Experimental Vaccine for Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Males or females between 18 and 50 years, inclusive.

Good general health as determined by means of the screening procedure.

Available for the duration of the trial (52 weeks).

Willingness to participate in the study as evidenced by signing the informed consent document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Pregnancy as determined by a positive urine human chorionic gonadotrophin (Beta-hCG), if female.

Participant unwilling to use reliable contraception methods for the duration of the trial.

Currently lactating and breast-feeding (if female).

Evidence of clinically significant neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, rheumatologic, autoimmune, or renal disease by history, physical examination, and/or laboratory studies including urinalysis.

Evidence of obesity; BMI must be less than 35. Body mass index equals ((weight in pounds)/(height in inches) x (height in inches)) x 703.

Behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric disease that in the opinion of the investigator affects the ability of the volunteer to understand and cooperate with the study protocol.

Laboratory evidence of liver disease (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and/or alanine aminotransferase [ALT] greater than 1.25 times the upper limit of normal of the testing laboratory).

Laboratory evidence of renal disease (serum creatinine greater than the upper limit of normal of the testing laboratory).

Laboratory evidence of hematologic disease (absolute neutrophil count less than 1,5000/mm(3); hemoglobin less than 0.9 times the lower limit of normal of the testing laboratory, by sex; or platelet count less than 140,000/mm(3)).

Other condition that in the opinion of the investigator would jeopardize the safety or rights of a volunteer participating in the trial or would render the subject unable to comply with the protocol.

Participation in another investigational vaccine or drug trial within 30 days of starting this study, or while this study is ongoing.

Volunteer has abused alcohol or illicit drugs during the past 6 months, by history and/or positive urine drug screen (any detectable levels) on Study Day 0 or 180.

History of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.

Severe asthma (emergency room visit or hospitalization within the last 6 months).

Positive ELISA and confirmatory Western blot tests for HIV-1.

Positive ELISA and confirmatory immunoblot tests for HCV.

Positive HBsAg by ELISA.

Known immunodeficiency syndrome.

Use of corticosteroids (excluding topical or nasal) or immunosuppressive drugs within 30 days of starting this study or while the study is ongoing.

Receipt of a live vaccine within past 4 weeks or a killed vaccine within past 2 weeks prior to entry into the study.

History of a surgical splenectomy and/or abnormal splenic function.

Receipt of blood products within the past 6 months.

Previous receipt of an investigational malaria vaccine.

Receipt of antimalarial prophylaxis during the past 12 months.

Prior malaria infection.

Travel to a malaria-endemic country during the past 12 months or planned travel to a malaria-endemic country during the course of the study.

History of a known allergy to nickel.