Immune protection against malaria in the liver
Immunity to Liver-stage malaria
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · NIH-11248026
This project looks for immune approaches that stop malaria parasites while they live in the liver to help protect children in places like sub-Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF IOWA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11248026 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would hear that scientists are studying how a type of immune cell called CD8 T cells can block malaria when it first infects the liver. They compare weakened whole-parasite immunizations and targeted vaccines that train CD8 T cells against specific parasite parts, and they count how many memory T cells circulate in the blood and lodge in the liver. In mice, they found that complete protection requires very high levels of circulating malaria-specific memory CD8 T cells, and they are working to understand how to generate and maintain those cells. The goal is to use these findings to design vaccine strategies that could be tested in people at risk for malaria.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might benefit most are children and other individuals living in malaria-endemic areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, particularly young children (0–11 years) who face the highest risk.
Not a fit: People who do not live in malaria-exposed regions or those with severe immune suppression may not see direct benefit from these vaccine-focused findings in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines that prevent malaria infection before parasites reach the blood, lowering illness and deaths in young children.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches using weakened parasites and targeted CD8 T cell vaccines have produced sterilizing protection in mice and shown promising but partial results in early human vaccine work.
Where this research is happening
IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA — IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HARTY, JOHN T — UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- Study coordinator: HARTY, JOHN T
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.