Next-Generation Malaria Vaccines: Antigen Discovery and Platform Design for Cross-Species Protection

Malaria is a devastating infectious disease, with nearly half of the world’s population at risk of infection, particularly children under 5 years of age. According to the 2024 WHO malaria estimates, there were ~280 million cases and >600,000 deaths, underscoring the persistent and enormous global health burden. Over recent decades, advances in parasite biology have enabled the development of potent antimalarials, yet progress has stalled due to emerging resistance to frontline drugs, including artemisinin, and to commonly used insecticides. The WHO-recommended vaccines RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M have provided new momentum, but their partial efficacy, short-lived responses, and restriction to the pre-erythrocytic stage of Plasmodium falciparum limit their overall impact, particularly against other species such as P. vivax and P. knowlesi.There is therefore an urgent need for next-generation malaria vaccines that induce potent, durable, and broadly neutralizing immune responses across parasite species and strains, and target multiple life-cycle stages. Achieving this will require improved understanding of parasite biology, systematic identification and prioritization of conserved, essential antigens, and rigorous evaluation of vaccine-induced immune responses in both experimental and field settings. This research topic seeks to advance these goals by bringing together studies that bridge basic discovery, translational research, and epidemiological evidence to inform the rational design and deployment of next-generation malaria vaccines.This research topic aims to showcase advances in next-generation malaria vaccine design and evaluation, including antigen selection, platform development and immunogenicity assessment, informed by improved understanding of parasite biology and the identification of conserved, essential antigens with cross-species and cross-strain efficacy. We welcome original research articles, brief reports, and reviews on, but not limited to:Antigen discovery and prioritization using genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, structural vaccinology, and computational tools, coupled with experimental validation of antigen immunogenicity or protective efficacy.Novel Plasmodium antigens and vaccine platforms with multi-stage and/or multi-species activity (e.g., P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. knowlesi).Transmission-blocking and blood-stage vaccine candidates, including in vitro cross-strain and cross-species potency studies in relevant in vitro, animal, or human models.Epidemiological and immunogenicity studies assessing the breadth and durability of immune responses, and antigens or immune signatures with evidence of providing in vivo protection.Studies of parasite diversity, antigenic variation, and resistance that directly inform antigen selection, vaccine design, or the updating of vaccine compositions, supported by experimental data. Topic editors: Linda Eva Amoah, André Ricardo Ribas Freitas Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86585/next-generation-malaria-vaccines-antigen-discovery-and-platform-design-for-cross-species-protection