The Malaria Vaccine Epidemiology and Evaluation Project of Papua New Guinea: rationale and baseline studies
Alpers, M.P.; al-Yaman, F.; Beck, H.P.; Bhatia, K.K.; Hii, J.; Lewis, D.J.; Paru, R.; Smith, T.A.
Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal 35(4): 285-297
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-1480 PMID: 1341090 Document Number: 400503
The range of possible malaria vaccines, against different species of Plasmodium and various stages in the life cycle of the parasite in both human host and mosquito vector, is reviewed. The importance, in a malaria-endemic area, of protection by a malaria vaccine against disease rather than infection is emphasized, and the ways by which disease prevention may be achieved are discussed. Because of the overall complexity of the subject, a multi-dimensional approach to epidemiology and field-site preparation is justified. An iterative procedure is proposed for initial field evaluation, through adult male volunteers to community studies in immune adults and then to semi-immune children. After this, evaluation in the target population of nonimmune young children will be undertaken. The baseline studies being undertaken by the Malaria Vaccine Epidemiology and Evaluation Project are discussed. These studies are described under separate headings: epidemiology; parasitology; immunology; genetics; entomology.