A New Malaria Vaccine Yields Hopeful Result Using Genetically Modified Parasites

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Malaria infection may get its remedy since a new research suggests an effective vaccine against malarial parasites.

A latest genetically modified vaccine was being tested for its promising effect against malaria infection. Ten participants volunteered to be bitten by malaria-carrying mosquitoes, but eventually no one got infected. In fact, all the volunteers developed antibodies indicating that the new vaccine was doing great.

The researchers smashed down three genes under the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, a malarial parasite, which is common in Africa. The team is led by Jim Kublin at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Obliterating the said genes was sufficient to hinder the parasite from advancing during its life cycle. This was shown in infected mice which didn't get sick rather developed antibodies.

The results of the first-phase trials were recently revealed to the public. It was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Compared to other vaccines, the research squad formulated a weakened variant of the malaria parasite.

As stated in the BBC News, tropical disease professionals depicted the results as "promising" and it gives hope since it is extremely needed.

The World Health Organization estimated 214 million patients in 2015 and among them, 438,000 died.

An important subsequent step is scheduled to happen anytime in 2018, according to Science. The vaccine may be taken into a high degree of trials provided that, all will proceeds great.

There are many malaria vaccines in development, but they all arrive with vast disadvantages. One is an RTS, S, which utilizes a genetically modified protein from Plasmodium falciparum to prepare the immune system in resisting the parasite.

Another malaria vaccine is called PfSPZ which employs radiation to wreck DNA of the parasites randomly as well as weakening them.

The gene deletion, on the other hand, attains a consistent outcome. It was shown with the volunteers who were bitten displaying the same reaction. Therefore, this newly developed vaccine is remarkably appealing against malaria infection.