🦟 New malaria vaccine delivered directly through mosquito bites

🦟 New malaria vaccine delivered directly through mosquito bites

Scientists have developed a new method to vaccinate against malaria by letting genetically modified malaria parasites transfer via mosquito bites. The method provided 89 percent protection against malaria in the initial study.

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  • Scientists have developed a new method to vaccinate against malaria by letting genetically modified malaria parasites transfer via mosquito bites.
  • The method provided 89 percent protection against malaria in the initial study.
  • Participants only needed mosquito bites on one occasion to achieve immunity.

Natural vaccination through mosquitoes

A research team has developed a new method to vaccinate against malaria by letting genetically modified malaria parasites transfer via mosquito bites. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that this natural delivery method creates strong immunity against the disease.

Vaccination occurs when the person is bitten by mosquitoes carrying the modified parasite. This eliminates the need for traditional vaccine injections and mimics the natural transmission of malaria. Study participants only needed exposure to mosquito bites once to develop immunity.

Effective results through mosquito bites

The study included a total of 20 participants. Nine people received the most effective variant of the modified parasite, GA2, through mosquito bites. When these individuals were later exposed to mosquitoes with regular malaria parasites, they showed 89 percent protection against the disease.

The study showed that the method is safe. The only reported side effects were mild itching from the mosquito bites themselves. The genetically modified parasite dies in the liver before it can cause any disease symptoms, making the vaccination risk-free.

Technical innovation

The genetically modified parasite, called GA2, survives in the liver for six days before dying. During this time, the immune system develops antibodies against the parasite. When the parasite dies before reaching the bloodstream, it cannot cause any disease symptoms, but the immune system has already learned to recognize and fight future malaria infections.

The researchers created the modified parasite by making genetic changes that control its lifespan. This differs from previous methods where scientists instead tried to modify the mosquitoes themselves to combat malaria.

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