Vaccines against malaria: perspectives from Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Despite its small population and isolated location Papua New Guinea (PNG) with a malaria burden comparable to sub-Saharan Africa, its intense transmission of all four human Plasmodium species and an unrivalled combination of environmental and human variation offers unique perspectives on malaria vaccines. Building on a long history of malaria research, in this article we review past achievements, highlight current research and outline future directions in malaria vaccine research. With intensive transmission of all four species of human malaria, a full range of malaria endemicities, well described epidemiology and a demonstrated capacity to evaluate a malaria vaccine, PNG currently has the only field site that is ready to conduct proof-of-principle studies of currently available P. vivax vaccine candidates and future combined P. falciparum / P. vivax vaccines and also offers unique opportunities for P. falciparum vaccine research. PNG is thus ready to contribute significantly in the global malaria vaccine endeavor.