[Construction and application of malaria biobank]

Area of Science:

• Medical Entomology
• Infectious Diseases
• Biobanking

Background:

• Malaria remains a significant global health concern, necessitating robust research and control strategies.
• Effective malaria elimination programs require well-characterized biological samples and associated epidemiological data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a systematic malaria biobank with comprehensive epidemiologic data and a computer-aided management system.
• To provide high-quality resources for malaria elimination initiatives and human malaria research.

Main Methods:

• A malaria biobank was established at the Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases.
• Standardized procedures were used for collecting blood smear, dried blood, whole blood samples, and parasite strains since 2011.
• A biobank management software system was implemented for data and sample input, storage, and quality monitoring.

Main Results:

• A standardized malaria biobank was successfully established, incorporating a robust Information Management System.
• High percentages of samples were included: 99.42% blood smears, 92.58% dried blood, and 94.50% whole blood from reported cases (2011-2017).
• The biobank facilitated re-checking of 99.42% of blood smears and 82.74% of DNA, supporting studies on drug resistance, epidemiology, and diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• The established malaria biobank provides a crucial resource for malaria elimination in Jiangsu Province.
• This biobank serves as a valuable asset for advancing human malaria research and developing new control strategies.