The Submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa – Current Understanding of the Host Immune System and New Perspectives

Abstract

The bottlenecks in malaria infections affect malaria control and eradication programs. The gaps in the relationships between stages specific parasites molecules and their effects in the various stages of malaria development are unknown. The challenge hampers the wholesome understanding of policies and programs implemented to control and eliminate malaria infections in the endemic areas. Submicroscopic malaria and its transmission dynamisms are of interest in malaria control programs. The role of various stages of natural protective immunity in submicroscopic malaria infections and the insight into the collaborative role of antibodies from antigens for maintaining lower and submicroscopic malaria could provide a relevant guideline for vaccine developments. The chapter discusses the roles of mosquito and malaria antibodies in maintaining submicroscopic P. falciparum infection and its transmission potentials in malaria-endemic areas and the new perspectives on the inter-relatedness of stage-specific antibodies to improve malaria control programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.