Simulated impact of RTS,S/AS01 vaccination programs in the context of changing malaria transmission (Publications)
INTRODUCTION: The RTS,S/AS01 pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine is in phase III clinical trials. It is critical to anticipate where and how it should be implemented if trials are successful. Such planning [...] planning may be complicated by changing levels of malaria transmission. METHODS/RESULTS: Computer simulations were used to examine RTS,S/AS01 impact, using a vaccine profile based on phase II trial results,
Time to move from presumptive malaria treatment to laboratory-confirmed diagnosis and treatment in African children with fever (Publications)
declining malarial transmission in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, declining proportions of fevers due to malaria, and the availability of rapid diagnostic tests mean it may be time for this policy to change. This [...] to support a shift toward laboratory-confirmed rather than presumptive diagnosis and treatment of malaria in children under five
Age-patterns of malaria vary with severity, transmission intensity and seasonality in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and pooled analysis (Publications)
P. falciparum clinical malaria, hospital admissions with malaria and malaria-diagnosed mortality. Studies were allocated to a 3x2 matrix of intensity and seasonality of malaria transmission. Maximum likelihood [...] falciparum malaria were concentrated in the youngest age groups across all settings. Despite recently observed declines in malaria transmission in several countries, which will shift the burden of malaria cases [...] for each outcome. Clinical malaria incidence was relatively evenly...
Temporal correlation between malaria and rainfall in Sri Lanka (Publications)
potential use for malaria prediction. However, the relationship between rainfall and the number of malaria cases is indirect and complex. METHODS: The statistical relationships between monthly malaria case count
Virosome-formulated <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> AMA-1 & CSP derived peptides as malaria vaccine: randomized phase 1b trial in semi-immune... (Publications)
evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of two virosome formulated malaria peptidomimetics derived from Plasmodium falciparum AMA-1 and CSP in malaria semi-immune adults and children. METHODS: The design was a [...] age-deescalating study with two immunizations. 10 adults and 40 children (aged 5-9 years) living in a malaria endemic area were immunized with PEV3B or virosomal influenza vaccine Inflexal(R)V on day 0 and 90 [...] from 4 to 66 in children. As an exploratory outcome, we found that the...
Selection of mosquito life-histories: a hidden weapon against malaria? (Publications)
BACKGROUND: There has recently been a substantial decline in malaria incidence in much of Africa. While the decline can clearly be linked to increasing coverage of mosquito vector control interventions [...] be driving selection for a shift in mosquito life history that reduces their ability to transmit malaria parasites. Specifically it is hypothesized that by substantially increasing the extrinsic rate of [...] their resources towards greater short-term reproduction at the expense of...
A randomized placebo-controlled phase a malaria vaccine trial of two virosome-formulated synthetic peptides in healthy adult volunteers (Publications)
against the two malaria antigens were observed in the control group receiving unmodified virosomes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that three immunizations with the virosomal malaria vaccine components [...] further development of a final multi-stage virosomal vaccine formulation incorporating additional malaria antigens. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00400101
The synthetic<em> Plasmodium falciparum</em> circumsporozoite peptide PfCS102 as a malaria vaccine candidate: a randomized controlled phase I trial (Publications)
Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCS102) in malaria naive adults. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Thirty-six healthy malaria-naive adults were randomly distributed into three dose blocks [...] BACKGROUND: Fully efficient vaccines against malaria pre-erythrocytic stage are still lacking. The objective of this dose/adjuvant-finding study was to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity
The architecture and effect of participation: a systematic review of community participation for communicable disease control and elimination.... (Publications)
successful disease control and elimination campaigns in many countries. Despite this, its benefits for malaria control and elimination are yet to be fully realized. This may be due to a limited understanding [...] participation for communicable disease control and elimination and provide guidance for the current malaria elimination campaign. METHODS: Evidence derived from quantitative research was considered both i [...] communicable disease control and elimination which is presented herein....