Immune Response in Malaria

M ALARIA IS ONE of the major parasitic diseases affecting humans today, contributing greatly to the high mortality rates in the developing world. The original epidemiologic concept of “malaria eradication” for large endemic areas, introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 1960s, has now been replaced by the concept of “control,” given the increase in the morbidity and mortality rates.1’2 The resurgence of malaria can be attributed to the appearance of parasite strains and insect vectors resistant to the eradication measures taken.3’1#{176} This situation has favored emphasis on basic malaria research oriented toward a better understanding of the host’s immune response and the parasite’s molecular biology and biochemical characteristics, with the aim of obtaining immunoprophylactic methods capable of preventing the further spread of this disease. ’2 In this report we will review some ofthe attempts carried out by the different research groups around the world, focusing toward the end on the work conducted at the Instituto de Inmunologia, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Bogota, Colombia.