Professor Melissa Kapulu
Contact information
Podcast interview
Malaria transmission and human infection studies
The efficacy of vaccine developed in naïve population (UK or US) often drops dramatically when used in endemic populations, where individuals are exposed to the vaccine disease target. The Human Malaria Infection Model looks at naturally acquired immunity and correlates of protection. Furthermore, scientists in affected areas build capacity and knowledge base, and integration of scientific thought and processes.
Research groups
Melissa Kapulu
Associate Professor
Malaria Transmission & Human Infection Studies
Melissa Kapulu is a Principal Research Investigator based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi Kenya. She received her training in immunology at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MSc in Immunology of Infectious Diseases) and and vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford (DPhil on malaria transmission-blocking vaccines).
She runs a research group and programme of work that includes better understanding of naturally acquired immunity for the design, development, and testing of vaccines (pre-clinical and clinical). This involves understanding mechanisms of immunity following both infection (natural and deliberate/induced infections) and vaccination. She works to developing and/or establishing controlled human infection models, to identify, characterise, understand, and evaluate vaccines, in disease endemic populations.
Primary area of interest includes malaria and Shigella. She is committed to and has successfully trained and supervised young scientists at BSc, MSc, and PhD level.
Recent publications
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R21 malaria vaccine is protective against intradermal but not intravenousPlasmodium falciparumsporozoites in a randomized controlled human malaria infection study in Kenyan adults
Kapulu MC. et al, (2024)
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Antibodies to PfEMP1 and variant surface antigens: Protection after controlled human malaria infection in semi-immune Kenyan adults.
Kinyua AW. et al, (2024), The Journal of infection, 89
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Full-length MSP1 is a major target of protective immunity after controlled human malaria infection.
Rosenkranz M. et al, (2024), Life science alliance, 7
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Safety and immunogenicity of varied doses of R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine at three years follow-up: A phase 1b age de-escalation, dose-escalation trial in adults, children, and infants in Kilifi-Kenya
Sang S. et al, (2024)
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Breadth of Fc-mediated effector function correlates with clinical immunity following human malaria challenge.
Nkumama IN. et al, (2024), Immunity