R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine

• 05 Oct 2023

Why in News?

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, co-developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India.

• The Matrix-M component is a proprietary saponin-based adjuvant developed by Novavax and licensed to the Serum Institute for use in endemic countries.
• As of now, the vaccine has been licensed for use in Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

What is Adjuvant?

• An adjuvant is an ingredient in a vaccine that enhances the immune system’s response to that vaccine.
  • Adjuvants help the immune system better recognize what’s in a vaccine and remember it longer, increasing the amount of time that a vaccine may offer protection.
• Matrix-M adjuvant is derived from saponins, naturally occurring compounds found in the bark of the Quillaja saponaria tree in Chile. Saponins have a history of medicinal use.

What is Malaria?

• About:
  • Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite.
    • This parasite is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Plasmodium Parasite:
  • There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species, P. falciparum and P. vivax, pose the greatest threat.
    • P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent.
    • P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The other malaria species which can infect humans are P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi.
• Symptoms:
  • Mild symptoms are fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
• Prevalence:
  • According to the WHO’s World Malaria report 2022, there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021 compared to 245 million cases in 2020.
  • It is mostly found in tropical countries. Four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%)
• Vaccine:
  • Along with the recently confirmed R21/Matrix-M vaccine, WHO also recommends broad use of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine among children living in regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission.
• Elimination Strategies:
  • Global:
    • The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030, updated in 2021, sets ambitious but achievable global targets, including:
      • reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90% by 2030
      • reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030
      • eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030
      • preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.
  • India:
    • National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030)
    • Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India)

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine? (2010)

(a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium
(b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection
(c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
(d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host

Ans: (b)