In collaboration with the Translational Parasitology and Molecular Immunology teams, we demonstrated that GA2 administration via mosquito bite is safe and confers 90% protection in Dutch volunteers undergoing controlled human malaria infection (CHMI). In 2025, we showed that a single immunization with GA2-MB provides high-level protection against homologous CHMI, underscoring the potential of late-arresting genetically attenuated sporozoites for next-generation, single-dose malaria vaccines.
Our research focuses on:
- Enhancing the potency of GA2 to develop a highly efficacious vaccine suitable for malaria eradication in endemic regions.
- Identifying and characterizing parasite proteins that serve as (putative) targets of host immune responses.
- Deciphering host–parasite interactions and the molecular mechanisms governing host-cell remodelling and immune evasion during the pre-erythrocytic stages of infection.
The LUCID Transgenic Parasites in Malaria research group is widely regarded as a world leader in Plasmodium transgenesis. Our facilities support mouse infection studies, Anopheles stephensi mosquito breeding, and mosquito-mediated transmission of P. falciparum and rodent malaria parasites. With extensive expertise in parasite genetics, infection biology, and advanced methodologies, we address fundamental questions that drive the future of malaria vaccine development.
