An experimental malaria vaccine that uses Vical's ($VICL) Vaxfectin adjuvant and its DNA vaccine plasmid backbone could prevent the transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans. If successful, it could cut malaria levels in the whole community. The vaccine, developed by researchers at Ehime University in Japan, was used to immunize mice. The researchers mixed serum from these vaccinated mice with infected human red blood cells and fed the mixtures to mosquitoes. Because the vaccine had interrupted the parasites' development, these mosquitoes then had lower levels of malaria parasites in their guts. The vaccine potentially could reduce overall levels of malaria in the population because it stops mosquitoes from passing on the disease. The researchers have suggested that study of this vaccine candidate would continue. Release | Abstract