Impact on Malaria Parasite Multiplication Rates in Infected Volunteers of the Protein-in-Adjuvant Vaccine AMA1-C1/Alhydrogel+CPG 7909 AMA1 Malaria Blood Stage Challenge Trial

2011

Impact of a Malaria Vaccine on Parasite Growth in Humans

Sample size: 8 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Duncan Christopher J. A., Sheehy Susanne H., Ewer Katie J., Douglas Alexander D., Collins Katharine A., Halstead Fenella D., Elias Sean C., Lillie Patrick J., Rausch Kelly, Aebig Joan, Miura Kazutoyo, Edwards Nick J., Poulton Ian D., Hunt-Cooke Angela, Porter David W., Thompson Fiona M., Rowland Ros, Draper Simon J., Gilbert Sarah C., Fay Michael P., Long Carole A., Zhu Daming, Wu Yimin, Martin Laura B., Anderson Charles F., Lawrie Alison M., Hill Adrian V. S., Ellis Ruth D.

Primary Institution: Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Hypothesis

Does the AMA1-C1/Alhydrogel+CPG 7909 vaccine reduce the growth rate of Plasmodium falciparum in humans?

Conclusion

The study found a significant correlation between vaccine-induced growth-inhibitory activity and parasite multiplication rate, but no clinically relevant vaccine effect was observed.

Supporting Evidence

A significant correlation was observed between parasite multiplication rate and vaccine-induced growth-inhibitory activity.
Immunisation failed to reduce overall mean parasite multiplication rate compared to controls.
The study was the first to examine the relationship between in vivo growth rates and in vitro growth inhibitory activity in humans.

Takeaway

Scientists tested a malaria vaccine on healthy volunteers to see if it could stop the malaria parasite from growing. They found that while the vaccine showed some promise, it didn't actually help much in real life.