Immune response and the management of malaria Special release

Abstract

Host immune response plays an important role in the manifestation, progression and resolution of several diseases including parasitic diseases, infections, arthritis, diabetes and allergies. Immune responses have been shown to play an important role in determining susceptibility to malaria attacks and response to treatment with antimalaria drugs. The contribution of host immunity to chemotherapy of malaria is underscored by the detection of sentinel cases of drug resistant infection in children below the age of 4 years and non-immune visitors to malaria endemic areas. Humoral and cellular immune response augment the schizonticidal activity of antimalarial drugs in the indigenous population, consequently, they are able to clear infections associated with parasites of low grades of resistance. New information available in the last 20 years on immune responses to malaria and identification of several P falciparum antigens has produced a better understanding of the disease, increased the prospects of developing a successful malaria vaccine and enhanced the introduction of new tools for malaria control.