Although recent control measures have significantly reduced malaria cases and deaths in many endemic areas, an effective vaccine will be essential to eradicate this parasitic disease. Malaria vaccine strategies developed to date focus on different phases of the parasite's complex life cycle in the human host and mosquito vector, and include both subunit-based and whole-parasite vaccines. This review focuses on the 3 live-attenuated malaria vaccination strategies that have been tested in humans to date, and discusses their progress, challenges and the immune correlates of protection that have been identified.
Keywords: CPS, Chemoprophylaxis and Sporozoite immunization; CQ, chloroquine; CSP, circumsporozoite protein; GAP, Genetically Attenuated Parasite; ITV, Immunization-Treatment-Vaccination; Malaria; P. falciparum; PfSPZ, P. falciparum sporozoite vaccine; RAS, Radiation Attenuated Sporozoites; attenuation; i.d., intradermal; i.v., intravenous; pre-erythrocytic; s.c., subcutaneous; whole-parasite vaccines.