First Malaria Vaccine RTS, S: A Step toward the Eradication of Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne life-threatening illness caused by the parasites, Plasmodium. Around ۵۰% of the world’s population is at danger of this infectious disease. Antimalarial drug-Artemisinin, extracted from the plant Artemisia annua and has become a fundamental part of treatment regime for malaria across the world. The use of Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) against uncomplicated malaria has been endorsed by World Health Organization (WHO). As per the latest World malaria report (۲۰۲۲), around ۲۴۷ million malaria cases were reported in ۲۰۲۱ from ۸۴ malaria endemic nations (including the territory of French Guiana), a considerable upsurge from ۲۴۵ million reported in the year ۲۰۲۰. One of the foremost reasons for this increase was linked with disturbance to services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment measures during the recent COVID-۱۹ pandemic. On ۶th of October ۲۰۲۱, the WHO suggested RTS,S vaccine, the first malaria vaccine, for its use against Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children residing in areas with moderate to high transmission. In July ۲۰۲۲, WHO granted prequalification support for the RTS,S vaccine. One million plus children living in African countries (mainly Ghana, Kenya and Malawi) have got at least one dose of this groundbreaking malaria vaccine through programmes coordinated by WHO and international and country-level partners. RTS,S is a significant initial footstep in the path to production of other highly protective vaccines/multi-stage vaccines that may become a part of the malaria eradication programs in near future. Several malariologists are working on early clinical development or trial phases of first-generation and next-generation malaria vaccines, such as R۲۱/Matrix-M, and malaria vaccine using mRNA technology.

کلیدواژه ها:

Malaria ، Plasmodium ، Artemisinin ، RTS ، S/AS۰۱ vaccine