AUTHOR=Roobsoong Wanlapa , Yadava Anjali , Draper Simon J. , Minassian Angela M. , Sattabongkot Jetsumon 

TITLE=The challenges of Plasmodium vivax human malaria infection models for vaccine development

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1006954

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.1006954

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Controlled Human Malaria Infection models (CHMI) have been critical to advancing new vaccines for malaria. Stringent and safe preparation of a challenge agent is key to the success of any CHMI. Difficulty producing the <italic>Plasmodium vivax</italic> parasite <italic>in vitro</italic> has limited production of qualified parasites for CHMI as well as the functional assays required to screen and down-select candidate vaccines for this globally distributed parasite. This and other challenges to <italic>P. vivax</italic> CHMI (<italic>Pv</italic>CHMI), including scientific, logistical, and ethical obstacles, are common to <italic>P. vivax</italic> research conducted in both non-endemic and endemic countries, with additional hurdles unique to each. The challenges of using CHMI for <italic>P. vivax</italic> vaccine development and evaluation, lessons learned from previous and ongoing clinical trials, and the way forward to effectively perform <italic>Pv</italic>CHMI to support vaccine development, are discussed.</p>