Comparison of Clinical and Parasitological Data from Controlled Human Malaria Infection Trials

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038434
• Publication Date: 2012-06-11T21:12:50Z
• Authors: Meta Roestenberg; Geraldine A. O'Hara; Christopher J. A....; Judith E. Epstein; Nick J. Edwards; Anja Scholzen; André J. A. M. va...; Cornelus C. Hermsen; Adrian V. S. Hill; Robert W. Sauerwein
• Keywords: Chills

Background Exposing healthy human volunteers to Plasmodium falciparum-infected mosquitoes is an accepted tool evaluate preliminary efficacy of malaria vaccines. To accommodate the demand vaccine pipeline, controlled infections are carried out in increasing number centers worldwide. We assessed their safety and reproducibility. Methods reviewed parasitological data from 128 malaria-naïve subjects participating infection trials conducted at University Oxford, UK, Radboud Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. Results were compared a report US Military Malaria Vaccine Program. show that safe demonstrate consistent profile with minor differences frequencies arthralgia, fatigue, chills fever between institutions. But prepatent periods significant variation. Detailed analysis Q-PCR reveals highly synchronous blood stage parasite growth multiplication rates. Conclusions Procedural can lead some variation kinetics Further harmonization standardization protocols will be useful for wider adoption these cost-effective small-scale trials. Nevertheless, rates reproducible, illustrating robustness as valid development.