Complementing the fight against malaria

Abstract

Malaria has had a significant impact on public health for millennia. The parasitic infection remains endemic in various regions, particularly on the African continent. In that region, Plasmodium falciparum is the dominant parasite species, and the Anopheles mosquito is essential for parasite transmission. This transmission between humans and mosquitoes is exceptionally efficient and one of the reasons malaria has not yet been eradicated. But what makes one person more attractive to mosquitoes than another? A large-scale study suggests that a hedonistic lifestyle may attract more mosquitoes. And what can be done against malaria’s persistent grip on public health? One potentially valuable strategy is a transmission-blocking vaccine that induces functional antibodies in humans. When these antibodies enter the mosquito’s gut, they prevent the malaria parasite from completing its cycle. Two new candidates for such a vaccine have been identified, and interestingly, their mechanism depends on a specific component of the human immune system: the complement system. These insights into the complement system, transmission-blocking vaccines, and human attractiveness to mosquitoes may guide future studies and thereby complement the fight against malaria.