Why some people are naturally protected from Plasmodium vivax malaria
Official title: Comprehensive characterization of the genetic factors and the host immune response associated to protection from clinical Plasmodium vivax malaria
Funded at Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge · NIH-11309564 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are comparing genes and immune responses of people in Cambodia who do or do not get symptomatic Plasmodium vivax malaria to find what helps protect them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA) |
| Project start | March 16, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $579,248 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175134-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309564 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in Plasmodium vivax–endemic areas (for example in parts of Cambodia) who have had past or current Pv exposure and can provide blood samples and attend follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
People without Pv exposure, those unable to give blood or attend follow-up, or those with unrelated health conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use blood samples and health records from people living in Pv-endemic areas of Cambodia and follow them over time. They will measure specific antibodies that block the parasite's Duffy Binding Protein and study the B cells and CD4+ T cells that make those antibodies. The team will also look for genetic differences that might help explain why some people stay free of symptoms. Together these tests aim to pinpoint immune and genetic features linked with natural protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide new vaccines or targeted prevention strategies to reduce Plasmodium vivax illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked anti-DBP binding-inhibitory antibodies to protection, but applying detailed immune-cell phenotyping together with genetic analysis in a longitudinal Cambodian cohort is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Popovici, Jean — Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge
- Study coordinator: Popovici, Jean
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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.