Advances in Tools for Battling Malaria

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Vector-Borne Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2014

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Parasitology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Interests: malaria pathobiology; biological vector control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Parasitology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Interests: molecular diagnostic; parasitology; malaria; toxoplasmosis; phylogenetic tree

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Malaria is an infection that has haunted mankind for centuries. Despite decades of efforts to eradicate this parasitic disease, malaria still exerts a significant healthcare burden, costing lives and compromising the quality of life of the nearly half of the world’s population that live in malaria risk areas. The vulnerability of frameworks installed to control and eliminate malaria was clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a resurgence in the global malaria burden. In addition, efforts to eliminate the disease have been challenged by the fast development of resistance to artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs), as well as the resistance of Plasmodium falciparum (the most fatal human malaria parasite) to partner drugs used in artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), the persistence of vivax malaria in communities, and the emergence of zoonotic malaria caused by several simian malaria parasites, particularly P. knowlesi, which complicates the diagnosis, management, transmission modelling, and control of malaria in affected areas. Clearly, many knowledge gaps remain to be filled before we can put together an optimal strategy to curb the transmission of this parasitic disease. This Special Issue aims to assemble the latest progress in malaria research, with the intention of creating a platform of consolidated information about the disease that may inspire the development of novel strategies to mitigate infections. We welcome contributions that cover, but are not restricted to, the following aspects of malaria:

  • Disease pathobiology;
  • Parasite–host interaction biology;
  • Genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics of parasites or hosts pertaining to malaria transmission;
  • Transmission modelling and prediction;
  • Diagnosis;
  • Vector biology and control;
  • Disease epidemiology and surveillance;
  • Public health, health economics, and policies;
  • Drug discoveries;
  • Monitoring of treatment efficacy;
  • Disease control and prevention.

Contributions may be in one of the following formats:

  • Original article;
  • Review;
  • Case report;
  • Methodology/protocol;
  • Clinical trial.

We look forward to receiving your contribution. Thank you for your consideration.

Dr. Wenn-Chyau Lee
Dr. Meng Yee Lai
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 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 2700 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

  • plasmodium
  • control and prevention
  • transmission modelling
  • diagnosis
  • treatment and management

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3298 KB  
Article
Plasmodium falciparum Malaria and Arbovirus Co-Exposure in the Boende Health Zone, Northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo
by Solange Milolo Tshilumba, Ynke Larivière, Trésor Zola Matuvanga, Armand Mutwadi, Danoff Engbu, Germain Kapour, Gwen Lemey, Maha Salloum, Maeliss Champagne, Daddy Mangungulu, Pierre Van Damme, Hypolite Muhindo-Mavoko, Vivi Maketa Tevuzula, Joachim Mariën, Martine Peeters, Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden and Patrick Mitashi-Mulopo
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(5), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11050122 - 5 May 2026
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Abstract
Background: Malaria remains hyperendemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while arboviral infections are increasingly reported but remain under-surveilled, particularly in remote regions. Overlapping ecological niches and non-specific clinical presentations complicate case management and surveillance. Methods: A cross-sectional door-to-door survey was conducted [...] Read more.
Background: Malaria remains hyperendemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while arboviral infections are increasingly reported but remain under-surveilled, particularly in remote regions. Overlapping ecological niches and non-specific clinical presentations complicate case management and surveillance. Methods: A cross-sectional door-to-door survey was conducted in December 2023 in Inkanamongo village (Lokolia Health Area, Boende Health Zone, Tshuapa Province). Blood samples were collected from 379 adults; malaria infection was assessed by using HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests, and arboviral IgG antibodies were measured on dried blood spots using Luminex® multiplex immunoassay. Sociodemographic data were collected via standardized questionnaires. Results: Malaria prevalence was 51.7% (95%CI: 46.7–56.7). Overall arboviral seroprevalence reached 78.4% (95%CI: 73.1–81.5), dominated by O’nyong-nyong virus, 42.8% (95%CI: 37.6–47.5), Rift Valley fever virus, 32.0% (95%CI: 26.9–36.2), and chikungunya virus, 23.4% (95%CI: 19.0–27.4). Concurrent malaria infection and arboviral exposure were observed in 40.4% (95%CI: 35.6–45.4) of participants. No sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with co-exposure in the multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Substantial co-exposure of malaria and multiple arboviruses occurs in this remote Congo Basin setting. Integrated surveillance and improved diagnostics are urgently needed to guide febrile illness management and preparedness in under-resourced regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tools for Battling Malaria)
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Review

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15 pages, 297 KB  
Review
Application Strategy and Research Progress of Large-Scale Population Drug Intervention in Malaria Control
by Zichao Cao, Yunan Gu, Guoming Li and Changsheng Deng
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(5), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11050113 - 25 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Malaria is one of the major global public health issues. An estimated 282 million malaria cases occurred worldwide in 2024, and the overall prevention and control progress has stagnated or even reversed in some regions. Mass drug administration (MDA), as a potential strategy [...] Read more.
Malaria is one of the major global public health issues. An estimated 282 million malaria cases occurred worldwide in 2024, and the overall prevention and control progress has stagnated or even reversed in some regions. Mass drug administration (MDA), as a potential strategy to accelerate malaria elimination, has regained attention. This paper reviews the evidence base, controversial focuses, and application strategies of MDA in malaria prevention and control. It aims to promote its scientific application in the elimination phase. MDA plays an important role in malaria prevention and control. However, this strategy is accompanied by core limitations such as long-term drug resistance risks, insufficient implementation sustainability, and a high failure rate of regional adaptation. It also faces challenges from multiple common malaria species, as well as the newly discovered Plasmodium knowlesi. We therefore propose an “MDA+” collaborative strategy integrating vaccines, digital monitoring, and cross-border cooperation, so as to optimize resource allocation, achieve full coverage control over various malaria parasites, and advance the global malaria elimination process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tools for Battling Malaria)

Other

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9 pages, 1205 KB  
Case Report
Alert for Imported Malaria in Non-Endemic Areas: A Case Report of Atypical Falciparum Malaria in a Young Child and Diagnostic Experience
by Jiali Feng, Yang Zhou, Bo Zhang and Ming Huang
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11010015 - 6 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Background: Although China has eliminated indigenous malaria, imported cases, particularly among young and middle-aged workers returning from Africa, constitute a major challenge for current epidemic prevention and control. In contrast, imported malaria in children is extremely rare and often subject to diagnostic delays [...] Read more.
Background: Although China has eliminated indigenous malaria, imported cases, particularly among young and middle-aged workers returning from Africa, constitute a major challenge for current epidemic prevention and control. In contrast, imported malaria in children is extremely rare and often subject to diagnostic delays in non-endemic areas due to atypical clinical presentations. Case presentation: We report a case of a 2-year-11-month-old boy who returned from Sudan, a malaria-endemic region, presenting with fever and diarrhea as the initial symptoms. The case was identified by the laboratory through the blood routine re-examination rules, crucially informed by the patient’s epidemiological history. The diagnosis was ultimately confirmed as Plasmodium falciparum malaria by rapid diagnostic testing and microscopic examination. Conclusion: This diagnostic pathway exemplifies a closed-loop model of “clinical suspicion → targeted laboratory testing → definitive pathogen identification.” It provides a practical framework for the early detection and diagnosis of pediatric imported malaria with atypical presentations in non-endemic areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tools for Battling Malaria)
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