Answer: Malaria
Notes: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a new malaria vaccine called AdFalciVax to fight Plasmodium falciparum. This was recently highlighted due to its unique chimeric and recombinant design. AdFalciVax is being developed with Regional Medical Research Centre Bhubaneswar (RMRCBB), National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), and Department of Biotechnology – National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII). It uses Lactococcus lactis, a safe food-grade bacterium, for production. The vaccine targets both the pre-erythrocytic and sexual stages of the malaria parasite. This dual-target approach offers both personal protection and reduction of mosquito transmission.
