Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by bites from Plasmodium falciparum (P.falciparum)-infected mosquitoes with a present scale of symptoms ranging from moderate fever to neurological disorders. P. falciparum is the most lethal of the five strains of malaria, and is a major case of morbidity and mortality in endemic regions. Recent advancements in malaria diagnostic tools and prevention strategies have improved conjugation antimalarial therapies using fumigation and long-lasting insecticidal sprays, thus lowering malarial infections. Declines in the total number of infected individuals have been correlated with antimalarial drugs. Despite this, malaria remains a major health threat, affecting more than 30 million men, women, and children around the globe, and 20 percent of all children around the globe have malaria parasites in their blood. To overcome this life-threatening condition, novel therapeutic strategies, including immunization, are urgently needed to tackle this infection around the world. In line with this, the development of the RTS, S vaccine was a significant step forward in the fight against malaria. RTS, S is a vaccine for P. falciparum in which R specifies central repeat units, T the T-cell epitopes, and S indicates surface antigen. The RTS, S/AS01 malarial vaccine was synthesized and screened in several clinical trials between 2009 and 2014, involving thousands of young children in seven African countries, showing that children who received the vaccine did not suffer from severe malaria. Mosquirix™ was approved by the World Health Organization in 2021, indicating it to be safe and advocating its integration into routine immunization programs and existing malaria control measures. This paper examines the various stages of the vaccine’s development, including the evaluation of its immunogenicity and efficacy on the basis of a total of 2.3 million administered doses through a routine immunization program. The protection and effectiveness provided by the vaccine are strong, and evidence shows that it can be effectively delivered through the routine child immunization platform. The economic cost of the vaccine remains to be considered.
Resin composites have been widely used in dental restoration. However, polymerization shrinkage and resultant bacterial microleakage are major limitations that may lead to secondary caries. To overcome this, a new type of antibacterial resin composite containing ciprofloxacin-loaded silver nanoparticles (CIP-AgNPs) were synthesized. The chemical reduction approach successfully produced CIP-AgNPs, as demonstrated by FTIR, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. CIP-AgNPs were added to resin composites and the antibacterial activity of the dental composite discs were realized against Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, and the Saliva microcosm. The biocompatibility of modified resin composites was assessed and mechanical testing of modified dental composites was also performed. The results indicated that the antibacterial activity and compressive strength of resin composites containing CIP-AgNPs were enhanced compared to the control group. They were also biocompatible when compared to resin composites containing AgNPs. In short, these results established strong ground application for CIP-AgNP-modified dental composite resins.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.