Theoretical Implications of a Pre-Erythrocytic Plasmodium vivax Vaccine for Preventing Relapses

Michael White (1, 2) , Rogerio Amino (3) , Ivo Mueller (3, 2)

1 MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling [London]
2 WEHI - The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
3 Département Parasites et Insectes vecteurs - Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors

Preventing malaria infection through vaccination requires preventing every sporozoite inoculated by mosquito bite: a major challenge for Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium vivax sporozoites consist of tachysporozoites causing primary infection and bradysporozoites leading to relapses. We hypothesise that a candidate P. vivax vaccine with low efficacy against primary infection may substantially reduce transmission by preventing relapses.

Keywords: Plasmodium vivax; hypnozoite; malaria; relapse; vaccine

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Immunology; Vaccinology

Michael White, Rogerio Amino, Ivo Mueller. Theoretical Implications of a Pre-Erythrocytic Plasmodium vivax Vaccine for Preventing Relapses. Trends in Parasitology, 2017, 33 (4), pp.260-263. ⟨10.1016/j.pt.2016.12.011⟩. ⟨pasteur-02425470⟩