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As of 2022, malaria affected fewer than 100 million people globally.
Answer: False
Explanation: The provided data indicates that in 2022, malaria affected approximately 249 million people globally, not fewer than 100 million.
What was the estimated global death toll from malaria in 2022?
Answer: Approximately 608,000 deaths
Explanation: In 2022, malaria caused an estimated 608,000 deaths globally, alongside affecting approximately 249 million people.
Mosquirix is the first malaria vaccine to gain public approval.
Answer: True
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine, marketed as Mosquirix, was indeed the first malaria vaccine to receive public approval, marking a significant milestone in global health efforts.
By April 2023, over 5 million children had received at least one dose of the RTS,S vaccine.
Answer: False
Explanation: The supporting information indicates that by April 2023, approximately 1.5 million children had received at least one dose of the RTS,S vaccine, not over 5 million.
The RTS,S vaccine requires a single dose for infants to provide adequate protection.
Answer: False
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccination schedule for infants requires a minimum of three doses, with an additional fourth dose administered for extended protection, rather than a single dose.
The RTS,S vaccine has shown potential to reduce hospital admissions for severe malaria by approximately 30%.
Answer: True
Explanation: Clinical data supports that the RTS,S vaccine can reduce hospital admissions due to severe malaria by approximately 30% in young children.
The RTS,S vaccine was developed solely by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Answer: False
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine was the result of a collaborative effort involving PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), with significant support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
RTS,S is a live-attenuated vaccine.
Answer: False
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine is classified as a recombinant vaccine, not a live-attenuated one. It utilizes the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antigen fused with a hepatitis B virus surface antigen.
The RTS,S vaccine aims to prevent malaria by directly killing the parasite in the bloodstream.
Answer: False
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine primarily functions by preventing the malaria parasite from invading liver cells, rather than directly killing the parasite within the bloodstream.
Poor immunogenicity was a challenge addressed by fusing the CSP antigen with the hepatitis B virus surface antigen in the RTS,S vaccine.
Answer: True
Explanation: A significant challenge during the RTS,S trials was its poor immunogenicity. Researchers addressed this by fusing the CSP antigen with the hepatitis B virus surface antigen, creating a more potent vaccine formulation.
Clinical trials showed RTS,S significantly reduced malaria cases in infants, but efficacy against severe malaria was high even without a booster.
Answer: False
Explanation: Clinical trials indicated that while RTS,S reduced malaria cases, its efficacy against severe malaria waned over time and was significantly reduced without a booster dose.
The WHO recommended widespread use of the RTS,S vaccine for children in October 2021.
Answer: True
Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) officially recommended the widespread use of the RTS,S vaccine for children in October 2021, marking a significant public health endorsement.
The malaria vaccine Mosquirix is listed on the WHO's List of Essential Medicines.
Answer: True
Explanation: The World Health Organization recognizes the importance of the malaria vaccine Mosquirix by including it on its List of Essential Medicines.
After four years, the RTS,S vaccine provided substantial protection against severe malaria, even without a booster dose.
Answer: False
Explanation: The efficacy of the RTS,S vaccine against severe malaria waned over time, and substantial protection was not maintained without a booster dose after four years.
Which vaccine is the first malaria vaccine to receive public approval and is marketed under the brand name Mosquirix?
Answer: RTS,S
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine, marketed under the brand name Mosquirix, holds the distinction of being the first malaria vaccine to receive public approval.
How many children had received at least one dose of the RTS,S vaccine by April 2023?
Answer: Approximately 1.5 million
Explanation: By April 2023, approximately 1.5 million children residing in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission had received at least one dose of the RTS,S vaccine.
What is the minimum number of doses required for infants under the RTS,S vaccination schedule?
Answer: Three doses
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine requires a minimum of three doses for infants by the age of two to establish initial protection.
What percentage reduction in severe malaria hospital admissions has the RTS,S vaccine demonstrated?
Answer: Approximately 30%
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine has demonstrated the ability to reduce hospital admissions resulting from severe malaria by approximately 30% in children.
Who were the primary developers of the RTS,S malaria vaccine?
Answer: PATH MVI and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine was developed through a significant collaboration between PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
What type of vaccine is RTS,S, incorporating which key antigen?
Answer: Recombinant vaccine using the circumsporozoite protein (CSP)
Explanation: RTS,S is a recombinant vaccine that utilizes the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antigen from the pre-erythrocytic stage of the *Plasmodium falciparum* parasite.
How does the RTS,S vaccine primarily function to prevent malaria?
Answer: By preventing the parasite from invading liver cells.
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine primarily functions by stimulating an immune response that blocks the malaria parasite from invading liver cells, thereby preventing the initial stage of infection.
What significant challenge during RTS,S trials was overcome by fusing CSP with the Hepatitis B surface antigen?
Answer: Poor immunogenicity
Explanation: The fusion of the CSP antigen with the Hepatitis B virus surface antigen was a key strategy to address the challenge of poor immunogenicity observed in early RTS,S vaccine trials.
What was the approximate reduction in malaria cases for infants receiving the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in clinical trials?
Answer: About 25%
Explanation: Clinical trials showed that the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine reduced malaria cases by approximately 25% in infants after receiving the initial three-dose regimen.
The WHO endorsed RTS,S for widespread use in children in which month and year?
Answer: October 2021
Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) officially recommended the widespread use of the RTS,S vaccine for children in October 2021.
What is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification code for the malaria vaccine Mosquirix?
Answer: J07XA01
Explanation: The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification code assigned to the malaria vaccine Mosquirix is J07XA01.
Which of the following is a key component of the RTS,S vaccine, derived from the malaria parasite?
Answer: Circumsporozoite protein (CSP)
Explanation: The RTS,S vaccine incorporates the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antigen, which is derived from the pre-erythrocytic stage of the *Plasmodium falciparum* parasite.
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has demonstrated lower efficacy than RTS,S in initial trials.
Answer: False
Explanation: Initial trials indicated that the R21/Matrix-M vaccine demonstrated higher efficacy compared to RTS,S, meeting the WHO's target efficacy goal.
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is the first malaria vaccine candidate to meet the WHO's target efficacy goal of 75%.
Answer: True
Explanation: The R21/Matrix-M vaccine achieved an efficacy rate of 77% in initial trials, making it the first candidate to meet the World Health Organization's target efficacy goal of at least 75%.
Nigeria was the first country to approve the R21 vaccine for use in children.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ghana was the first country to approve the R21 vaccine for children in April 2023. Nigeria subsequently provided provisional approval.
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine was developed by researchers at the University of Oxford and manufactured by Novavax.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Novavax was involved in the development of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, the primary manufacturing is undertaken by the Serum Institute of India, in collaboration with the University of Oxford and other institutions.
The Matrix-M adjuvant used in the R21/Matrix-M vaccine is also used in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Matrix-M adjuvant used in the R21/Matrix-M vaccine is also utilized in the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, not the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
A phase III trial showed the R21/Matrix-M vaccine achieved 74% efficacy against severe malaria episodes in children.
Answer: True
Explanation: A phase III trial involving 4,800 children across four African countries demonstrated that the R21/Matrix-M vaccine achieved 74% efficacy against severe malaria episodes.
The Serum Institute of India plans to produce up to 50 million doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine annually.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Serum Institute of India plans to produce between 100 and 200 million doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine annually, which is significantly more than the stated 50 million.
The Matrix-M adjuvant used in the R21/Matrix-M vaccine enhances the immune response.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Matrix-M adjuvant is incorporated into the R21/Matrix-M vaccine specifically to augment and strengthen the elicited immune response.
Which malaria vaccine candidate showed the highest efficacy in initial trials with a rate of 77%?
Answer: R21/Matrix-M
Explanation: The R21/Matrix-M vaccine demonstrated the highest efficacy in initial trials, achieving a rate of 77%, surpassing the WHO's target efficacy goal.
Which country was the first to approve the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for children?
Answer: Ghana
Explanation: Ghana was the first country to grant approval for the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for use in children in April 2023.
Which institution, besides the University of Oxford, was involved in the development of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine?
Answer: Serum Institute of India
Explanation: The Serum Institute of India was a key collaborator in the development of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, alongside the University of Oxford and other research institutions.
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine utilizes which adjuvant to enhance immune response?
Answer: Matrix-M
Explanation: The R21/Matrix-M vaccine incorporates the Matrix-M adjuvant, which is designed to enhance the immune system's response to the vaccine's antigens.
What was the efficacy rate of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine against severe malaria episodes in a large phase III trial?
Answer: 74%
Explanation: A large phase III trial demonstrated that the R21/Matrix-M vaccine achieved an efficacy rate of 74% against severe malaria episodes in children.
What is the projected annual production capacity for the R21/Matrix-M vaccine?
Answer: 100-200 million doses
Explanation: The Serum Institute of India is projected to produce between 100 and 200 million doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine annually.
Malaria vaccines primarily aim to induce 'anti-toxic immunity' by neutralizing parasite by-products.
Answer: False
Explanation: While some malaria vaccines may aim for 'anti-toxic immunity,' the primary goal is often 'anti-parasitic immunity,' which directly targets the parasite itself through immune responses.
The genetic diversity of the malaria parasite is not a significant factor in vaccine development.
Answer: False
Explanation: The genetic diversity of the malaria parasite is a highly significant factor in vaccine development, as it contributes to the parasite's ability to develop resistance and evade immune responses, thereby diminishing vaccine effectiveness.
Vaccine development can target the gametocyte stage of the malaria parasite to prevent transmission.
Answer: True
Explanation: Targeting the gametocyte stage, the sexual stage of the parasite, is a key strategy for developing transmission-blocking vaccines aimed at interrupting the parasite's lifecycle in mosquitoes.
Transmission-blocking vaccines are designed to protect the vaccinated individual from severe illness.
Answer: False
Explanation: Transmission-blocking vaccines are designed not to protect the vaccinated individual directly from severe illness, but rather to prevent the parasite's development within the mosquito vector, thereby interrupting disease transmission.
The PfSEA-1 vaccine candidate aims to prevent the parasite from invading liver cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: The PfSEA-1 vaccine candidate is designed to block the schizont's exit from red blood cells, not to prevent the parasite from invading liver cells.
The Duffy binding protein (DBP) is a key target for vaccines against *Plasmodium vivax*.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Duffy binding protein (DBP) is crucial for *Plasmodium vivax*'s invasion of red blood cells, making it a primary target for vaccine development against this species.
A Type 1 malaria vaccine is primarily intended for travelers visiting low-transmission areas.
Answer: False
Explanation: A Type 1 malaria vaccine is designed for regions with high malaria transmission, such as sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to reduce severe malaria cases and deaths in infants and young children.
The SPf66 vaccine demonstrated significant protective benefits in a large trial in Southeast Asia.
Answer: False
Explanation: The largest placebo-controlled trial for the SPf66 vaccine in Southeast Asia found it to be ineffective and demonstrated no protective benefit.
The PfRH5 antigen is considered a promising vaccine target due to its high genetic diversity.
Answer: False
Explanation: The PfRH5 antigen is considered promising precisely because of its *low* genetic variation, suggesting it could be a reliable target for broad-spectrum antibodies.
Which stage of the malaria parasite's lifecycle is targeted by transmission-blocking vaccines?
Answer: Gametocyte stage
Explanation: Transmission-blocking vaccines specifically target the gametocyte stage of the malaria parasite, which is responsible for transmission to mosquitoes.
Why is the genetic diversity of *Plasmodium falciparum* a challenge for malaria vaccines?
Answer: It leads to the development of resistance against vaccines over time.
Explanation: The high genetic diversity of *Plasmodium falciparum* allows the parasite to evolve rapidly, potentially leading to the development of resistance against vaccine-induced immune responses and diminishing vaccine effectiveness.
What is the primary goal of a Type 2 malaria vaccine, often called a 'travelers' vaccine'?
Answer: To provide complete protection against all clinical symptoms for non-immune individuals.
Explanation: A Type 2 malaria vaccine, commonly referred to as a 'travelers' vaccine,' is designed to offer comprehensive protection against all clinical manifestations of malaria for individuals with no prior immunity.
What was the finding of the largest placebo-controlled trial for the SPf66 vaccine in Southeast Asia?
Answer: It was found to be ineffective and showed no protective benefit.
Explanation: The largest placebo-controlled randomized trial conducted for the SPf66 vaccine in Southeast Asia concluded that it was ineffective and provided no significant protective benefit.
The low genetic variation of the PfRH5 antigen makes it a potentially reliable target for vaccine development because:
Answer: Antibodies generated against it are likely to neutralize multiple parasite strains.
Explanation: The limited genetic variation of the PfRH5 antigen suggests that antibodies generated against it could effectively neutralize a wide range of parasite strains, making it a promising target for vaccine development.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 'fast track designation' to which malaria vaccine candidate in September 2016?
Answer: PfSPZ
Explanation: In September 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 'fast track designation' to the PfSPZ malaria vaccine candidate.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided significant funding for malaria vaccine development.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been a major financial supporter of malaria eradication initiatives, providing substantial funding critical for the development of vaccines like RTS,S.