Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 14: Researchers in Australia have discovered a new approach that could turn mosquito bites from a source of deadly malaria infection into natural immune boosters against the disease.

Scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) demonstrated a vaccination strategy that primes the immune system to fight malaria parasites before they cause illness. Subsequent mosquito bites could then act as natural boosters, strengthening immunity over time.

According to research published in Science, the approach protected mice against malaria for up to two years, a period equivalent to two malaria seasons in real-world settings.

The researchers developed a novel immunisation strategy by combining mosquito-delivered malaria parasites with investigational antimalarial drug compounds developed by WEHI and biopharmaceutical company MSD.

The compounds were designed to trap malaria parasites during the late liver stage, just before they enter the bloodstream and cause disease. This triggered a strong immune response and provided prolonged protection against malaria, the study found.

Researchers said repeated mosquito bites could potentially reinforce the immunity generated by the vaccination, opening the possibility of a "vaccinate and boost naturally" approach in malaria-endemic regions.

The strategy could be particularly significant for areas where malaria transmission is seasonal and people are repeatedly exposed to infected mosquitoes.

A long-acting injectable formulation based on the drug compounds is currently under preclinical development, the researchers said.

Malaria remains a major global health threat. The World Health Organization estimated that the disease caused around 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2024.

The researchers said the findings provide a potential new direction for developing longer-lasting malaria protection by combining vaccination with controlled exposure to malaria parasites.