Malaria vaccine for babies

2007/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia
• Farmakologia

They have tested a malaria vaccine with 10-18 week babies from Mozambique and have seen it have a very positive effect. This vaccine, known as RTS,S, is effective for children between one and four years of age, but had no proven effect on children under one year of age, especially vulnerable. Researchers have been pleased with the results: approximately 66% of vaccinated children have not taken malaria.

Researchers have explained that the vaccine launches two types of protection mechanisms. On the one hand, it produces antibodies that attack the parasite as soon as it enters the blood. On the other hand, the immune system causes the formation of T cells capable of killing the parasite if it reaches the liver (normally the liver is the one that grows and reproduces the parasite responsible for malaria).