Research has advanced incrementally, leading to an understanding of the life cycle of malaria parasites in their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, the multiple species and strains of parasites and mosquitoes involved, as well as the pathogenesis, immune responses, and epidemiology attributed to each species in human populations. Meanwhile, a panoply of rapid diagnostic tests has come to the forefront, complementing the traditional gold standard microscopy detection of parasites in blood smears, and drug development advancements continue, leading to new treatments and combination therapies to overcome rampant drug resistance. Many factors must be considered to ensure the effectiveness of vaccines in malaria endemic communities. These efforts continue today, with the full recognition that making and introducing an effective malaria vaccine(s) is no small task, especially since the ultimate protection worldwide will require vaccines that have long-lasting immunity and are effective against multiple species of Plasmodium with their ever-changing genetic variation (reviewed in ). Once molecular biological methods took hold in the 1970s, attempts to make a malaria vaccine became the envisioned panacea (reviewed in ). The World Health Organization’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme’s strategic use of the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane between 19 was halted, between costs concerns and as experts recognized that a multi-pronged approach would be required to achieve the goal of malaria eradication (reviewed in ). The cause of this disease- Plasmodium parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes-has been known since the late nineteenth century. Malaria continues to be an intractable disease, ravishing communities in about 100 countries. New strategies and insights published by the Malaria Host–Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) are recapped here along with a vision that stresses the importance of educating future experts well trained in utilizing NHP infection model systems for the pursuit of innovative, effective interventions against malaria. With quickly emerging new technological advances, more in-depth research and mechanistic discoveries can be anticipated on these and additional critical topics, including hypnozoite biology, antigenic variation, gametocyte transmission, bone marrow dysfunction, and loss of uninfected RBCs. Recent discoveries capitalizing on NHP longitudinal infections include an advanced understanding of chronic infections, relapses, anaemia, and immune memory. These Plasmodium-NHP infection model systems are reviewed here, with emphasis on modern systems biological approaches to studying longitudinal infections, pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccines. In-depth study of these four phylogenetically related species over the years has spawned the design of NHP longitudinal infection strategies for gathering information about ongoing infections, which can be related to human infections. Whilst most malaria scientists over the decades have been studying Plasmodium falciparum, with NHP infections, in clinical studies with humans, or using in vitro culture or rodent model systems, others have been dedicated to advancing research on Plasmodium vivax, as well as on phylogenetically related simian species, including Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium coatneyi, and Plasmodium knowlesi. Research involving NHPs have provided critical insights and data that have been essential for malaria research on many parasite species, drugs, vaccines, pathogenesis, and transmission, leading to improved clinical care and advancing research goals for malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Indeed, nonhuman primates (NHPs) have been instrumental for major breakthroughs in basic and pre-clinical research on malaria for over 50 years. “The Primate Malarias” book has been a uniquely important resource for multiple generations of scientists, since its debut in 1971, and remains pertinent to the present day.
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