Malaria
Malaria is a leading cause of childhood death globally. Effective treatments are limited, drug-resistance to current treatments is expanding, and there is no vaccine available. The Infection and Immunity Division has an active program of clinical and translational research on malaria in collaboration with colleagues in the malaria-endemic countries of Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Vietnam, Thailand, and Mozambique. The broad objectives of our clinical and translational research are to understand immune responses to malaria and how malaria disease develops, and to develop effective vaccines, new therapies, and other interventions to reduce the global burden of malaria.
In PNG, Kenya and Mozambique we are studying immune responses to malaria among children followed over time. These include studies of humoral and cellular immune responses and will provide insights into the type of responses that protect against malaria and the target antigens of protective immune responses. In some cases, the immune response to malaria is inappropriate and can contribute to the development of severe malaria. Knowledge gained from this research will advance the development of vaccines that prevent serious illness and death.
In Mozambique we are investigating the causes of severe malarial anaemia in children, especially how malaria infection prevents the adequate production of red blood cells by affecting the bone marrow.
Pregnancy is an additional period of high risk of malaria, and we are conducting studies of immune responses to malaria among pregnant women in PNG, Malawi, and Thailand, seeking to identify the targets of protective immunity against malaria during pregnancy. Results will provide critical knowledge that will guide vaccine development, as well as aiding the identification of groups at most risk.
With colleagues in PNG, we are involved in a large clinical trial of intermittent malaria treatment involving 1000 children followed from 3 to 21 months of age. The aim of the trial is to reduce the burden of malaria and anemia in infants and young children at the time of greatest susceptibility. Infants are given curative doses of anti-malarial medications every 3 months, at the same time as they receive their childhood vaccinations, until 12 months of age.
Researchers in the Division are also involved in a phase 1 trial of the candidate malaria vaccine MSP2 conducted in Brisbane. The specific focus of our work is on immune responses generated by immunization with comparison to immune responses acquired by children and adults living in malaria affected areas. This is a collaborative project with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, La Trobe University, and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative.
Collaborating institutes in malaria affected countries
1. Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang and Goroka, PNG
2. Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya
3. Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, and Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
4. Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Malawi
5. National Institute for Malaria, Parasitology, and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
6. Centro de Investigação em Saúde, Manhica, Mozambique