Other malaria research conducted at AFRIMS is aimed both at enhancing malaria diagnosis and at an increased understanding of host-parasite and parasite-vector interactions. A method to complete the life cycle of P. falciparum in vitro was pioneered at AFRIMS, and it is being developed into a model for testing drugs active against the pre-erythrocytic stages of the parasite. An in vitro hepatocyte model for assessing the efficacy of antimalarial agents and candidate malaria vaccines against exo-erythrocytic (liver) stage parasites is being developed. The mosquito salivary gland proteins that are involved in sporozoite invasion are being identified and characterized. Studies are being conducted on the molecular taxonomy of anopheline vectors of malaria, and on the identification of naturally occurring transposable genetic elements which may eventually be adapted to reduce the ability of vectors to transmit malaria. Finally, AFRIMS continues to field test new forward-deployable diagnostic test kits for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria.