Sweden-Melanesia research venture network: longevity of immunological memory in people on islands with different histories of malaria elimination in Vanuatu

Naturally acquired immunity to malaria is maintained through repeated infections.

The longevity of anti-malarial immunity in populations experiencing malaria control and successful elimination is largely unexplored.

In Vanuatu, scaled-up interventions have resulted in sustained elimination on some islands for varying periods and focal transmission of different intensities on other islands.

This gradient in malaria risk and exposure provides a model to study the maintenance of immune memory in a natural setting.

In collaboration with Divine Word University and the Ministry of Health in Vanuatu, we will establish the Center for Malaria Elimination to conduct research that helps to assess the risk of malaria resurgence on islands where populations may have waning immunity.

Through this partnership we will conduct community outreach, develop field protocols for sample collection and transport, and perform initial sample analyses.

We anticipate the collaboration to expand future research to address pressing issues such as low-density infections and Plasmodium vivax hypnozoite reservoir that are relevant to not only Vanuatu, but also neighboring Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.