An Australian-lead trial could lead to a breakthrough vaccine treatment for malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases.

A study has been undertaken by a collaboration of several Australian institutions. Their trial vaccine was successful in tests on mice, leading to full immunity in some subjects. The vaccine works by treating blood stage parasites in red blood cells with a chemical which binds to DNA, when administered as a vaccine it appears to have an immunising effect.

The vaccine is now ready for human trials; the Griffith University is looking for willing adult males in south-east Queensland to take part in tests, before trying out the new technique in malaria-ridden parts of the world.

Around 660,000 people died from malaria in 2010, many of whom were children, indicating the world’s youngest people would be the greatest benefactors of a working vaccine.

Results from the new study have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.