The present invention relates to a malaria vaccine for administration to a host, comprising an attenuated malarial parasite with a gene that has been rendered non-functional, wherein the gene, when present in naturally occurring form, encodes a protein necessary for continued in vivo survival and proliferation of the parasite and/or for infection of host red blood cells. The gene that has been rendered non-functional can be, e.g., a gene that encodes a nutrient transporter protein or a gene that encodes an enzyme involved in phospholipid biosynthesis. The invention also provides kits and methods that include such attenuated malarial parasites.