Scientists Create Effective Method to Use Mosquitoes as “Flying Syringes” to Vaccinate Humans against Malaria

Scientists Create Effective Method to Use Mosquitoes as “Flying Syringes” to Vaccinate Humans against Malaria

The last time I wrote about the mosquito-borne disease malaria, public health officials in the Congo indicated that a combination of COVID-related medical service delays and malnutrition may have led to the mysterious disease that has taken the lives of hundreds of young people.

In a fascinating new development, scientists from Leiden University and Radboud University in the Netherlands have published a groundbreaking study in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrating the effectiveness of using mosquitoes as “flying syringes” to vaccinate humans against malaria.

The study involved a novel vaccination strategy using genetically modified mosquitoes infected with a weakened version of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, which causes malaria in humans. The genetically modified plasmodium means it can’t complete its development cycle within the human liver.

It also triggers an immune system reaction, which can prevent future malaria infections (even with the unmodified pathogen).

“These crippled parasites are administered through a mosquito bite and reach the human liver as usual,” says vaccinologist Meta Roestenberg, from Leiden University. “But because of the gene turned off, this parasite cannot complete its development in the liver, cannot enter the bloodstream, and thus cannot cause disease symptoms.”

“Meanwhile, this crippled infection does create a strong immune response in the liver, which can protect the person from a real malaria infection in the future.”

Having the parasite take longer to develop in the body seems to help: with GA2, P. falciparum takes almost a week to mature inside the liver, compared with 24 hours for GA1, the previous version. That gives the immune system more time to recognize what it is, and work on fighting back.

In the clinical trial, 8 out of 9 young adults who received the GA2 vaccine were protected against malaria, compared to only 1 out of 8 given an earlier version (GA1). However, this novel approach is impractical on the regional scale needed, and there are plans for refinement and a more traditional vaccine.

The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed 89% of those receiving the GA2 vaccine developed immunity, compared to 13% for the GA1 vaccine. There was a third group, given placebos. However, nobody in this group developed immunity.

While promising, the small sample size of 20 participants necessitates larger trials. Experts caution that, while innovative, this method is impractical for widespread use and must be developed into a vialed vaccine for large-scale distribution.

I would like to note that the vaccine is based on the weakened-pathogen model that has been effective with other vaccines, and not the mRNA class that has been all the rage among public health professionals in recent years.

The devastation caused by malaria cannot be overstated. In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases worldwide, an increase from 252 million cases in 2022. There are approximately 600,000 deaths attributed to malaria annually.

Approximately 94% of malaria cases occur in Africa. However, it must be noted that the US reported its first locally acquired cases in Texas and Florida in 2023.

Having more tools to fight against this disease, especially as it kills children disproportionately, is critical.

Due to how poorly public health officials handled COVID, however, getting people comfortable with a new vaccine may be challenging.

“Flying syringes” may sound cute to researchers, yet many aren’t comfortable with this concept. Adding to the discomfort is the fact the research received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Should be illegal and immediately shut down and destroyed.

— D3adcell (@D3adcell) January 1, 2025

Personally, I think the approach is promising. I hope the researchers monitor the 8 individuals who appear to have been successfully vaccinated against malaria and ensure that they neither become infected nor transmit the genetically modified Plasmodium.

I also hope the participants’ health is monitored over a substantial period to ensure there are no long-term health effects or unintended consequences from exposure to the altered microbe.

Finally, if and when the new malaria vaccine is brought to market, adopt a more sensitive marketing approach, avoid mandating its use, and ensure that Bill Gates is not involved in its production or distribution.

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.