# Automating mosquito microdissection for a malaria PfSPZ vaccine

> **NIH NIH R44** · SANARIA, INC. · 2021 · $1,000,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Despite annual investments of >$3 billion for intensive control measures, in 2018, the 228 million cases of
malaria were an increase of ~16 million cases over 2015, and no decrease in number of deaths. The impact of
available malaria control measure has plateaued. Moreover, WHO estimates deaths from malaria could double
across sub-Saharan Africa this year due to disruptions in access to control measures due to the current global
COVID-19 pandemic malaria. New tools, especially a vaccine, are needed. Only broad deployment of an
effective vaccine holds the promise of true elimination or eradication, especially in the face of sudden
developments like COVID-19. More than 98% of all deaths from malaria are caused by Plasmodium falciparum
(Pf). Thus, a vaccine against Pf malaria is the priority. Sanaria is moving in 2021 to Phase 3 clinical trials of its
Pf sporozoite (SPZ), PfSPZ Vaccine, and is planning for marketing authorization (licensure) from FDA and
EMA in 2022/2023. Over the next 5-10 years we aim to decrease the cost of goods (COGs) and efficiency of
production of PfSPZ vaccines so they can be used most effectively and economically by individuals who suffer
the most from malaria. Microdissection of mosquitoes is a crucial step in extraction of PfSPZ vaccine products,
and ensures a 10,000-fold purification away from irrelevant mosquito parts as the starting material for
downstream purification procedures that then achieve a final product purity of 99.9%. To-date, mosquito
salivary gland PfSPZ have demonstrated in vivo infectivity/potency superior to those extracted from whole
mosquitoes, or grown outside a mosquito. However, extraction of mosquito salivary glands is a rate-limiting,
labor-intensive, expensive step in production of PfSPZ-based vaccines. The overarching aim of this proposal is
to enable implementation of an interim semi-automated dissection device in cGMP production of PfSPZ-based
vaccines against malaria, and develop an integrated dissection system incorporating multiple automation steps
downstream of mosquito orientation, for commercial-scale manufacturing. The unique application of robotic
technology, state-of-the art computer vision and machine learning algorithms, and software systems to
production-scale processing of very small insects in cleanrooms not only advances manufacturing capabilities,
but also represents a spectrum of milestone innovations in automation. Success in this project involving a
highly-skilled multi-disciplinary team of investigators, manufacturing and quality experts will decidedly lead to
further streamlining and process optimization during the key step of isolating mosquito salivary glands for
manufacture of our highly effective PfSPZ-based vaccines. The breakthroughs that initially defined a vaccine
that is far superior to competing technologies in both safety and protective efficacy, will continue, as we
advance in the proposed studies to make vaccine extraction more cost-effective due to...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10258416
- **Project number:** 2R44AI134500-04A1
- **Recipient organization:** SANARIA, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Sumana Chakravarty
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,000,000
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-06-20 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10258416

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10258416, Automating mosquito microdissection for a malaria PfSPZ vaccine (2R44AI134500-04A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10258416. Licensed CC0.

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