Researchers on the track of a malaria vaccine
An international research team has isolated the three-dimensional molecular structure of a protein that could form the heart of a successful malaria vaccine, the US's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has reported.
An international research team has isolated the three-dimensional molecular structure of a protein that could form the heart of a successful malaria vaccine, the US's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has reported.
Thus far, malaria vaccines have suppressed the disease only temporarily, with a future fully protective malaria vaccine probably involving several components.
In this instance, scientists studied Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1), a protein found on the cell membrane of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite causing the most deadly malaria. The team said an AMA1-based vaccine could be powerful, because the protein occurs during two critical life stages of the parasite.
Lead researcher Adrian Batchelor, of the University of Maryland said: 'The parasite is a highly complex organism that develops through different lifecycle stages. This..makes creating a comprehensive vaccine a difficult task.'