Association of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein-4 with protection against clinical malaria.

•Facing drug resistance new effective malaria vaccines are required.•Merozoite surface protein 4 is a major and essential component for parasite survival.•MSP4 baculovirus-encoded protein showed high seroprevalence in endemic area.•They were associated with clinical protection in active daily monitoring follow-up.•Antibodies were associated with functional assay of merozoite phagocytosis by PNN.