Medicine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractCurrent vaccines primarily work by inducing protective antibodies. However, in many infections like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis as well as cancers there remains a need for durable and protective T‐cell immunity. Here, we summarize our efforts to develop a safe T‐cell based protein vaccine that exploits the pivotal role of dendritic cells (DC) in initiating adaptive immunity. Focusing on HIV, gag‐p24 protein antigen is introduced into a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that efficiently and specifically targets the DEC‐205 antigen uptake receptor on DC. When administered together with synthetic double stranded RNA, polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC) or its analogue poly ICLC (poly IC stabilized with carboxymethylcellulose and poly‐L‐lysine), as adjuvant, HIV gag...

Humoral immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum among HIV‐1‐infected Kenyan adults

Proteomics. Clinical Applications — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Protein microarrays are a useful method to screen multiple humoral responses simultaneously. This study provides useful clues for potential vaccine candidates. Modest decreases in CD4 counts may not significantly impact malaria‐specific humoral immunity. (Source: Proteomics. Clinical Applications)

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Dendritic cell‐targeted protein vaccines: a novel approach to induce T‐cell immunity

Journal of Internal Medicine — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Abstract. Trumpfheller C, Longhi MP, Caskey M, Idoyaga J, Bozzacco L, Keler T, Schlesinger SJ, Steinman RM (The Rockefeller University, New York, NY; and Celldex Therapeutics, Phillipsburg, NJ; USA). Dendritic cell‐targeted protein vaccines: a novel approach to induce T‐cell immunity (Review). J Intern Med 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2796.2011.02496.x.Current vaccines primarily work by inducing protective antibodies. However, in many infections like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis as well as cancers, there remains a need for durable and protective T‐cell immunity. Here, we summarize our efforts to develop a safe T‐cell–based protein vaccine that exploits the pivotal role of dendritic cells (DC) in initiating adaptive immunity. Focusing on HIV, gag‐p24 protein antigen is introd...

Genetic diversity of transmission-blocking vaccine candidates Pvs25 and Pvs28 in Plasmodium vivax isolates from Yunnan Province, China

Parasites and Vectors — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study investigated the genetic diversity of transmission-blocking vaccine candidate genes pvs25 and pvs28 of Plasmodium vivax from southwestern China. These two genes display limited genetic diversity in this region. Image: Transmission-blocking vaccine for malaria control. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)

Clinical Evaluation Of New Viral Vectored Vaccines Targeting The Plasmodium Falciparum Blood-Stage Antigens; Msp1 And Ama1

Journal of Infection — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:05:45 +0100

Blood-stage malaria vaccine development has historically focused on recombinant protein-in-adjuvant formulations aimed at inducing humoral immune responses. Pre-clinical work has shown it is possible to induce protective antibody responses, however to date, no trial of such an approach has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy. (Source: Journal of Infection)

Malaria transmission and morbidity patterns in holoendemic areas of Imo River Basin of Nigeria

BMC Research Notes — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This therefore puts to rest discrepancies about the relationship between malaria transmission and morbidity in the study area and calls for serious scaling up of the insecticide treated nets strategy especially in high transmission areas and seasons. Concerted efforts should also be made towards production of transmission blocking vaccines. (Source: BMC Research Notes)

Condition still critical

MSF News — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:33:00 +0100

Decades of conflict and a lack of government investment have made it hard for people in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to access basic healthcare. Epidemics have spread unchecked and treatment of deadly diseases has been neglected. Eastern DRC is still volatile, marked by shifting alliances between armed groups, ongoing military operations, instability, insecurity, banditry and violence. Attacks against civilians and aid organizations are rising, making both the population and humanitarian aid workers increasingly vulnerable. Rape, murder, kidnapping and random acts of violence are daily occurrences for millions of people. The instability continues to push people from their homes and at times limits MSF’s ability to provide free, lifesaving healthcare. Lack of investment in th...

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Taming the Malaria Parasite

Sound Medicine — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

More, now, on some of the newest research to wipe out malaria. In the world's first large field trial, several thousand young children who got three doses of an experimental malaria vaccine had about 55% less risk of getting the disease over a year than those who got a control vaccine for other infectious diseases. And in California, two researchers are working to "tame" the malaria parasite.... (Source: Sound Medicine)

An engineered Plasmodium falciparum C-terminal 19-kilodalton merozoite surface protein 1 vaccine candidate induces high levels of interferon-gamma production associated with cellular immune responses to specific peptide sequences in Gambian adults naturally exposed to malaria.

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:18:30 +0100

Authors: Bisseye C, Yindom LM, Simporé J, Morgan WD, Holder AA, Ismaili J Abstract The 19-kDa C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(19) ), a major blood stage malaria vaccine candidate, is the target of cellular and humoral immune responses in humans naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum. We have previously described engineered variants of this protein, designed to be better vaccine candidates, but the human immune response to these proteins has not been characterized fully. Here we have investigated the antigenicity of one such variant compared to wild-type MSP1(19) -derived protein and peptides. Gambian adults produced both high T helper type 1 (Th1) [interferon (IFN)-γ] and Th0/Th2 [interleukin (IL)-13 and sCD30] responses to the wild-type MSP1(19) and...

Tripling in flu jab uptake among frontline NHS staff

OnMedica Latest News — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Higher coverage attributed to use of social mediaRelated items from OnMedicaGovernment announces swine flu reviewOnly one in three NHS healthcare workers had the flu jab last yearParents unsure of HPV vaccine for daughters Africans in the UK most likely to acquire malaria Flu declines but remains a threat (Source: OnMedica Latest News)

The contribution of Plasmodium chabaudi to our understanding of malaria.

Trends in Parasitology — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Stephens R, Culleton RL, Lamb TJ Abstract Malaria kills close to a million people every year, mostly children under the age of five. In the drive towards the development of an effective vaccine and new chemotherapeutic targets for malaria, field-based studies on human malaria infection and laboratory-based studies using animal models of malaria offer complementary opportunities to further our understanding of the mechanisms behind malaria infection and pathology. We outline here the parallels between the Plasmodium chabaudi mouse model of malaria and human malaria. We will highlight the contribution of P. chabaudi to our understanding of malaria in particular, how the immune response in malaria infection is initiated and regulated, its role in pathology, and how immunologi...

A Vaccine for Malaria

New England Journal of Medicine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:00:29 +0100

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 365, Issue 20, Page 1926-1927, November 2011. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

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First Results of Phase 3 Trial of RTS,S/AS01 Malaria Vaccine in African Children

New England Journal of Medicine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:00:25 +0100

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 365, Issue 20, Page 1863-1875, November 2011. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

ΔE1 and high‐capacity adenoviral vectors expressing full‐length codon‐optimized merozoite surface protein 1 for vaccination against Plasmodium falciparum

The Journal of Gene Medicine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsOur findings suggest that Ad vectors expressing full‐length codon‐optimized MSP‐1 are promising candidate vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum infections. Use of the HC‐Ad vector type for delivery and the CAG promoter to control MSP‐1 expression may further increase efficacy of this vaccine candidate. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: The Journal of Gene Medicine)

In this issue

Nature Reviews Microbiology — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature Reviews Microbiology 9, 829 (2011). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2700 This year has seen some encouraging developments in vaccine research, including the recent early release of data from a Phase III trial of the RTS,S malaria vaccine, which showed modest but potentially valuable efficacy, and the development of IKEPLUS, a new candidate vaccine for tuberculosis. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)

A single amino acid change in the Plasmodium falciparum RH5 (PfRH5) human RBC binding sequence modifies its structure and determines species-specific binding activity.

Vaccine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Arévalo-Pinzón G, Curtidor H, Muñoz M, Patarroyo MA, Bermudez A, Patarroyo ME Abstract Identifying the ligands or regions derived from them which parasites use to invade their target cells has proved to be an excellent strategy for identifying targets for vaccine development. Members of the reticulocyte-binding homologue family (PfRH), including RH5, have been implicated in invasion as adhesins binding to specific receptors on erythrocyte surface. The regions mediating PfRH5-RBC specific interactions have been identified here by fine mapping the whole PfRH5 protein sequence. These regions, called high activity binding peptides (HABPs), bind to a receptor which is sensitive to trypsin treatment and inhibit merozoite invasion of RBCs by up to 80%, as has been found for HA...

Bacterial meningitis among children under the age of 2 years in a high human immunodeficiency virus prevalence area after Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine introduction

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Following H. influenzae type b vaccine introduction, S. pneumoniae and Salmonella spp. are the major causes of bacterial meningitis among children < 2 years in Uganda. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and reduction in mother to child transmission of HIV could reduce the observed mortality. (Source: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health)

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Who attends antenatal care and expanded programme on immunization services in Chad, Mali and Niger? The implications for insecticide-treated net delivery

Malaria Journal — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

ITN delivery through routine health services, such as antenatal care (ANC) and childhood vaccination (EPI), is a promising channel of delivery to reach individuals with the highest risk (Source: Malaria Journal)

An engineered Plasmodium falciparum C‐terminal 19‐kilodalton merozoite surface protein 1 vaccine candidate induces high levels of interferon‐gamma production associated with cellular immune responses to specific peptide sequences in Gambian adults naturally exposed to malaria

Clinical and Experimental Immunology — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:51:45 +0100

SummaryThe 19‐kDa C‐terminal region of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP119), a major blood stage malaria vaccine candidate, is the target of cellular and humoral immune responses in humans naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum. We have previously described engineered variants of this protein, designed to be better vaccine candidates, but the human immune response to these proteins has not been characterized fully. Here we have investigated the antigenicity of one such variant compared to wild‐type MSP119‐derived protein and peptides. Gambian adults produced both high T helper type 1 (Th1) [interferon (IFN)‐γ] and Th0/Th2 [interleukin (IL)‐13 and sCD30] responses to the wild‐type MSP119 and the modified protein as wells as to peptides derived from both forms. Response...

NHS Choices assessment: New breakthrough in fight against malaria

NeLM - News — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Choices Area: News NHS Choices has conducted an assessment of a report in the Independent that "the global eradication of malaria could be a step closer. The report is based on a laboratory study funded by the Wellcome Trust and published in Nature, which was designed to identify a protein required for malaria infection that was common to all strains of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The research found that a range of malarial parasites exploit a protein called basigin on the surface of blood cells, using the protein to identify and infect the cells. Several types of malaria parasites use basigin in this way, and this process can be blocked during lab experiments. It is postulated that if all malaria parasites use this mechanism then the findings could have far...

Histidine Affinity Tags Affect MSP1(42) Structural Stability and Immunodominance in Mice.

Biotechnology Journal — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

We report on the influence of His-affinity tags on protein expression levels, solubility, secondary structure, thermal denaturation, aggregation and the impact on humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. While the overall immunogenicity induced by His-tagged MSP1(42) proteins is greater, the fine specificity of the humoral and cellular immune responses is altered relative to anti-parasitic antibody activity and the breadth of T-cell responses. Thus, the usefulness of protein tags may be outweighed by their potential impact on structure and function, stressing the need for caution in their use. PMID: 22076863 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Biotechnology Journal)

Malaria blood entry route discovered by UK scientists

Pharmaceutical Technology — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:36:23 +0100

Researchers in the UK have found a key weakness in the way the most deadly species of the malaria parasite enters human blood cells, offering new hope for vaccine development.Post to:Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)

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New breakthrough in fight against malaria

NHS News Feed — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:30:00 +0100

Conclusion The researchers appear to have identified a human protein that is key to malaria parasites’ ability to infect red blood cells. This could prove to be an extremely important discovery in the global fight against malaria, a disease that affects hundreds of millions of people and kills around one million people every year. The knowledge gained from this research could be put towards future anti-malaria therapies, or even vaccines. However, it is important to put this research into context, as it is still at an early stage: the study has identified a mechanism used by the malaria parasite, but researchers will still need to design and optimise possible therapies based around these findings. These would then need testing in people to ensure that they are safe to use in a real-world...

Malaria breakthrough may speed vaccine development

Health News: CBSNews.com — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:04 +0100

Scientists uncovered malaria's "Achille's heel," to block disease from entering blood cells (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

The Achilles' Heel For Malaria? Parasite Requires A Single Receptor To Invade Human Red Blood Cells

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers have just revealed a key discovery in understanding how the most deadly species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, invades human red blood cells. Using a technique developed at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, they have found that the parasite relies on a single receptor on the red blood cell's surface to invade, offering an exciting new focus for vaccine development. Malaria kills approximately one million people every year, mostly children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently no licensed vaccine is available... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New Anti-Malaria Route Raises Vaccine Hope

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Using a technique devised at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, researchers found that the malaria parasite needs just one receptor to gain entry and infect human red blood cells. They hope their discovery, which they describe in a study published online in Nature this week, opens a promising new route to the successful development of an anti-malaria vaccine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Malaria vaccine could be developed within 2 years as scientists find its Achilles heel

the Mail online | Health — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:53:31 +0100

Scientists, from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, claim to have discovered malaria's 'Achilles' heel' which could wipe the disease out. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

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Scientists find protein in red blood cells that unlocks the door for malaria parasite

Modern Medicine — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists say a vaccine or new drugs against malaria could be developed based on their new discovery about the way the most deadly species of malaria parasite invades human red blood cells. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Malaria: The beginning of the end?

The Independent - Science — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:01 +0100

You wait for years for a breakthrough in the battle against malaria, and then two come along in two weeks. But the advance announced yesterday by scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge is potentially far more significant than last month's news of an experimental vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline (and part-funded by Bill Gates), which showed partial success in early clinical trials. Scientists involved in those trials emphasised that the vaccine would only be able to contribute to the control of malaria. (Source: The Independent - Science)

Malaria finding points to possible new vaccine

Reuters: Health — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:02:38 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - A vaccine or new drugs against malaria could be developed, British scientists said, after they made a critical discovery about the way the most deadly species of malaria parasite invades human red blood cells. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Malaria Finding Points to Possible New Vaccine

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:02:38 +0100

A vaccine or new drugs against malaria could be developed, British scientists said, after they made a critical discovery about the way the most deadly species of malaria parasite invades human red blood cells. Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Pages: Immunization, International Health, Malaria (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Key malaria parasite discovery raises vaccine hopes

SciDev.Net — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:01:08 +0100

Scientists have identified a single step that the deadly Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite appears to rely on to invade cells. (Source: SciDev.Net)

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Malaria's weak spot pinpointed in the hunt for an effective vaccine

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:00:00 +0100

The parasite uses a lock-and-key mechanism to invade red blood cells that is common to all malaria strainsScientists have uncovered an important lead in their search for an effective vaccine against malaria, identifying a lock-and-key mechanism the parasite uses to invade red blood cells that seems to be shared by all strains of the disease. They have found that blocking the mechanism prevents infection.Malaria affects more than 300 million people every year and is responsible for around a million deaths, the majority of them children in sub-Saharan Africa under the age of five. The disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is spread by mosquitoes, with most deaths resulting from infection with Plasmodium falciparum.In recent weeks, an experimental vaccine called RTS,S has been s...

Live Chat: An End to Malaria?

ScienceNOW — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:11:38 +0100

Talk to experts about a promising new vaccine and the future of malaria research (Source: ScienceNOW)

Malaria's Achilles' heel revealed?

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) It was previously thought that the malaria parasite enters the red blood cell by binding to several proteins on the surface of the cell. Our researchers have discovered that only a single protein is essential for invasion and blocking this interaction stops the parasite entering the cells. This is an ideal candidate for a vaccine. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Malaria vaccine cuts risk in half in late-stage trial

Nature Medicine — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature Medicine 17, 1329 (2011). doi:10.1038/nm1111-1329b Author: Hannah Waters (Source: Nature Medicine)

Correction

Nature — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Nature 479, 7371 (2011). http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111102/full/479019a.html The News story 'Malaria vaccine results face scrutiny' (Nature 478, 439–440; 2011) wrongly described Plasmodium falciparum as multicellular. The parasite is unicellular. (Source: Nature)

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[Editorial] A vaccine for malaria: prospects and predicaments

LANCET — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Release of interim results from a phase 3 trial of GlaxoSmithKline's experimental vaccine against malaria generated much excitement (and even more questions) last week. “Malaria vaccine could save millions of children's lives”, declared the UK's Guardian. “Malaria-vaccine trials raise hope of eradicating deadly disease”, proclaimed Canada's Globe and Mail. (Source: LANCET)

Multiple Malaria Vaccine Offers Protection To People Most At Risk

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0100

A new malaria vaccine could be the first to tackle different forms of the disease and help those most vulnerable to infection, a study suggests. The new vaccine is designed to trigger production of a range of antibodies to fight the many different types of parasite causing the disease. Scientists created the vaccine by combining multiple versions of a key protein found in many types of malaria parasite, which is known to trigger production of antibodies upon infection... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Toward a Malaria Vaccine

This Week in Science — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:32:15 +0100

Despite malaria being a major global public health threat, there is still no effective malaria vaccine. The only highly protective immunogen is the delivery of sporozoites by mosquito bite, but … [Read more] (Source: This Week in Science)

[Perspective] Immunology: Another Shot at a Malaria Vaccine

Science: Current Issue — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:32:06 +0100

Clinical trial results may help direct the development of an effective malaria vaccine.Authors: Stefan H. I. Kappe, Sebastian A. Mikolajczak (Source: Science: Current Issue)

[Research Article] Live Attenuated Malaria Vaccine Designed to Protect Through Hepatic CD8+ T Cell Immunity

Science: Current Issue — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:32:06 +0100

The efficacy of a sporozoite-based malaria vaccine is tested in humans, nonhuman primates, and mice.Authors: J. E. Epstein, K. Tewari, K. E. Lyke, B. K. L. Sim, P. F. Billingsley, M. B. Laurens, A. Gunasekera, S. Chakravarty, E. R. James, M. Sedegah, A. Richman, S. Velmurugan, S. Reyes, M. Li, K. Tucker, A. Ahumada, A. J. Ruben, T. Li, R. Stafford, A. G. Eappen, C. Tamminga, J. W. Bennett, C. F. Ockenhouse, J. R. Murphy, J. Komisar, N. Thomas, M. Loyevsky, A. Birkett, C. V. Plowe, C. Loucq, R. Edelman, T. L. Richie, R. A. Seder, S. L. Hoffman (Source: Science: Current Issue)

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Uganda: First Malaria Vaccine Works in Major Trial

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:27:22 +0100

An experimental vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline halved the risk of African children getting malaria in a major clinical trial, making it likely to become the world's first shot against the deadly disease. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Nigeria: A Promising Breakthrough in Malaria Treatment

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:26:24 +0100

Hopes for a vaccine against malaria rose sharply recently following results of a final stage Phase III clinical trial of the compound RTS,S, also known as Mosquirix. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

RTS,S/AS01 vaccine provides protection against clinical, severe malaria in African children, study shows

Drug Topics - Pharmacy News — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The first results from an ongoing phase 3 trial of RTS,S/AS01 show it provides African children with significant protection against clinical and severe malaria. The results were published online October 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. (Source: Drug Topics - Pharmacy News)

This Week in Science

Science: Current Issue — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

RTS,S/AS01 vaccine provides protection against clinical, severe malaria in African children, study shows

Drug Topics - Top News — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

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Multiple malaria vaccine offers protection to people most at risk

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:53:53 +0100

A new malaria vaccine could be the first to tackle different forms of the disease and help those most vulnerable to infection, a study suggests. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Search for malaria and tuberculosis vaccines put on fast track by UN partnership

UN News Centre - Health, Poverty, Food Security — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100

One billion of the world's poorest people stand to benefit from a partnership launched today by the United Nations and top pharmaceutical companies to speed up the royalty-free development of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to treat neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and tuberculosis. (Source: UN News Centre - Health, Poverty, Food Security)

Malaria vaccine results face scrutiny

news@nature.com — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Experts question early release of incomplete trial data. (Source: news@nature.com)

Multiple malaria vaccine offers protection to people most at risk

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(University of Edinburgh) A new malaria vaccine could be the first to tackle different forms of the disease and help those most vulnerable to infection, a study suggests. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

All you need to read in the other general journals

BMJ Online First — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Finally, a vaccine against malariaN Engl J Med2011; doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1102287bmj;343/oct26_3/d6870/FIG1F1fig1GlaxoSmithKline has developed a malaria vaccine directed against sporozoites, the... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Ascaris suum draft genome

Nature AOP — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Aaron R. Jex, Shiping Liu, Bo Li, Neil D. Young, Ross S. Hall, Yingrui Li, Linfeng Yang, Na Zeng, Xun Xu, Zijun Xiong, Fangyuan Chen, Xuan Wu, Guojie Zhang, Xiaodong Fang, Yi Kang, Garry A. Anderson, Todd W. Harris, Bronwyn E. Campbell, Johnny Vlaminck, Tao Wang, Cinzia Cantacessi, Erich M. Schwarz, Shoba Ranganathan, Peter Geldhof, Peter Nejsum, Paul W. Sternberg, Huanming Yang, Jun Wang, Jian Wang & Robin B. Gasser Parasitic diseases have a devastating, long-term impact on human health, welfare and food production worldwide. More than two billion people are infected with geohelminths, including the roundworms Ascaris (common roundworm), Necator and Ancylostoma (hookworms), and Trichuris (whipworm), mainly in developing or impoverished nations of Asia, Africa and Latin Americ...

Functional, Immunological and Three-Dimensional Analysis of Chemically Synthesised Sporozoite Peptides as Components of a Fully-Effective Antimalarial Vaccine.

Current Medicinal Chemistry — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Curtidor H, Vanegas M, Alba MP, Patarroyo ME Abstract Our ongoing search for a fully-effective vaccine against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite (causing the most lethal form of human malaria) has been focused on identifying and characterising proteins' amino acid sequences (high activity binding peptides or HABPs) involved in parasite invasion of red blood cells (RBC) by the merozoite and hepatocytes by the sporozoite. Many such merozoite HABPs have been recognised and molecularly and structurally characterised; however, native HABPs are immunologically silent since they do not induce any immune response or protection against P. falciparum malaria infection and they have to be structurally modified to allow them to fit perfectly into immune system molecules. A deeply str...

Ascaris suum draft genome

Nature — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

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Making vaccines cost-effective: Money is only part of the solution

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:19:06 +0100

Last Tuesday, researchers announced that an experimental malaria vaccine called RTS,S may help reduce the risk of malaria by half. The results – which are preliminary, as the researchers have only analyzed 40% of the study’s 15,000 participants so far – are based on a study being conducted across seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for 90% of worldwide malaria deaths. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

Malaria vaccine results face scrutiny

Nature — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Nature 478, 7370 (2011). http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111025/full/478439a.html Author: Declan Butler Experts question early release of incomplete trial data. (Source: Nature)

Vaccine reduces malaria by half in year-long trial

The Irish Times - Health — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:01:06 +0100

THE TRIAL OF the first vaccine against malaria has shown its recipients were half as likely to contract the disease compared with those in the control group. (Source: The Irish Times - Health)

Africa: New Malaria Vaccine a Vital Breakthrough

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:44:48 +0100

It has been confirmed that a new vaccine can offer sustained protection against malaria which affects millions of people especially in Africa. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Identification, characterization and antigenicity of the Plasmodium vivax rhoptry neck protein-1 (PvRON1)

Malaria Journal — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This study shows the identification and characterization of the P. vivax rhoptry neck protein-1 in the VCG-1 strain. Taking into account that PvRON1 shares several important characteristics with other Plasmodium antigens that play a functional role during RBC invasion and, as shown here, it is antigenic, it could be considered as a good vaccine candidate. Further studies aimed at assessing its immunogenicity and protection-inducing ability in the Aotus monkey model are thus recommended. (Source: Malaria Journal)

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[News & Analysis] Malaria: Vaccine Trial Meets Modest Expectations, Buoys Hopes

Science: Current Issue — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:36:42 +0100

Initial results from the world's first large-scale trial of a malaria vaccine show that it reduced episodes of the disease by about half in babies and toddlers.Authors: Gretchen Vogel, Leslie Roberts (Source: Science: Current Issue)

GSK malaria vaccine trial brings hope to African children

Pharmaceutical Technology — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:26:59 +0100

A vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative has been shown to reduce the risk of malaria in African children by almost half in the first results of a Phase III clinical trial.Post to:Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)

O-GlcNAc modification of the anti-malarial vaccine candidate PfAMA1: in silico-defined structural changes and potential to generate a better vaccine.

Molecular Biology Reports — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Uddin N, Hoessli DC, Butt A, Kaleem A, Iqbal Z, Afzal I, Muhammad Hammad , Zamani Z, Shakoori AR Abstract The complex life cycle of plasmodial parasites makes the selection of a single subunit protein a less than optimal strategy to generate an efficient vaccinal protection against malaria. Moreover, the full protection afforded by malarial proteins carried by intact parasites implies that immune responses against different antigens expressed in different phases of the cycle are required, but also suggests that native malarial antigens are presented to the host immune system in a manner that recombinant proteins do not achieve. The malarial apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) represents a suitable vaccine candidate because AMA1 is expressed on sporozoites and merozoites and a...

Kenya: Malaria Vaccine Will Reduce Infection in Children By Half

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:56:04 +0100

Results of a malaria vaccine being tested in Kenya show it reduces cases of malaria by half in young children. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Rwanda: Children to Benefit From New Malaria Vaccine

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:13:42 +0100

Rwandan children will be among the first in Africa to benefit from a malaria vaccine, following a successful medical research. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Tanzania: Despite Malaria Vaccine, Don't Shun Old Methods

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:38:33 +0100

The release this week of final-stage trial data on an experimental vaccine for malaria, which is likely to be the world's first pre-emptive shot against the killer disease, is a huge medical milestone. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Nigeria: Stakeholders Hail Debut of Malaria Vaccine

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:37:30 +0100

Minister of state for Health Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate has described the debut of the world's first experimental malaria vaccine produced by pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKkine as a positive development for health. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Novel Strategies to Improve DNA Vaccine Immunogenicity.

Current Gene Therapy — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Coban C, Kobiyama K, Aoshi T, Takeshita F, Horii T, Akira S, Ishii KJ Abstract DNA vaccines can induce both humoral and cellular immune responses in animals. Some DNA vaccines are already licensed for infectious diseases such as West Nile virus encephalitis in horses. When used in humans, however, DNA vaccines suffer from lower immunogenicity profiles. Although the reasons for this are poorly understood, various hypotheses have been proposed. This review aims to provide better understanding of the molecular and immunological mechanisms by which DNA vaccines work and how such knowledge can be used to bring about improvements in their efficacy. Recent studies have provided evidence that the 'adjuvant effect' of plasmid DNA is mediated by its double-stranded structure. This s...

What We’re Reading

Red Cross Chat — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:48:03 +0100

Emergency Pizza [Instructables] How Zombies and Superheroes Conquered Highbrow Fiction [The Atlantic]* How Twitter Tracks the Spread of Disease in Real Time [Mashable] Keebler and Kisses Witch Hat [Instructables]** Experimental Malaria Vaccine Slashes Infection Risk by Half [NPR Health Blog] * and the Red Cross? ** You’ll get a Keebler cookie if you give blood. Do it before Halloween and try this out! (Source: Red Cross Chat)

Africa: Trial Success May Mean 2015 Release for Malaria Vaccine

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:04:13 +0100

The first malaria vaccine could be ready for use by 2015, according to experts reporting encouraging results from a phase III trial, although further data are needed before rollout. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Africa: Malaria Vaccine Halves Risk of Infection

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:58:34 +0100

The first results from a large-scale phase III trial of the vaccine RTS,S, conducted at 11 sites in seven African countries, show that the vaccine protects young African children against clinical and severe malaria. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Trial success may mean 2015 release for malaria vaccine

SciDev.Net — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:46:22 +0100

Results from phase III clinical trials in Africa show a vaccine protects children from malaria, but with a modest efficacy. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Africa: Malaria Vaccine Candidate Yields Promising Results in Trial

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:18:37 +0100

Researchers and government health officials express measured optimism about a malaria vaccine candidate that has produced positive results in trials involving more than 15,000 children across 11 sites in seven countries in Africa, where the disease causes the most deaths. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

South Africa: Malaria-Fighters Abuzz As Vaccine Seems to Work

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:24:46 +0100

It's the biggest news in public health for years. Researchers at GlaxoSmithKline are on the verge of producing a vaccine against malaria which could halve the risk of contracting the disease. They reportedly wept when they saw the results - a sign of the investment in this project. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Kenya: Malaria Vaccine Trial Raises Hope

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:48:41 +0100

The war on malaria has been taken a notch higher. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Liberia: New Malaria Vaccine Shows Effectiveness in Children

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:39:04 +0100

Seattle, 18 October 2011: First results from a large-scale Phase III trial of RTS,S, published online on 18 October 2011 in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), show the malaria vaccine candidate to provide young African children with significant protection against clinical and severe malaria with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Tanzania: Malaria Vaccine Coming Soon

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:24:07 +0100

Tanzanian children will be among the first in Africa to benefit from a malaria vaccine developed following a successful medical research. The vaccine has been proved to give significant protection against clinical and severe malaria while showing an acceptable safety profile.Researchers say the efficacy and safety results in six to 12-week-old infants would come out by the end of 2012 and added that the findings on the longer-term protective effects of the vaccine, 30 months after the third dose should be available by the end of 2014. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Hotez directs multi-pronged attack on world's neglected diseases

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Peter J. Hotez focuses on the creepy crawly diseases that rarely make headlines but keep a billion of the world's people struggling to survive by sapping their vitality and brainpower. This newest dean at Baylor College of Medicine brings with him the revered name of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, of which he is president, and its vaccine research laboratories that are searching for a way to prevent diseases like hookworm, snail fever, river blindness, Chagas disease and other parasitic infections. These diseases do not have the immediate "star power" of AIDS or malaria, but they have afflicted humanity since Biblical times. Hotez calls them "neglected tropical diseases or NTDs." He is pleased to hear the term on the tongues of politicians and celebrities and hopes it...

Trial shows vaccine halves malaria episodes in children in Africa

BMJ Online First — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

An antimalaria vaccine halved the number of first clinical episodes of malaria and severe malaria in children in the 12 months after vaccination, according to results from a clinical trial.The trial... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Researchers Report Positive Results in Malaria Vaccine StudyResearchers Report Positive Results in Malaria Vaccine Study

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:57:23 +0100

A phase 3 clinical trial in 7 African countries suggests 50% improvement in malaria prevention. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Malaria vaccine trialled

NHS News Feed — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:40:00 +0100

Conclusion In this study, researchers have reported the results of an interim analysis of a large trial of a malaria vaccine, called RTS,S/AS01, carried out in several African countries. The efficacy and safety of the vaccine over 12 months in the first 6,000 children aged 5 to 17 months old who received the vaccine was reported, together with an evaluation of the first 250 cases of severe malaria. The trial found that the vaccine reduced the number of episodes of clinical malaria by about 50%, and the number of cases of severe malaria by about 35%. There was some evidence that the vaccine reduced in efficiency during the follow-up period. Side effects occurred with a similar frequency in children that had received either the malaria vaccine or the control vaccine. There were more cases o...

Health Buzz: Malaria Vaccine Shows Promise

U.S. News - Health — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:04:00 +0100

Plus, best and worst foods to eat before a workout. (Source: U.S. News - Health)

Malaria Vaccine Trials Going Well for GSK

Drugs.com - Pharma News — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:10:37 +0100

Oct. 19--GlaxoSmithKline got more good news about its malaria vaccine Tuesday. Results published online by the New England Journal of Medicine show that the vaccine has provided significant protection to young African children. Earlier trials... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)

Kenya: New Vaccine Fights Malaria Better, Study Shows

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:22:15 +0100

War on malaria has gone a notch higher. A new vaccine has proven it can give children significant protection against the deadly disease that is responsible for close to 800,000 deaths each year. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)