Scientists identify new malaria vaccine targets

A new research has revealed the discovery of previously untested antigens in Kenya, which could help fight malaria.

The researchers from Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) tested library of proteins from the Plasmodium falciparum parasite with antibodies produced by the immune systems of a group of infected children that measured the proteins the children's immune systems responded to.

The scientists found antigens that had not previously been identified as possible vaccine targets and new insights into the ways antigens could be used in combination to increase protection.

Faith Osier, from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, said that resistance to malaria drugs was an increasing problem so vaccines were desperately needed to battle the Plasmodium falciparum parasite before it had a chance to make people sick.

Osier added that this study presented them with a large number of new vaccine candidates that offered real hope for the future.

The findings of this research have added further weight to the theory that a successful blood-stage vaccine needed to target multiple antigens and the next step in this research would be to generate antibodies against all of the proteins in the library and test them in the laboratory in different combinations to see whether combinations that appear to protect individuals in the field are able to directly prevent parasite invasion.