What Types of Malaria Vaccines are Being Developed?
Several types of malaria vaccines are under development:
1. Pre-erythrocytic vaccines: Target the parasite at the sporozoite and liver stages to prevent infection. An example is the RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine. 2. Blood-stage vaccines: Aim to protect against the parasite once it has entered the bloodstream, reducing the severity of the disease. 3. Transmission-blocking vaccines: Designed to prevent the transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes, thereby interrupting the transmission cycle. 4. Combination vaccines: Incorporate antigens from multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle to provide broader protection.
