Open AccessProtective immunity to liver‐stage malaria
Author(s) -
Holz Lauren E,
FernandezRuiz Daniel,
Heath William R
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical and translational immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.321
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2050-0068
DOI - 10.1038/cti.2016.60
Subject(s) - malaria , immunity , immunology , asymptomatic , disease , stage (stratigraphy) , medicine , plasmodium (life cycle) , liver disease , biology , parasite hosting , immune system , pathology , paleontology , world wide web , computer science
Despite decades of research and recent clinical trials, an efficacious long‐lasting preventative vaccine for malaria remains elusive. This parasite infects mammals via mosquito bites, progressing through several stages including the relatively short asymptomatic liver stage followed by the more persistent cyclic blood stage, the latter of which is responsible for all disease symptoms. As the liver acts as a bottleneck to blood‐stage infection, it represents a potential site for parasite and disease control. In this review, we discuss immunity to liver‐stage malaria. It is hoped that the knowledge gained from animal models of malaria immunity will translate into a more powerful and effective vaccine to reduce this global health problem.