title: The winding road to developing a malaria vaccine. Study hypothesis.
abstract: In Africa, a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria, a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium spp, with higher mortality and severe forms of disease more frequently associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection. By looking at the natural resistance to malaria conferred by sickle cell trait, we hypothesize that a malaria therapeutical vaccine targeting the erythrocyte stage of the parasite through erythrocyte sickling could reduce parasite density and control the progression and severity of disease, thus decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with severe forms of malaria.
authors.affiliation: MB BCh, M Med Hematology, Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
authors.forename: Hilary Denis
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Solomons
authors.affiliation: Meiring and Partners, Pathology, Benoni, South Africa.
authors.forename: Chris Gerhardus
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: Meiring and Partners, Pharmacy, Benoni, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beichter
authors.affiliation: University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Zelda
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Haefele
keywords: Malaria; falciparum; infection; sickle cell; vaccine