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Pathogens
Special Issues
Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
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Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment

A Special Issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817) belonging to the section "Parasitic Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 6909

Editors

Dr. Temi Lampejo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
King's College Hospital, London, UK
Interests: infectious diseases; tropical diseases; viruses; pyrexia of unknown origin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Andrew Taylor-Robinson

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
1. College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Gia Lam District, Hanoi 67000, Vietnam
2. Center for Global Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Interests: vector-borne infectious diseases; neglected tropical diseases; emerging infectious diseases; malaria; dengue; arboviruses; epidemiology; immunology; diagnostics; vaccine development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Malaria continues to have a devastating global health burden, being responsible for 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023, across 83 countries. This is likely to continue for the foreseeable future unless further preventative strategies are implemented. Progress is being made: the forwarding by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in October 2021 of the first vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria as well as developments in monoclonal antibodies for malaria prevention show this. However, therapeutic strategies are being threatened by the emergence of partial artemisinin resistance in certain parts of the world including South America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore and further expand our understanding of the evolving epidemiology and immunopathogenesis of malaria (all species), as well as to report on novel developments in its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. A range of studies, including case reports and series, cohort and case–control studies, narrative reviews, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses, are welcome.

Dr. Temi Lampejo
Prof. Dr. Andrew Taylor-Robinson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • malaria
  • plasmodium
  • prevention
  • vaccines
  • therapeutics

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Review

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31 pages, 802 KB  
Review
Malaria in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Transmission, Diagnosis, Geographic Patterns, and the Role of Cyclosporin
by Wanesa Wilczyńska, Małgorzata Marchelek-Myśliwiec, Krzysztof Korzeniewski, Michał Sławiński and Danuta Kosik-Bogacka
Pathogens 2026, 15(8), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15080829 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 439
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most severe parasitic diseases worldwide and presents unique challenges in solid organ transplantation (SOT). Donor-derived malaria, although rare, can cause severe morbidity and mortality due to diagnostic delays and the altered immunity of transplant recipients. This manuscript synthesizes [...] Read more.
Malaria is one of the most severe parasitic diseases worldwide and presents unique challenges in solid organ transplantation (SOT). Donor-derived malaria, although rare, can cause severe morbidity and mortality due to diagnostic delays and the altered immunity of transplant recipients. This manuscript synthesizes available evidence on transmission routes, diagnostic timing, clinical manifestations, geographic variability, and cyclosporin’s mechanistic antimalarial properties, and integrates recommendations from major transplant associations. The findings highlight that global travel and migration have increased donor-derived malaria risk, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is the most sensitive screening tool, and cyclosporin shows potent in vitro antiplasmodial activity without documented clinical protection. International guidelines consistently emphasize epidemiologic donor screening, risk-based laboratory testing, post-transplant surveillance, and pre-travel prophylaxis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment)
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18 pages, 1062 KB  
Review
Performance of High-Resolution Melting Analysis for Molecular Detection and Species Differentiation of Malaria: A Scoping Review
by Afiat Berbudi, Shafia Khairani, Andromeda Andromeda and Alexander Kwarteng
Pathogens 2026, 15(8), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15080815 - 1 Aug 2026
Viewed by 396
Abstract
Malaria diagnosis remains challenging in low-density, asymptomatic, mixed-species, and non-falciparum infections. This scoping review mapped the diagnostic and operational evidence for high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis in malaria. Following PRISMA-ScR guidance, PubMed and Scopus were searched for English-language studies published between 2016 and 2026. [...] Read more.
Malaria diagnosis remains challenging in low-density, asymptomatic, mixed-species, and non-falciparum infections. This scoping review mapped the diagnostic and operational evidence for high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis in malaria. Following PRISMA-ScR guidance, PubMed and Scopus were searched for English-language studies published between 2016 and 2026. Two reviewers independently screened records in Rayyan. Of 162 records identified, 15 studies met the eligibility criteria. Most assays targeted 18S rRNA, although mitochondrial, apicoplast, species-specific, and resistance-associated markers were also evaluated. Reported sensitivity ranged from 91.76% to 100%, and specificity generally exceeded 92%. HRM enabled differentiation of major human-infecting Plasmodium species and detected mixed, low-parasitemia, and submicroscopic infections that were missed by microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests. However, substantial heterogeneity in assay targets, platforms, comparators, and reporting limited direct comparison. Current applications remain laboratory-developed and require HRM-capable real-time PCR instruments, dedicated analytical software, and trained personnel. HRM is therefore a promising complementary method for reference laboratories and malaria surveillance, but standardized assays, multicentre validation, and implementation studies are required before routine or decentralized use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment)
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22 pages, 313 KB  
Review
Are pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Deletions a Concern in Latin America? A Critical Review
by Beatriz Pires da Silva, Pablo Secato Fontoura, Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro and Maria de Fátima Ferreira-da-Cruz
Pathogens 2026, 15(4), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15040368 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 908
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum with deletions in the pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes has increasingly challenged national malaria control efforts worldwide by reducing the reliability of HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests. This review explores available reports and evidence on this issue across Latin America. The results show [...] Read more.
Plasmodium falciparum with deletions in the pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes has increasingly challenged national malaria control efforts worldwide by reducing the reliability of HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests. This review explores available reports and evidence on this issue across Latin America. The results show a varied distribution, with countries such as Peru, Colombia, and Brazil reporting the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant strains. Meanwhile, Caribbean countries and parts of Central America report low prevalence or no deletions. Understanding these patterns is essential for adjusting surveillance strategies, especially in countries nearing malaria elimination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment)
26 pages, 674 KB  
Review
The Evolving Landscape of Malaria Prevention Strategies: A Review of Recent Developments
by Yathavi Charavanamuttu, Akosua Agyeman Wamba, Andrew W. Taylor-Robinson and Temi Lampejo
Pathogens 2026, 15(2), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15020137 - 26 Jan 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3419
Abstract
Malaria continues to impose a devastating disease burden globally despite control efforts spanning decades. Its elimination has been hindered by parasite and vector complexity and emerging drug and insecticide resistance, along with unremitting barriers to uptake of preventative strategies largely driven by social [...] Read more.
Malaria continues to impose a devastating disease burden globally despite control efforts spanning decades. Its elimination has been hindered by parasite and vector complexity and emerging drug and insecticide resistance, along with unremitting barriers to uptake of preventative strategies largely driven by social inequities, cost constraints, and logistical challenges in implementation. This review synthesises current and emerging prevention strategies, including vector control, chemoprevention and immunoprophylaxis. Insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying remain cornerstones of vector control, although their effectiveness is increasingly compromised by widespread insecticide resistance. Chemoprevention, including intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy and seasonal malaria chemoprevention in children, has proven highly efficacious, yet uptake remains below WHO targets and concerns about drug resistance remain. Recent advances in vaccines, notably RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M, represent landmark achievements, with large-scale rollouts demonstrating reductions in severe disease and mortality. Novel approaches, such as monoclonal antibodies and genetically modified mosquitoes, offer promising avenues for future prevention. However, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access, sustaining efficacy in the face of evolving parasite and vector biology, and integrating interventions into diverse health systems. This review highlights the need for adaptive, multifaceted approaches to achieve malaria elimination goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment)
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Other

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7 pages, 488 KB  
Brief Report
Experience with Selective Testing of Plasmodium Parasites in Swiss Blood Donors
by Mauro Serricchio, Muriel Fragnière, Jochen Gottschalk, Caroline Tinguely and Christoph Niederhauser
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060614 - 8 Jun 2026
Viewed by 432
Abstract
Transmission of malaria by blood transfusion is rare in non-endemic countries but can lead to serious complications in blood recipients. Increasing travel to and immigration from regions at risk for tropical diseases poses a challenge to blood donation services, which are striving to [...] Read more.
Transmission of malaria by blood transfusion is rare in non-endemic countries but can lead to serious complications in blood recipients. Increasing travel to and immigration from regions at risk for tropical diseases poses a challenge to blood donation services, which are striving to reduce the number of blood donor deferrals while ensuring a high level of blood safety. National guidelines of the Blood Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross demand that donors at risk are serologically tested for malaria antibodies. Here, we summarize the numbers of malaria tests performed and the results obtained since the introduction of mandatory testing in Switzerland in 2007. From malaria-positive donors, information on travels to endemic areas and place of origin, or if malaria symptoms were experienced and if prophylaxis was taken, was requested in a post-donation questionnaire. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria: Updates on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment)
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