Researchers at Leiden University Medical Center, in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have pioneered a novel method of malaria vaccination using genetically altered mosquitoes, which they refer to as “flying vaccinators.” According to The Blaze, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals the promising potential of utilizing mosquitoes as “flying syringes” to administer malaria vaccines to humans. This research, conducted at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, marks a significant but potentially controversial step forward in the realm of vaccine technology.
The study focused on genetically engineering malaria parasites to halt their development after a specific period inside the human body. The modified parasites, labeled GA1 and GA2, were designed to stimulate the immune system without causing a complete malaria infection. The next step involved infecting mosquitoes with these modified parasites and allowing them to bite human volunteers in a controlled environment.
The experiment involved 43 adults, aged 19 to 35, who had no prior exposure to malaria. The participants were divided into three groups: one group received 50 bites from mosquitoes carrying the GA2 parasite, another group was bitten by mosquitoes infected with the GA1 parasite, and the third, a placebo group, was bitten by uninfected mosquitoes. Each group underwent three rounds of vaccinations, spaced 28 days apart.
Three weeks after the final round of vaccinations, the participants were exposed to malaria through bites from mosquitoes carrying the disease. The results showed that eight of the nine participants in the GA2 group were successfully protected against malaria, compared to only one of eight in the GA1 group and none in the placebo group.
The idea of using mosquitoes as “flying vaccinators” is not new. As early as 2010, Japanese researcher Shigeto Yoshida modified mosquito saliva to deliver vaccines for leishmania to mice, highlighting the potential for insect-based vaccination as a painless and cost-effective method. However, issues surrounding informed consent and medical safety have slowed the progress of this innovative approach.
{Matzav.com}