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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 23, 2014 5:24 PM IST
Scientists have identified a substance, or antigen, that generates antibodies that can hinder the ability of malaria parasites to multiply, which may protect against severe malaria infection.
The antigen , which is known as PfSEA-1, was linked to reduced parasite levels among children and adults in malaria-endemic areas and it was found that mice exposed to PfSEA-1 in an investigational vaccine also experienced lower malaria parasite levels.
Multiple tests confirmed that antibodies to PfSEA-1 halted malaria infection at the point when the parasite leaves one red blood cell to invade a new one.
This stage offers a unique target for future malaria vaccines as previous vaccine candidates have tried to block the stage when parasites enter red blood cells.
The study was published in Science.
Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by mosquito-borne plasmodium parasite which infects the red blood cells. It's one of the deadliest diseases in India. There's no vaccine for malaria yet and immunity occurs naturally through repeated infection. Common symptoms are fever, chills, vomiting, nausea, body ache, headache, cough and diarrhoea. If untreated, it can lead to complications like jaundice, dehydration, anaemia, brain malaria, liver failure and kidney failure. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly anyone with decreased immunity is at a greater risk.
With inputs from:ANI
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