International research team used CLS to map structure of human antibodies bound to their prototype vaccine.
Malaria is caused by a parasite that is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. In 2024, almost 282 million people worldwide were infected and 610,000 died, according to the World Health Organization. Malaria is a leading cause of death in children under the age of five.
Using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan, an international team involving researchers from Canada, the US, and the Netherlands have developed a novel vaccine that is showing considerable promise in preclinical trials.Video: New malaria vaccine shows promise in preclinical trials
“Our long-term goal is to eliminate malaria by designing a vaccine that is more effective than the ones currently on the market,” says lead author Danton Ivanochko, a researcher at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.
When the researchers examined blood samples from people with naturally acquired immunity to malaria, they were able to identify which proteins on the parasite play the largest role in transmission.
Read more on the CLS website