Laboratory Evaluation and In-Vitro Testing of Malaria Vaccine Candidates in Pregnant Women Aged 15 to 25 in Mali

What this Trial Is About

Malaria, particularly caused by Plasmodium falciparum, poses serious health risks to pregnant women and their babies, including low birth weight and maternal anemia. This research focuses on developing and evaluating vaccine candidates aimed at preventing malaria infection during pregnancy. The study emphasizes the importance of antibodies that target placental malaria parasites and compares animal-raised antibodies to those naturally acquired by pregnant women. The study is observational and recruits up to 2492 malaria-infected pregnant women aged 15 to 25 years in Mali. Participants will provide blood samples for in-vitro testing to assess the functional activity of antibodies raised against pregnancy malaria vaccine candidates. These tests will measure how well these antibodies block parasite binding to the placental receptor, with comparisons made to naturally acquired antibodies. During the study, participants will have blood drawn and may undergo physical exams. Women with malaria or anemia will receive treatment. Blood samples will also be stored for future research with consent. The primary outcome measures the antibody activity to block parasite binding over approximately one year. Participant involvement includes monitoring antibody responses and health status throughout the study period ending in 2028.

Laboratory Evaluation of Pregnancy Malaria Vaccine Candidates/In-vitro Testing of Pregnancy Malaria Vaccine Candidates