Researchers have found that vaccines against malaria could lead to increased parasite virulence. But they insist that their findings should not slow the hunt for an effective vaccine.

The research, described in the open-access journal PLoS Biology, showed that as the parasite was passed from one vaccinated mouse to another, it became more virulent than parasites transmitted within an unvaccinated population.

However, lead researcher Andrew Read says that a vaccine would still protect those who received it and should be developed as one item in a range of weapons — including drugs and insecticide treated nets — against the disease.

Link to full Nature Science Update news story

Link to research paper in PLoS Biology