In a recent trial of a 3D7 strain of CSP and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) gene-based malaria vaccine (DNA prime followed by boosting with viral vector) in malaria-naïve adults, sterile protection in some vaccinees was associated with their CD8+ T cell recognition of two MHC class 1-restricted immunodominant peptides in the vaccine strain of AMA1. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and malaria.