A NOVEL ADJUVANT FOR USE WITH A BLOOD-STAGE MALARIA VACCINE

An effective vaccine delivery system has been developed for vaccinatio n against a blood-stage malaria infection in mice. Subcutaneous vaccin ation with a semi-purified asexual blood-stage malaria antigen combine d with an adjuvant formulation containing squalane, Tween 80 and pluro nic L121 (AF) protected mice infected with a lethal P. yoelii infectio n against death and greatly reduced the severity and duration of paras itaemia. The adjuvant and the route of immunization are both clinicall y acceptable, thereby making this an attractive delivery system for a human malaria vaccine. Protective immunity appeared to be associated w ith an enhancement of both Th1 and Th2 subset cytokines.