GAP3KO

GAP3KO (also referred to as PfGAP3KO) is a genetically engineered whole-parasite malaria vaccine candidate based on *Plasmodium falciparum* sporozoites with targeted deletions of three genes—P52, P36, and SAP1—that are critical for early liver-stage parasite development. These deletions arrest the parasite in the liver stage and prevent progression to blood-stage infection, thereby eliminating the risk of clinical malaria while allowing robust immune priming. The vaccine is designed to induce both humoral and cellular immunity against multiple stages of the malaria parasite. In phase 1 clinical trials in humans, administration via infected mosquito bites was safe and immunogenic; no breakthrough blood-stage infections were observed. Antibodies generated by vaccination conferred protection against sporozoite challenge in animal models and partial protection in human controlled infection studies[3][4][5][6][7][8].

Other names

genetically attenuated Plasmodium falciparum 3-gene knockouttriple gene knockout malaria vaccine