Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine?
- Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium
- Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection
- Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
- Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host
Explanation
Option (a) is correct
- Malaria in humans is caused by multiple species of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium, including Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale. Each species has different antigenic characteristics and life cycle stages. This diversity makes it difficult to develop a single vaccine that provides effective and long-lasting immunity against all forms of malaria.
