Paradigm shifts in malaria study and control.

The history of the study of malaria, its parasites and vectors, and aspects of public health and control has shown some irregularities. Mostly the research was a steady accumulation of knowledge, but there were also deadlocks, fundamental disagreements and sometimes a drastic reorientation. In this article we follow the major events, some of the investigators involved, and how they promoted their ways of the fight against this disease. Every episode or moment is calibrated with the theory of science, developed by Thomas Kuhn. His idea of paradigms in science and sudden shifts is helpful for the understanding of what steered the various levels of malaria research. It also may keep investigators on the alert of dead ends and breakthroughs in future.