Unlocking the potential of blood-stage vaccines for malaria elimination

Malaria vaccines are crucial for advancing public health and achieving malaria elimination. Currently, pre-erythrocytic vaccines like RTS, S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M are in use, but their effectiveness is limited. Ongoing research on blood-stage vaccine candidates such as RH5, MSP1 and MSP3 has shown promising results. Incorporating a blood-stage vaccine could greatly enhance malaria control by targeting the symptomatic phase of the infection, providing additional protection alongside pre-erythrocytic vaccines and other control methods. Understanding the structural biology and immunological interactions of blood-stage antigens is essential for developing effective vaccines. Combining pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic-stage vaccines could lead to better protection, improved public health outcomes and significant progress toward malaria elimination.