Genetically Modified Malaria Parasite ‘Could Lead to Vaccine’

The first study showing that a live malaria parasite could one day be used as a vaccine to protect people from the disease was published yesterday (5 December).

By modifying the genes of a form of the parasite that causes malaria in rodents, the researchers were able to prevent it from moving from the rats’ liver to their blood stream. Once in the blood stream, the parasite normally enters red blood cells, causing symptoms of disease. It is also from there that it can be transmitted to others, through a new mosquito bite.

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