MOSQUIRIX: WORLD’S FIRST MALARIA VACCINE
24, Apr 2019
Prelims level :
Mains level :
GS 3: Science & Technology – Awareness In The Fields Of It, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-Technology, Bio-Technology
Why in News?
African Nation, Malawi will be undertaking large scale pilot tests for the world’s most advanced experimental malaria vaccine in a bid to prevent the disease.
Highlights:
- The vaccine has been recommended by WHO for pilot introduction in selected areas of 3 African countries- Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
- RTS,S, known by its trade name Mosquirix, uses antibodies to target proteins presented by sporozoites (such as the circumsporozoite protein of falciparum).
- To enhance the immune system and help prevent the parasite from infecting the liver.
- Mosquirix is also engineered using a hepatitis B viral protein and a chemical adjuvant to further boost the immune response for enhanced effectiveness.
Malaria:
- It is caused by the infectious Plasmodium.
- It is spreaded by female Anopheles Mosquitoes deposit parasite sporozoites into the skin of a human host.
- Malaria is a leading cause of human morbidity and mortality.