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Review
. 2021 Feb;20(2):97-112.
doi: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1880898. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Progress towards the development of a P. vivax vaccine

Sai Lata De  1 , Francis B Ntumngia  1 , Justin Nicholas  1 , John H Adams  1
Affiliations
Review

Progress towards the development of a P. vivax vaccine

Sai Lata De et al. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: Plasmodium vivax causes significant public health problems in endemic regions. A vaccine to prevent disease is critical, considering the rapid spread of drug-resistant parasite strains, and the development of hypnozoites in the liver with potential for relapse. A minimally effective vaccine should prevent disease and transmission while an ideal vaccine provides sterile immunity.

Areas covered: Despite decades of research, the complex life cycle, technical challenges and a lack of funding have hampered progress of P. vivax vaccine development. Here, we review the progress of potential P. vivax vaccine candidates from different stages of the parasite life cycle. We also highlight the challenges and important strategies for rational vaccine design. These factors can significantly increase immune effector mechanisms and improve the protective efficacy of these candidates in clinical trials to generate sustained protection over longer periods of time.

Expert opinion: A vaccine that presents functionally-conserved epitopes from multiple antigens from various stages of the parasite life cycle is key to induce broadly neutralizing strain-transcending protective immunity to effectively disrupt parasite development and transmission.

Keywords: Clinical trials; heterologous prime/boost immunizations; viral vectors; virus-like particles; vivax vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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