An epitope-based malaria vaccine targeting the junctional region of circumsporozoite protein

Bibliographic Details
Title: An epitope-based malaria vaccine targeting the junctional region of circumsporozoite protein
Authors: Lucie Jelínková, Hugo Jhun, Allison Eaton, Nikolai Petrovsky, Fidel Zavala, Bryce Chackerian
Source: npj Vaccines, Vol 6, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Immunologic diseases. Allergy
LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: Immunologic diseases. Allergy, RC581-607, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
More Details: Abstract A malaria vaccine that elicits long-lasting protection and is suitable for use in endemic areas remains urgently needed. Here, we assessed the immunogenicity and prophylactic efficacy of a vaccine targeting a recently described epitope on the major surface antigen on Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites, circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Using a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine platform technology, we developed a vaccine that targets the junctional region between the N-terminal and central repeat regions of CSP. This region is recognized by monoclonal antibodies, including mAb CIS43, that have been shown to potently prevent liver invasion in animal models. We show that CIS43 VLPs elicit high-titer and long-lived anti-CSP antibody responses in mice and is immunogenic in non-human primates. In mice, vaccine immunogenicity was enhanced by using mixed adjuvant formulations. Immunization with CIS43 VLPs conferred partial protection from malaria infection in a mouse model, and passive transfer of serum from immunized macaques also inhibited parasite liver invasion in the mouse infection model. Our findings demonstrate that a Qβ VLP-based vaccine targeting the CIS43 epitope combined with various adjuvants is highly immunogenic in mice and macaques, elicits long-lasting anti-CSP antibodies, and inhibits parasite infection in a mouse model. Thus, the CIS43 VLP vaccine is a promising pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine candidate.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2059-0105
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2059-0105
DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00274-4
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/e544d49001a446b4988b1be4f00da6f4
Accession Number: edsdoj.544d49001a446b4988b1be4f00da6f4
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20590105
DOI:10.1038/s41541-020-00274-4
Published in:npj Vaccines
Language:English