CURRENT CONTEXT: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing an indigenous malaria vaccine named ‘AdFalciVax’.

 ABOUT THE VACCINE:

• Institutes Involved:
• ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar
• National Institute of Malaria Research
• Department of Biotechnology – National Institute of Immunology
• Target: Dual-stage protection against Plasmodium falciparum (most lethal species)

ABOUT MALARIA:

• Caused by Plasmodium parasites (not person-to-person).
• Spread via bites of infected female Anopheles
• Found mostly in tropical regions.
• 5 human-infecting species: falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. knowlesi.