An mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine targeting the Plasmodium vivax E140 antigen.

A lipid nanoparticle mRNA vaccine targeting Plasmodium vivax E140 antigen achieves up to 78% reduction in parasite invasion in human reticulocytes.

• Why it matters: Malaria caused by P. vivax remains a major health challenge outside Africa, with no licensed vaccine currently available, highlighting the urgent need for effective immunization strategies.
• What they did: Researchers developed nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP vaccines against P. berghei and P. vivax E140 antigens, testing their immunogenicity and protective effects in mice and ex vivo human assays, with 56%-78% invasion reduction observed.
• The result: The findings demonstrate that E140-based mRNA vaccines induce strong immune responses and significantly inhibit parasite invasion, supporting their potential as next-generation malaria vaccines.