Last Updated: 02/12/2024
Harnessing parasite diversity and naturally acquired protective immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria for the development of highly effective vaccines (SMART)
Objectives
This project aims to build on ongoing funded studies aimed at “Defining the merozoite targets of protective immunity against P. falciparum malaria through multi-centre cohort studies (Osier, MRC/DFID African Research Leader Award) with concurrent analyses of local parasite diversity in multiple African populations. It will provide a rich and high quality data resource for the malaria research and vaccine development community whilst simultaneously providing a platform for training African PhD students.
This project also aims to isolate genotype parasite at genetic loci that encode proteins that are strongly correlated with protection from clinical episodes of malaria in multiple African sites. We will focus on newly-identified or insufficiently-studied antigens that could contribute to the development of a multi-component malaria vaccine. The ability to monitor vaccine antigen diversity in local populations is key for the long-term sustainability of vaccination against malaria.
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major public health concern in Africa where it has an unacceptably high death toll; over 400,000 children are estimated to have died of malaria in 2014. Although current control efforts have had modest success, they face the continual challenge of drug resistance. The consensus view is that malaria elimination in Africa will require the addition of highly effective malaria vaccines. Building the capacity to drive the science of malaria vaccine development within Africa is essential for long-term success and sustainability.
The project takes advantage of retrospectively collected samples that are available from multi-center cohort studies (MCS). The MCS all employed a prospective longitudinal cohort study design, in which children were sampled at the start of the study and subsequently monitored for clinical episodes of malaria (end-point) through home or clinic visits over the subsequent 6 months to 1-year post-sampling. Parasites are genotyped from samples collected at the start of the study, and at all subsequent points during the observation period. The MCS included in this project were purposively selected to represent the broad range of malaria transmission intensities present in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Vaccine candidate discovery for the next generation of malaria vaccinesTurning Discoveries into Treatments: Immunology in Africa. Osier F.H.A., Mwandumba H.C., Gray C.M. Trends in Immunology. Nov 2020Serological Profiling for Malaria Surveillance Using a Standard ELISA Protocol. Murungi LM, Kimathi RK, Tuju J, Kamuyu G, Osier FHA. Methods Mol Biol. 2019 Jul 2013:83-90.
Apr 2017 — Mar 2022
$532,755
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