Targeting T-Cell Activation for Malaria Immunotherapy: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Parasitology

Background:

• Malaria persists as a major global health challenge, characterized by high mortality, drug resistance, and limited treatment effectiveness.
• Genetic variability in Plasmodium parasites hinders the development of sustained immunity, complicating host immune responses.
• The complex Plasmodium life cycle poses challenges for T cell activation and targeted malaria therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the role of T cells in malaria immunity and immunotherapy.
• To analyze trends in T cell-targeted malaria research over the past decade.
• To identify promising T cell subsets and therapeutic strategies for malaria treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of 63 studies published in the last 10 years focusing on T cells in malaria.
• Categorization of studies based on targeted T cell types (CD4+, CD8+, γδ T cells) and non-T cell contributions.
• Analysis of immunotherapy approaches targeting T cell responses.

Main Results:

• T cells are a primary focus for malaria immunotherapy, with 87.2% of reviewed studies targeting them.
• CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were equally prominent targets (47.6% each), followed by γδ T cells (7.9%).
• 12.7% of studies investigated non-T cell roles in enhancing T cell-mediated immunity.

Conclusions:

• T cells, especially CD8+ T cells, are critical for effective defense against malaria, particularly during the liver stage.
• Immunotherapy offers a promising strategy for developing more effective and lasting malaria treatments by enhancing T cell activity.
• Future research should explore advanced vaccine platforms and novel therapies, including mRNA-based vectors and monoclonal antibodies.