1
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Dickey TH, McAleese H, Salinas ND, Lambert LE, Tolia NH. Structure-based design of a Plasmodium vivax Duffy-binding protein immunogen focuses the antibody response to functional epitopes. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5095. [PMID: 38988315 PMCID: PMC11237555 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The Duffy-binding protein (DBP) is a promising antigen for a malaria vaccine that would protect against clinical symptoms caused by Plasmodium vivax infection. Region II of DBP (DBP-II) contains the receptor-binding domain that engages host red blood cells, but DBP-II vaccines elicit many non-neutralizing antibodies that bind distal to the receptor-binding surface. Here, we engineered a truncated DBP-II immunogen that focuses the immune response to the receptor-binding surface. This immunogen contains the receptor-binding subdomain S1S2 and lacks the immunodominant subdomain S3. Structure-based computational design of S1S2 identified combinatorial amino acid changes that stabilized the isolated S1S2 without perturbing neutralizing epitopes. This immunogen elicited DBP-II-specific antibodies in immunized mice that were significantly enriched for blocking activity compared to the native DBP-II antigen. This generalizable design process successfully stabilized an integral core fragment of a protein and focused the immune response to desired epitopes to create a promising new antigen for malaria vaccine development.
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MESH Headings
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/chemistry
- Protozoan Proteins/genetics
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/chemistry
- Antigens, Protozoan/genetics
- Plasmodium vivax/immunology
- Animals
- Malaria Vaccines/immunology
- Malaria Vaccines/chemistry
- Epitopes/immunology
- Epitopes/chemistry
- Mice
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Receptors, Cell Surface/immunology
- Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Models, Molecular
- Malaria, Vivax/immunology
- Malaria, Vivax/prevention & control
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayne H. Dickey
- Host‐Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of Health (NIH)BethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Holly McAleese
- Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of Health (NIH)BethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Nichole D. Salinas
- Host‐Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of Health (NIH)BethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Lynn E. Lambert
- Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of Health (NIH)BethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Niraj H. Tolia
- Host‐Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of Health (NIH)BethesdaMarylandUSA
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2
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Beernink PT, Di Carluccio C, Marchetti R, Cerofolini L, Carillo S, Cangiano A, Cowieson N, Bones J, Molinaro A, Paduano L, Fragai M, Beernink BP, Gulati S, Shaughnessy J, Rice PA, Ram S, Silipo A. Gonococcal Mimitope Vaccine Candidate Forms a Beta-Hairpin Turn and Binds Hydrophobically to a Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody. JACS AU 2024; 4:2617-2629. [PMID: 39055159 PMCID: PMC11267536 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The spread of multidrug-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the etiologic agent of gonorrhea, represents a global health emergency. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective vaccine against gonorrhea is urgently needed. In previous studies, murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2C7 was raised against gonococcal lipooligosaccharide (LOS). mAb 2C7 elicits complement-dependent bactericidal activity against gonococci, and its glycan epitope is expressed by almost every clinical isolate. Furthermore, we identified a peptide, cyclic peptide 2 (CP2) that mimicked the 2C7 LOS epitope, elicited bactericidal antibodies in mice, and actively protected in a mouse vaginal colonization model. In this study, we performed structural analyses of mAb 2C7 and its complex with the CP2 peptide by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The crystal structure of Fab 2C7 bound to CP2 showed that the peptide adopted a beta-hairpin conformation and bound the Fab primarily through hydrophobic interactions. We employed NMR spectroscopy and MD simulations to map the 2C7 epitope and identify the bioactive conformation of CP2. We also used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and native mass spectrometry to obtain further information about the shape and assembly state of the complex. Collectively, our new structural information suggests strategies for humanizing mAb 2C7 as a therapeutic against gonococcal infection and for optimizing peptide CP2 as a vaccine antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T. Beernink
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California
San Francisco, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, California 94609, United States
| | - Cristina Di Carluccio
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
Federico II, Via Cintia
4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Marchetti
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
Federico II, Via Cintia
4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Linda Cerofolini
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Sara Carillo
- National
Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock,
Co., Dublin A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Alessandro Cangiano
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
Federico II, Via Cintia
4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Nathan Cowieson
- Diamond
Light Source, Didcot, OX11 0DE Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Bones
- National
Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock,
Co., Dublin A94 X099, Ireland
- School of
Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University
College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Antonio Molinaro
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
Federico II, Via Cintia
4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Paduano
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
Federico II, Via Cintia
4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Fragai
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Benjamin P. Beernink
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California
San Francisco, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, California 94609, United States
| | - Sunita Gulati
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University
of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 364 Plantation St, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Jutamas Shaughnessy
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University
of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 364 Plantation St, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Peter A. Rice
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University
of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 364 Plantation St, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Sanjay Ram
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University
of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 364 Plantation St, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Alba Silipo
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
Federico II, Via Cintia
4, 80126 Naples, Italy
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3
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Barrett JR, Pipini D, Wright ND, Cooper AJR, Gorini G, Quinkert D, Lias AM, Davies H, Rigby CA, Aleshnick M, Williams BG, Bradshaw WJ, Paterson NG, Martinson T, Kirtley P, Picard L, Wiggins CD, Donnellan FR, King LDW, Wang LT, Popplewell JF, Silk SE, de Ruiter Swain J, Skinner K, Kotraiah V, Noe AR, MacGill RS, King CR, Birkett AJ, Soisson LA, Minassian AM, Lauffenburger DA, Miura K, Long CA, Wilder BK, Koekemoer L, Tan J, Nielsen CM, McHugh K, Draper SJ. Analysis of the diverse antigenic landscape of the malaria protein RH5 identifies a potent vaccine-induced human public antibody clonotype. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00655-X. [PMID: 39059380 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The highly conserved and essential Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (PfRH5) has emerged as the leading target for vaccines against the disease-causing blood stage of malaria. However, the features of the human vaccine-induced antibody response that confer highly potent inhibition of malaria parasite invasion into red blood cells are not well defined. Here, we characterize 236 human IgG monoclonal antibodies, derived from 15 donors, induced by the most advanced PfRH5 vaccine. We define the antigenic landscape of this molecule and establish that epitope specificity, antibody association rate, and intra-PfRH5 antibody interactions are key determinants of functional anti-parasitic potency. In addition, we identify a germline IgG gene combination that results in an exceptionally potent class of antibody and demonstrate its prophylactic potential to protect against P. falciparum parasite challenge in vivo. This comprehensive dataset provides a framework to guide rational design of next-generation vaccines and prophylactic antibodies to protect against blood-stage malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan R Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Dimitra Pipini
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Nathan D Wright
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Andrew J R Cooper
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Giacomo Gorini
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Amelia M Lias
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Hannah Davies
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Cassandra A Rigby
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Maya Aleshnick
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Barnabas G Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - William J Bradshaw
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Neil G Paterson
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Thomas Martinson
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Payton Kirtley
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Luc Picard
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Francesca R Donnellan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Lloyd D W King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Lawrence T Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | | | - Sarah E Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Jed de Ruiter Swain
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Katherine Skinner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | | | - Amy R Noe
- Leidos Life Sciences, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Randall S MacGill
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - C Richter King
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Ashley J Birkett
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | | | - Angela M Minassian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Brandon K Wilder
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Lizbé Koekemoer
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Joshua Tan
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Carolyn M Nielsen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Kirsty McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.
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4
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Wang LT, Cooper AJR, Farrell B, Miura K, Diouf A, Müller-Sienerth N, Crosnier C, Purser L, Kirtley PJ, Maciuszek M, Barrett JR, McHugh K, Ogwang R, Tucker C, Li S, Doumbo S, Doumtabe D, Pyo CW, Skinner J, Nielsen CM, Silk SE, Kayentao K, Ongoiba A, Zhao M, Nguyen DC, Lee FEH, Minassian AM, Geraghty DE, Traore B, Seder RA, Wilder BK, Crompton PD, Wright GJ, Long CA, Draper SJ, Higgins MK, Tan J. Natural malaria infection elicits rare but potent neutralizing antibodies to the blood-stage antigen RH5. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00711-6. [PMID: 39059381 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5) is the most advanced blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate and is being evaluated for efficacy in endemic regions, emphasizing the need to study the underlying antibody response to RH5 during natural infection, which could augment or counteract responses to vaccination. Here, we found that RH5-reactive B cells were rare, and circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to RH5 were short-lived in malaria-exposed Malian individuals, despite repeated infections over multiple years. RH5-specific monoclonal antibodies isolated from eight malaria-exposed individuals mostly targeted non-neutralizing epitopes, in contrast to antibodies isolated from five RH5-vaccinated, malaria-naive UK individuals. However, MAD8-151 and MAD8-502, isolated from two malaria-exposed Malian individuals, were among the most potent neutralizers out of 186 antibodies from both cohorts and targeted the same epitopes as the most potent vaccine-induced antibodies. These results suggest that natural malaria infection may boost RH5-vaccine-induced responses and provide a clear strategy for the development of next-generation RH5 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence T Wang
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Andrew J R Cooper
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Brendan Farrell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | | | - Cécile Crosnier
- Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Lauren Purser
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Payton J Kirtley
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97006, USA
| | - Maciej Maciuszek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Jordan R Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Kirsty McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Rodney Ogwang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Courtney Tucker
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Shanping Li
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Safiatou Doumbo
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Point G, BP 1805 Bamako, Mali
| | - Didier Doumtabe
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Point G, BP 1805 Bamako, Mali
| | - Chul-Woo Pyo
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jeff Skinner
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Carolyn M Nielsen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Sarah E Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Kassoum Kayentao
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Point G, BP 1805 Bamako, Mali
| | - Aissata Ongoiba
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Point G, BP 1805 Bamako, Mali
| | - Ming Zhao
- Protein Chemistry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Doan C Nguyen
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - F Eun-Hyung Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Angela M Minassian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Daniel E Geraghty
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Boubacar Traore
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Point G, BP 1805 Bamako, Mali
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brandon K Wilder
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97006, USA
| | - Peter D Crompton
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Joshua Tan
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
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5
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King LDW, Pulido D, Barrett JR, Davies H, Quinkert D, Lias AM, Silk SE, Pattinson DJ, Diouf A, Williams BG, McHugh K, Rodrigues A, Rigby CA, Strazza V, Suurbaar J, Rees-Spear C, Dabbs RA, Ishizuka AS, Zhou Y, Gupta G, Jin J, Li Y, Carnrot C, Minassian AM, Campeotto I, Fleishman SJ, Noe AR, MacGill RS, King CR, Birkett AJ, Soisson LA, Long CA, Miura K, Ashfield R, Skinner K, Howarth MR, Biswas S, Draper SJ. Preclinical development of a stabilized RH5 virus-like particle vaccine that induces improved antimalarial antibodies. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101654. [PMID: 39019011 PMCID: PMC11293324 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5) is a leading blood-stage malaria vaccine antigen target, currently in a phase 2b clinical trial as a full-length soluble protein/adjuvant vaccine candidate called RH5.1/Matrix-M. We identify that disordered regions of the full-length RH5 molecule induce non-growth inhibitory antibodies in human vaccinees and that a re-engineered and stabilized immunogen (including just the alpha-helical core of RH5) induces a qualitatively superior growth inhibitory antibody response in rats vaccinated with this protein formulated in Matrix-M adjuvant. In parallel, bioconjugation of this immunogen, termed "RH5.2," to hepatitis B surface antigen virus-like particles (VLPs) using the "plug-and-display" SpyTag-SpyCatcher platform technology also enables superior quantitative antibody immunogenicity over soluble protein/adjuvant in vaccinated mice and rats. These studies identify a blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate that may improve upon the current leading soluble protein vaccine candidate RH5.1/Matrix-M. The RH5.2-VLP/Matrix-M vaccine candidate is now under evaluation in phase 1a/b clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd D W King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - David Pulido
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Jordan R Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Davies
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Amelia M Lias
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah E Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - David J Pattinson
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Barnabas G Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Kirsty McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Ana Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Cassandra A Rigby
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Veronica Strazza
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Jonathan Suurbaar
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Accra LG 54, Ghana
| | - Chloe Rees-Spear
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT London, UK
| | - Rebecca A Dabbs
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew S Ishizuka
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Yu Zhou
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Jing Jin
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | | | - Angela M Minassian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Ivan Campeotto
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Sarel J Fleishman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amy R Noe
- Leidos Life Sciences, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Randall S MacGill
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - C Richter King
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Ashley J Birkett
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | | | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Rebecca Ashfield
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Katherine Skinner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Mark R Howarth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Sumi Biswas
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.
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6
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Ciubotariu II, Broyles BK, Xie S, Thimmapuram J, Mwenda MC, Mambwe B, Mulube C, Matoba J, Schue JL, Moss WJ, Bridges DJ, He Q, Carpi G. Diversity and selection analyses identify transmission-blocking antigens as the optimal vaccine candidates in Plasmodium falciparum. EBioMedicine 2024; 106:105227. [PMID: 39018754 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A highly effective vaccine for malaria remains an elusive target, at least in part due to the under-appreciated natural parasite variation. This study aimed to investigate genetic and structural variation, and immune selection of leading malaria vaccine candidates across the Plasmodium falciparum's life cycle. METHODS We analysed 325 P. falciparum whole genome sequences from Zambia, in addition to 791 genomes from five other African countries available in the MalariaGEN Pf3k Database. Ten vaccine antigens spanning three life-history stages were examined for genetic and structural variations, using population genetics measures, haplotype network analysis, and 3D structure selection analysis. FINDINGS Among the ten antigens analysed, only three in the transmission-blocking vaccine category display P. falciparum 3D7 as the dominant haplotype. The antigens AMA1, CSP, MSP119 and CelTOS, are much more diverse than the other antigens, and their epitope regions are under moderate to strong balancing selection. In contrast, Rh5, a blood stage antigen, displays low diversity yet slightly stronger immune selection in the merozoite-blocking epitope region. Except for CelTOS, the transmission-blocking antigens Pfs25, Pfs48/45, Pfs230, Pfs47, and Pfs28 exhibit minimal diversity and no immune selection in epitopes that induce strain-transcending antibodies, suggesting potential effectiveness of 3D7-based vaccines in blocking transmission. INTERPRETATION These findings offer valuable insights into the selection of optimal vaccine candidates against P. falciparum. Based on our results, we recommend prioritising conserved merozoite antigens and transmission-blocking antigens. Combining these antigens in multi-stage approaches may be particularly promising for malaria vaccine development initiatives. FUNDING Purdue Department of Biological Sciences; Puskas Memorial Fellowship; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19AI089680).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinca I Ciubotariu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Bradley K Broyles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Shaojun Xie
- Bioinformatics Core, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Mulenga C Mwenda
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Brenda Mambwe
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Conceptor Mulube
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Jessica L Schue
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William J Moss
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Qixin He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Giovanna Carpi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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7
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Donnellan FR, Rayaprolu V, Rijal P, O’Dowd V, Parvate A, Callaway H, Hariharan C, Parekh D, Hui S, Shaffer K, Avalos RD, Hastie K, Schimanski L, Müller-Kräuter H, Strecker T, Balaram A, Halfmann P, Saphire EO, Lightwood DJ, Townsend AR, Draper SJ. A broadly-neutralizing antibody against Ebolavirus glycoprotein that potentiates the breadth and neutralization potency of other antibodies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.21.600001. [PMID: 38979279 PMCID: PMC11230233 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.600001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Ebolavirus disease (EVD) is caused by multiple species of Ebolavirus. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the virus glycoprotein (GP) are the only class of therapeutic approved for treatment of EVD caused by Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV). Therefore, mAbs targeting multiple Ebolavirus species may represent the next generation of EVD therapeutics. Broadly reactive anti-GP mAbs were produced; among these, mAbs 11886 and 11883 were broadly neutralizing in vitro. A 3.0 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of EBOV GP bound to both mAbs shows that 11886 binds a novel epitope bridging the glycan cap (GC), 310 pocket and GP2 N-terminus, whereas 11883 binds the receptor binding region (RBR) and GC. In vitro, 11886 synergized with a range of mAbs with epitope specificities spanning the RBR/GC, including 11883. Notably, 11886 increased the breadth of neutralization by partner mAbs against different Ebolavirus species. These data provide a strategic route to design improved mAb-based next-generation EVD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca R. Donnellan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Vamseedhar Rayaprolu
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Current affiliation: Pacific Northwest Cryo-EM Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Pramila Rijal
- Center for Translational Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | | | - Amar Parvate
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Current affiliation: Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Heather Callaway
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Current affiliation: Chemistry & Biochemistry Building, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Chitra Hariharan
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Dipti Parekh
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sean Hui
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Current Affiliation: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine. St. Louis MO 63110, USA
| | - Kelly Shaffer
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Medicine. University of California San Diego. La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ruben Diaz Avalos
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kathryn Hastie
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lisa Schimanski
- MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Helena Müller-Kräuter
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Strecker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ariane Balaram
- Influenza Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53713, USA
| | - Peter Halfmann
- Influenza Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53713, USA
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Medicine. University of California San Diego. La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Alain R. Townsend
- Center for Translational Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Simon J. Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
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8
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Matos ADS, Soares IF, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Rodolphi CM, Albrecht L, Donassolo RA, Lopez-Camacho C, Ano Bom APD, Neves PCDC, Conte FDP, Pratt-Riccio LR, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Totino PRR, Lima-Junior JDC. Immunogenicity of PvCyRPA, PvCelTOS and Pvs25 chimeric recombinant protein of Plasmodium vivax in murine model. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1392043. [PMID: 38962015 PMCID: PMC11219565 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1392043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In the Americas, P. vivax is the predominant causative species of malaria, a debilitating and economically significant disease. Due to the complexity of the malaria parasite life cycle, a vaccine formulation with multiple antigens expressed in various parasite stages may represent an effective approach. Based on this, we previously designed and constructed a chimeric recombinant protein, PvRMC-1, composed by PvCyRPA, PvCelTOS, and Pvs25 epitopes. This chimeric protein was strongly recognized by naturally acquired antibodies from exposed population in the Brazilian Amazon. However, there was no investigation about the induced immune response of PvRMC-1. Therefore, in this work, we evaluated the immunogenicity of this chimeric antigen formulated in three distinct adjuvants: Stimune, AddaVax or Aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) in BALB/c mice. Our results suggested that the chimeric protein PvRMC-1 were capable to generate humoral and cellular responses across all three formulations. Antibodies recognized full-length PvRMC-1 and linear B-cell epitopes from PvCyRPA, PvCelTOS, and Pvs25 individually. Moreover, mice's splenocytes were activated, producing IFN-γ in response to PvCelTOS and PvCyRPA peptide epitopes, affirming T-cell epitopes in the antigen. While aluminum hydroxide showed notable cellular response, Stimune and Addavax induced a more comprehensive immune response, encompassing both cellular and humoral components. Thus, our findings indicate that PvRMC-1 would be a promising multistage vaccine candidate that could advance to further preclinical studies.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Plasmodium vivax/immunology
- Plasmodium vivax/genetics
- Mice
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/genetics
- Malaria, Vivax/immunology
- Malaria, Vivax/prevention & control
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Malaria Vaccines/immunology
- Female
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/genetics
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Antigens, Surface
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada da Silva Matos
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ferreira Soares
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Letusa Albrecht
- Apicomplexa Research Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Cesar Lopez-Camacho
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Paula Dinis Ano Bom
- Immunological Technology Laboratory, Immunobiological Technology Institute (Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando de Paiva Conte
- Eukaryotic Pilot Laboratory, Immunobiological Technology Institute (Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Josué da Costa Lima-Junior
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Miura K, Flores-Garcia Y, Long CA, Zavala F. Vaccines and monoclonal antibodies: new tools for malaria control. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0007123. [PMID: 38656211 PMCID: PMC11237600 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00071-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYMalaria remains one of the biggest health problems in the world. While significant reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality had been achieved from 2000 to 2015, the favorable trend has stalled, rather significant increases in malaria cases are seen in multiple areas. In 2022, there were 249 million estimated cases, and 608,000 malaria-related deaths, mostly in infants and children aged under 5 years, globally. Therefore, in addition to the expansion of existing anti-malarial control measures, it is critical to develop new tools, such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), to fight malaria. In the last 2 years, the first and second malaria vaccines, both targeting Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite proteins (PfCSP), have been recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent P. falciparum malaria in children living in moderate to high transmission areas. While the approval of the two malaria vaccines is a considerable milestone in vaccine development, they have much room for improvement in efficacy and durability. In addition to the two approved vaccines, recent clinical trials with mAbs against PfCSP, blood-stage vaccines against P. falciparum or P. vivax, and transmission-blocking vaccine or mAb against P. falciparum have shown promising results. This review summarizes the development of the anti-PfCSP vaccines and mAbs, and recent topics in the blood- and transmission-blocking-stage vaccine candidates and mAbs. We further discuss issues of the current vaccines and the directions for the development of next-generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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10
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Hagadorn KA, Peterson ME, Kole H, Scott B, Skinner J, Diouf A, Takashima E, Ongoiba A, Doumbo S, Doumtabe D, Li S, Sekar P, Yan M, Zhu C, Nagaoka H, Kanoi BN, Li QZ, Long C, Long EO, Kayentao K, Jenks SA, Sanz I, Tsuboi T, Traore B, Bolland S, Miura K, Crompton PD, Hopp CS. Autoantibodies inhibit Plasmodium falciparum growth and are associated with protection from clinical malaria. Immunity 2024:S1074-7613(24)00278-4. [PMID: 38901428 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Many infections, including malaria, are associated with an increase in autoantibodies (AAbs). Prior studies have reported an association between genetic markers of susceptibility to autoimmune disease and resistance to malaria, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we performed a longitudinal study of children and adults (n = 602) in Mali and found that high levels of plasma AAbs before the malaria season independently predicted a reduced risk of clinical malaria in children during the ensuing malaria season. Baseline AAb seroprevalence increased with age and asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection. We found that AAbs purified from the plasma of protected individuals inhibit the growth of blood-stage parasites and bind P. falciparum proteins that mediate parasite invasion. Protected individuals had higher plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactivity against 33 of the 123 antigens assessed in an autoantigen microarray. This study provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that a propensity toward autoimmunity offers a survival advantage against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Hagadorn
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA; Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mary E Peterson
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hemanta Kole
- Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Bethany Scott
- Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jeff Skinner
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Eizo Takashima
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Aissata Ongoiba
- Malaria Research and Training Centre, Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Safiatou Doumbo
- Malaria Research and Training Centre, Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Didier Doumtabe
- Malaria Research and Training Centre, Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Shanping Li
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Padmapriya Sekar
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mei Yan
- Department of Immunology and Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chengsong Zhu
- Department of Immunology and Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hikaru Nagaoka
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Bernard N Kanoi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan; Centre for Malaria Elimination, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Department of Immunology and Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Genecopoeia Inc, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Carole Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Eric O Long
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Kassoum Kayentao
- Malaria Research and Training Centre, Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Scott A Jenks
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology and Emory Autoimmunity Center of Excellence, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ignacio Sanz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology and Emory Autoimmunity Center of Excellence, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Cell-Free Sciences, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Boubacar Traore
- Malaria Research and Training Centre, Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Silvia Bolland
- Autoimmunity and Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Peter D Crompton
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Christine S Hopp
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA; Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
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11
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Williams BG, King LDW, Pulido D, Quinkert D, Lias AM, Silk SE, Ragotte RJ, Davies H, Barrett JR, McHugh K, Rigby CA, Alanine DGW, Barfod L, Shea MW, Cowley LA, Dabbs RA, Pattinson DJ, Douglas AD, Lyth OR, Illingworth JJ, Jin J, Carnrot C, Kotraiah V, Christen JM, Noe AR, MacGill RS, King CR, Birkett AJ, Soisson LA, Skinner K, Miura K, Long CA, Higgins MK, Draper SJ. Development of an improved blood-stage malaria vaccine targeting the essential RH5-CyRPA-RIPR invasion complex. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4857. [PMID: 38849365 PMCID: PMC11161584 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48721-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Reticulocyte-binding protein homologue 5 (RH5), a leading blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine target, interacts with cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA) and RH5-interacting protein (RIPR) to form an essential heterotrimeric "RCR-complex". We investigate whether RCR-complex vaccination can improve upon RH5 alone. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) we show that parasite growth-inhibitory epitopes on each antigen are surface-exposed on the RCR-complex and that mAb pairs targeting different antigens can function additively or synergistically. However, immunisation of female rats with the RCR-complex fails to outperform RH5 alone due to immuno-dominance of RIPR coupled with inferior potency of anti-RIPR polyclonal IgG. We identify that all growth-inhibitory antibody epitopes of RIPR cluster within the C-terminal EGF-like domains and that a fusion of these domains to CyRPA, called "R78C", combined with RH5, improves the level of in vitro parasite growth inhibition compared to RH5 alone. These preclinical data justify the advancement of the RH5.1 + R78C/Matrix-M™ vaccine candidate to Phase 1 clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas G Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Lloyd D W King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - David Pulido
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Amelia M Lias
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah E Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert J Ragotte
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Davies
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Jordan R Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Kirsty McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Cassandra A Rigby
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel G W Alanine
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Lea Barfod
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael W Shea
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Li An Cowley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Rebecca A Dabbs
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - David J Pattinson
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander D Douglas
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Oliver R Lyth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Joseph J Illingworth
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Jing Jin
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | - Amy R Noe
- Leidos Life Sciences, Frederick, MD, USA
- Latham BioPharm Group, Elkridge, MD, USA
| | | | - C Richter King
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ashley J Birkett
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Katherine Skinner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, UK.
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK.
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.
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Ciubotariu II, Broyles BK, Xie S, Thimmapuram J, Mwenda MC, Mambwe B, Mulube C, Matoba J, Schue JL, Moss WJ, Bridges DJ, He Q, Carpi G. Diversity and selection analyses identify transmission-blocking antigens as the optimal vaccine candidates in Plasmodium falciparum. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.11.24307175. [PMID: 38766239 PMCID: PMC11100930 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.11.24307175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Background A highly effective vaccine for malaria remains an elusive target, at least in part due to the under-appreciated natural parasite variation. This study aimed to investigate genetic and structural variation, and immune selection of leading malaria vaccine candidates across the Plasmodium falciparum's life cycle. Methods We analyzed 325 P. falciparum whole genome sequences from Zambia, in addition to 791 genomes from five other African countries available in the MalariaGEN Pf3k Rdatabase. Ten vaccine antigens spanning three life-history stages were examined for genetic and structural variations, using population genetics measures, haplotype network analysis, and 3D structure selection analysis. Findings Among the ten antigens analyzed, only three in the transmission-blocking vaccine category display P. falciparum 3D7 as the dominant haplotype. The antigens AMA1, CSP, MSP119 and CelTOS, are much more diverse than the other antigens, and their epitope regions are under moderate to strong balancing selection. In contrast, Rh5, a blood stage antigen, displays low diversity yet slightly stronger immune selection in the merozoite-blocking epitope region. Except for CelTOS, the transmission-blocking antigens Pfs25, Pfs48/45, Pfs230, Pfs47, and Pfs28 exhibit minimal diversity and no immune selection in epitopes that induce strain-transcending antibodies, suggesting potential effectiveness of 3D7-based vaccines in blocking transmission. Interpretations These findings offer valuable insights into the selection of optimal vaccine candidates against P. falciparum. Based on our results, we recommend prioritizing conserved merozoite antigens and transmission-blocking antigens. Combining these antigens in multi-stage approaches may be particularly promising for malaria vaccine development initiatives. Funding Purdue Department of Biological Sciences; Puskas Memorial Fellowship; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19AI089680).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinca I. Ciubotariu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Bradley K. Broyles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Shaojun Xie
- Bioinformatics Core, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Mulenga C. Mwenda
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Brenda Mambwe
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Conceptor Mulube
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Jessica L. Schue
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - William J. Moss
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Qixin He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Giovanna Carpi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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13
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Day CJ, Favuzza P, Bielfeld S, Haselhorst T, Seefeldt L, Hauser J, Shewell LK, Flueck C, Poole J, Jen FEC, Schäfer A, Dangy JP, Gilberger TW, França CT, Duraisingh MT, Tamborrini M, Brancucci NMB, Grüring C, Filarsky M, Jennings MP, Pluschke G. The essential malaria protein PfCyRPA targets glycans to invade erythrocytes. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114012. [PMID: 38573856 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is a human-adapted apicomplexan parasite that causes the most dangerous form of malaria. P. falciparum cysteine-rich protective antigen (PfCyRPA) is an invasion complex protein essential for erythrocyte invasion. The precise role of PfCyRPA in this process has not been resolved. Here, we show that PfCyRPA is a lectin targeting glycans terminating with α2-6-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). PfCyRPA has a >50-fold binding preference for human, α2-6-linked Neu5Ac over non-human, α2-6-linked N-glycolylneuraminic acid. PfCyRPA lectin sites were predicted by molecular modeling and validated by mutagenesis studies. Transgenic parasite lines expressing endogenous PfCyRPA with single amino acid exchange mutants indicated that the lectin activity of PfCyRPA has an important role in parasite invasion. Blocking PfCyRPA lectin activity with small molecules or with lectin-site-specific monoclonal antibodies can inhibit blood-stage parasite multiplication. Therefore, targeting PfCyRPA lectin activity with drugs, immunotherapy, or a vaccine-primed immune response is a promising strategy to prevent and treat malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Day
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Bielfeld
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Haselhorst
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Leonie Seefeldt
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julia Hauser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lucy K Shewell
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Christian Flueck
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Poole
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Freda E-C Jen
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Anja Schäfer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Pierre Dangy
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tim-W Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Cellular Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Camila Tenorio França
- Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marco Tamborrini
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas M B Brancucci
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christof Grüring
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Filarsky
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael P Jennings
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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14
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Ogwang R, Murugu L, Nkumama IN, Nyamako L, Kai O, Mwai K, Murungi L, Idro R, Bejon P, Tuju J, Kinyanjui SM, Osier FHA. Bi-isotype immunoglobulins enhance antibody-mediated neutrophil activity against Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1360220. [PMID: 38650925 PMCID: PMC11033408 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1360220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria remains a major global health priority, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are emerging as potential new tools to support efforts to control the disease. Recent data suggest that Fc-dependent mechanisms of immunity are important mediators of protection against the blood stages of the infection, but few studies have investigated this in the context of mAbs. We aimed to isolate mAbs agnostic to cognate antigens that target whole merozoites and simultaneously induce potent neutrophil activity measured by the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production using an antibody-dependent respiratory burst (ADRB) assay. Methods We used samples from semi-immune adults living in coastal Kenya to isolate mAbs that induce merozoite-specific ADRB activity. We then tested whether modifying the expressed IgG1 isotype to an IgG-IgA Fc region chimera would enhance the level of ADRB activity. Results We isolated a panel of nine mAbs with specificity to whole merozoites. mAb J31 induced ADRB activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Compared to IgG1, our modified antibody IgG-IgA bi-isotype induced higher ADRB activity across all concentrations tested. Further, we observed a negative hook effect at high IgG1 mAb concentrations (i.e., >200 µg/mL), but this was reversed by Fc modification. We identified MSP3.5 as the potential cognate target of mAb J31. Conclusions We demonstrate an approach to engineer mAbs with enhanced ADRB potency against blood-stage parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney Ogwang
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lewis Murugu
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Irene N. Nkumama
- Centre of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lydia Nyamako
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Oscar Kai
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Kennedy Mwai
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Linda Murungi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Richard Idro
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Bejon
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - James Tuju
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Sam Muchina Kinyanjui
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Faith H. A. Osier
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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15
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King NR, Martins Freire C, Touhami J, Sitbon M, Toye AM, Satchwell TJ. Basigin mediation of Plasmodium falciparum red blood cell invasion does not require its transmembrane domain or interaction with monocarboxylate transporter 1. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011989. [PMID: 38315723 PMCID: PMC10868855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum invasion of the red blood cell is reliant upon the essential interaction of PfRh5 with the host receptor protein basigin. Basigin exists as part of one or more multiprotein complexes, most notably through interaction with the monocarboxylate transporter MCT1. However, the potential requirement for basigin association with MCT1 and the wider role of basigin host membrane context and lateral protein associations during merozoite invasion has not been established. Using genetically manipulated in vitro derived reticulocytes, we demonstrate the ability to uncouple basigin ectodomain presentation from its transmembrane domain-mediated interactions, including with MCT1. Merozoite invasion of reticulocytes is unaffected by disruption of basigin-MCT1 interaction and by removal or replacement of the basigin transmembrane helix. Therefore, presentation of the basigin ectodomain at the red blood cell surface, independent of its native association with MCT1 or other interactions mediated by the transmembrane domain, is sufficient to facilitate merozoite invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine R. King
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jawida Touhami
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
| | - Marc Sitbon
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Ashley M. Toye
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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16
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Takashima E, Otsuki H, Morita M, Ito D, Nagaoka H, Yuguchi T, Hassan I, Tsuboi T. The Need for Novel Asexual Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine Candidates for Plasmodium falciparum. Biomolecules 2024; 14:100. [PMID: 38254700 PMCID: PMC10813614 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Extensive control efforts have significantly reduced malaria cases and deaths over the past two decades, but in recent years, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, success has stalled. The WHO has urged the implementation of a number of interventions, including vaccines. The modestly effective RTS,S/AS01 pre-erythrocytic vaccine has been recommended by the WHO for use in sub-Saharan Africa against Plasmodium falciparum in children residing in moderate to high malaria transmission regions. A second pre-erythrocytic vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, was also recommended by the WHO on 3 October 2023. However, the paucity and limitations of pre-erythrocytic vaccines highlight the need for asexual blood-stage malaria vaccines that prevent disease caused by blood-stage parasites. Few asexual blood-stage vaccine candidates have reached phase 2 clinical development, and the challenges in terms of their efficacy include antigen polymorphisms and low immunogenicity in humans. This review summarizes the history and progress of asexual blood-stage malaria vaccine development, highlighting the need for novel candidate vaccine antigens/molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eizo Takashima
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Hitoshi Otsuki
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.O.); (D.I.)
| | - Masayuki Morita
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.O.); (D.I.)
| | - Hikaru Nagaoka
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Takaaki Yuguchi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Ifra Hassan
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Cell-Free Sciences, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan
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17
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Farrell B, Alam N, Hart MN, Jamwal A, Ragotte RJ, Walters-Morgan H, Draper SJ, Knuepfer E, Higgins MK. The PfRCR complex bridges malaria parasite and erythrocyte during invasion. Nature 2024; 625:578-584. [PMID: 38123677 PMCID: PMC10794152 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06856-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The symptoms of malaria occur during the blood stage of infection, when parasites invade and replicate within human erythrocytes. The PfPCRCR complex1, containing PfRH5 (refs. 2,3), PfCyRPA, PfRIPR, PfCSS and PfPTRAMP, is essential for erythrocyte invasion by the deadliest human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Invasion can be prevented by antibodies3-6 or nanobodies1 against each of these conserved proteins, making them the leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates. However, little is known about how PfPCRCR functions during invasion. Here we present the structure of the PfRCR complex7,8, containing PfRH5, PfCyRPA and PfRIPR, determined by cryogenic-electron microscopy. We test the hypothesis that PfRH5 opens to insert into the membrane9, instead showing that a rigid, disulfide-locked PfRH5 can mediate efficient erythrocyte invasion. We show, through modelling and an erythrocyte-binding assay, that PfCyRPA-binding antibodies5 neutralize invasion through a steric mechanism. We determine the structure of PfRIPR, showing that it consists of an ordered, multidomain core flexibly linked to an elongated tail. We also show that the elongated tail of PfRIPR, which is the target of growth-neutralizing antibodies6, binds to the PfCSS-PfPTRAMP complex on the parasite membrane. A modular PfRIPR is therefore linked to the merozoite membrane through an elongated tail, and its structured core presents PfCyRPA and PfRH5 to interact with erythrocyte receptors. This provides fresh insight into the molecular mechanism of erythrocyte invasion and opens the way to new approaches in rational vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Farrell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nawsad Alam
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Abhishek Jamwal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert J Ragotte
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Walters-Morgan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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18
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Lampejo T. Monoclonal antibodies for the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a multi-target approach? Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:73-77. [PMID: 37921336 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2274897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This article discusses the need for novel additional preventative strategies in malaria focusing on the potential role for monoclonal antibodies in disease prevention and putative strategies for their development and use in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temi Lampejo
- Department of Infection Sciences, King's College Hospital, London, UK
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19
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Borkens Y. Malaria & mRNA Vaccines: A Possible Salvation from One of the Most Relevant Infectious Diseases of the Global South. Acta Parasitol 2023; 68:916-928. [PMID: 37828249 PMCID: PMC10665248 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00712-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world. It occurs in tropical and subtropical regions and affects about 40% of the world´s population. In endemic regions, an estimated 200 million people contract malaria each year. Three-quarters of all global deaths (about 600 per year) are children under 5 years of age. Thus, malaria is one of the most relevant tropical and also childhood diseases in the world. Thanks to various public health measures such as vector control through mosquito nets or the targeted use of insecticides as well as the use of antimalarial prophylaxis drugs, the incidence has already been successfully reduced in recent years. However, to reduce the risk of malaria and to protect children effectively, further measures are necessary. An important part of these measures is an effective vaccination against malaria. However, the history of research shows that the development of an effective malaria vaccine is not an easy undertaking and is associated with some complications. Research into possible vaccines began as early as the 1960s. However, the results achieved were rather sobering and the various vaccines fell short of their expectations. It was not until 2015 that the vaccine RTS,S/AS01 received a positive evaluation from the European Medicines Agency. Since then, the vaccine has been tested in Africa. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are new developments in vaccine research that could also benefit malaria research. These include, among others, the so-called mRNA vaccines. Already in the early 1990s, an immune response triggered by an mRNA vaccine was described for the first time. Since then, mRNA vaccines have been researched and discussed for possible prophylaxis. However, it was not until the COVID-19 pandemic that these vaccines experienced a veritable progress. mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 were rapidly developed and achieved high efficacy in studies. Based on this success, it is not surprising that companies are also focusing on other diseases and pathogens. Besides viral diseases, such as influenza or AIDS, malaria is high on this list. Many pharmaceutical companies (including the German companies BioNTech and CureVac) have already confirmed that they are researching mRNA vaccines against malaria. However, this is not an easy task. The aim of this article is to describe and discuss possible antigens that could be considered for mRNA vaccination. However, this topic is currently still very speculative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Borkens
- Charité, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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20
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Alimohamadi H, Rangamani P. Effective cell membrane tension protects red blood cells against malaria invasion. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011694. [PMID: 38048346 PMCID: PMC10721198 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A critical step in how malaria parasites invade red blood cells (RBCs) is the wrapping of the membrane around the egg-shaped merozoites. Recent experiments have revealed that RBCs can be protected from malaria invasion by high membrane tension. While cellular and biochemical aspects of parasite actomyosin motor forces during the malaria invasion have been well studied, the important role of the biophysical forces induced by the RBC membrane-cytoskeleton composite has not yet been fully understood. In this study, we use a theoretical model for lipid bilayer mechanics, cytoskeleton deformation, and membrane-merozoite interactions to systematically investigate the influence of effective RBC membrane tension, which includes contributions from the lipid bilayer tension, spontaneous tension, interfacial tension, and the resistance of cytoskeleton against shear deformation on the progression of membrane wrapping during the process of malaria invasion. Our model reveals that this effective membrane tension creates a wrapping energy barrier for a complete merozoite entry. We calculate the tension threshold required to impede the malaria invasion. We find that the tension threshold is a nonmonotonic function of spontaneous tension and undergoes a sharp transition from large to small values as the magnitude of interfacial tension increases. We also predict that the physical properties of the RBC cytoskeleton layer-particularly the resting length of the cytoskeleton-play key roles in specifying the degree of the membrane wrapping. We also found that the shear energy of cytoskeleton deformation diverges at the full wrapping state, suggesting the local disassembly of the cytoskeleton is required to complete the merozoite entry. Additionally, using our theoretical framework, we predict the landscape of myosin-mediated forces and the physical properties of the RBC membrane in regulating successful malaria invasion. Our findings on the crucial role of RBC membrane tension in inhibiting malaria invasion can have implications for developing novel antimalarial therapeutic or vaccine-based strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haleh Alimohamadi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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21
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Jamwal A, Constantin CF, Hirschi S, Henrich S, Bildl W, Fakler B, Draper SJ, Schulte U, Higgins MK. Erythrocyte invasion-neutralising antibodies prevent Plasmodium falciparum RH5 from binding to basigin-containing membrane protein complexes. eLife 2023; 12:e83681. [PMID: 37796723 PMCID: PMC10569788 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Basigin is an essential host receptor for invasion of Plasmodium falciparum into human erythrocytes, interacting with parasite surface protein PfRH5. PfRH5 is a leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate and a target of growth-inhibitory antibodies. Here, we show that erythrocyte basigin is exclusively found in one of two macromolecular complexes, bound either to plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase 1/4 (PMCA1/4) or to monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1). PfRH5 binds to each of these complexes with a higher affinity than to isolated basigin ectodomain, making it likely that these are the physiological targets of PfRH5. PMCA-mediated Ca2+ export is not affected by PfRH5, making it unlikely that this is the mechanism underlying changes in calcium flux at the interface between an erythrocyte and the invading parasite. However, our studies rationalise the function of the most effective growth-inhibitory antibodies targeting PfRH5. While these antibodies do not reduce the binding of PfRH5 to monomeric basigin, they do reduce its binding to basigin-PMCA and basigin-MCT complexes. This indicates that the most effective PfRH5-targeting antibodies inhibit growth by sterically blocking the essential interaction of PfRH5 with basigin in its physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Jamwal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Stephan Hirschi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Henrich
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Wolfgang Bildl
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Bernd Fakler
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSFreiburgGermany
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Uwe Schulte
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSFreiburgGermany
| | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
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22
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Dickey TH, Tolia NH. Designing an effective malaria vaccine targeting Plasmodium vivax Duffy-binding protein. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:850-858. [PMID: 37481347 PMCID: PMC11099547 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Malaria caused by the Plasmodium vivax parasite is a major global health burden. Immunity against blood-stage infection reduces parasitemia and disease severity. Duffy-binding protein (DBP) is the primary parasite protein responsible for the invasion of red blood cells and it is a leading subunit vaccine candidate. An effective vaccine, however, is still lacking despite decades of interest in DBP as a vaccine candidate. This review discusses the reasons for targeting DBP, the challenges associated with developing a vaccine, and modern structural vaccinology methods that could be used to create an effective DBP vaccine. Next-generation DBP vaccines have the potential to elicit a broadly protective immune response and provide durable and potent protection from P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayne H Dickey
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
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23
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Yanik S, Venkatesh V, Parker ML, Ramaswamy R, Diouf A, Sarkar D, Miura K, Long CA, Boulanger MJ, Srinivasan P. Structure guided mimicry of an essential P. falciparum receptor-ligand complex enhances cross neutralizing antibodies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5879. [PMID: 37735574 PMCID: PMC10514071 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasion of human erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) merozoites relies on the interaction between two parasite proteins: apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2). While antibodies to AMA1 provide limited protection against Pf in non-human primate malaria models, clinical trials using recombinant AMA1 alone (apoAMA1) yielded no protection due to insufficient functional antibodies. Immunization with AMA1 bound to RON2L, a 49-amino acid peptide from its ligand RON2, has shown superior protection by increasing the proportion of neutralizing antibodies. However, this approach relies on the formation of a complex in solution between the two vaccine components. To advance vaccine development, here we engineered chimeric antigens by replacing the AMA1 DII loop, displaced upon ligand binding, with RON2L. Structural analysis confirmed that the fusion chimera (Fusion-FD12) closely mimics the binary AMA1-RON2L complex. Immunization studies in female rats demonstrated that Fusion-FD12 immune sera, but not purified IgG, neutralized vaccine-type parasites more efficiently compared to apoAMA1, despite lower overall anti-AMA1 titers. Interestingly, Fusion-FD12 immunization enhanced antibodies targeting conserved epitopes on AMA1, leading to increased neutralization of non-vaccine type parasites. Identifying these cross-neutralizing antibody epitopes holds promise for developing an effective, strain-transcending malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Yanik
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Varsha Venkatesh
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Michelle L Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Raghavendran Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Deepti Sarkar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Martin J Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Prakash Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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24
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Weiss GE, Ragotte RJ, Quinkert D, Lias AM, Dans MG, Boulet C, Looker O, Ventura OD, Williams BG, Crabb BS, Draper SJ, Gilson PR. The dual action of human antibodies specific to Plasmodium falciparum PfRH5 and PfCyRPA: Blocking invasion and inactivating extracellular merozoites. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011182. [PMID: 37713419 PMCID: PMC10529537 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (PfRH5) is the current leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate. PfRH5 functions as part of the pentameric PCRCR complex containing PTRAMP, CSS, PfCyRPA and PfRIPR, all of which are essential for infection of human red blood cells (RBCs). To trigger RBC invasion, PfRH5 engages with RBC protein basigin in a step termed the RH5-basigin binding stage. Although we know increasingly more about how antibodies specific for PfRH5 can block invasion, much less is known about how antibodies recognizing other members of the PCRCR complex can inhibit invasion. To address this, we performed live cell imaging using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which bind PfRH5 and PfCyRPA. We measured the degree and timing of the invasion inhibition, the stage at which it occurred, as well as subsequent events. We show that parasite invasion is blocked by individual mAbs, and the degree of inhibition is enhanced when combining a mAb specific for PfRH5 with one binding PfCyRPA. In addition to directly establishing the invasion-blocking capacity of the mAbs, we identified a secondary action of certain mAbs on extracellular parasites that had not yet invaded where the mAbs appeared to inactivate the parasites by triggering a developmental pathway normally only seen after successful invasion. These findings suggest that epitopes within the PfCyRPA-PfRH5 sub-complex that elicit these dual responses may be more effective immunogens than neighboring epitopes by both blocking parasites from invading and rapidly inactivating extracellular parasites. These two protective mechanisms, prevention of invasion and inactivation of uninvaded parasites, resulting from antibody to a single epitope indicate a possible route to the development of more effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta E. Weiss
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert J. Ragotte
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amelia M. Lias
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Coralie Boulet
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Oliver Looker
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Olivia D. Ventura
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Barnabas G. Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon J. Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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25
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Guo J, Wang H, Guan W, Guo Q, Wang J, Yang J, Peng Y, Shan J, Gao M, Shi S, Shangguan X, Liu B, Jing S, Zhang J, Xu C, Huang J, Rao W, Zheng X, Wu D, Zhou C, Du B, Chen R, Zhu L, Zhu Y, Walling LL, Zhang Q, He G. A tripartite rheostat controls self-regulated host plant resistance to insects. Nature 2023:10.1038/s41586-023-06197-z. [PMID: 37316670 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06197-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plants deploy receptor-like kinases and nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors to confer host plant resistance (HPR) to herbivores1. These gene-for-gene interactions between insects and their hosts have been proposed for more than 50 years2. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie HPR have been elusive, as the identity and sensing mechanisms of insect avirulence effectors have remained unknown. Here we identify an insect salivary protein perceived by a plant immune receptor. The BPH14-interacting salivary protein (BISP) from the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is secreted into rice (Oryza sativa) during feeding. In susceptible plants, BISP targets O. satvia RLCK185 (OsRLCK185; hereafter Os is used to denote O. satvia-related proteins or genes) to suppress basal defences. In resistant plants, the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptor BPH14 directly binds BISP to activate HPR. Constitutive activation of Bph14-mediated immunity is detrimental to plant growth and productivity. The fine-tuning of Bph14-mediated HPR is achieved through direct binding of BISP and BPH14 to the selective autophagy cargo receptor OsNBR1, which delivers BISP to OsATG8 for degradation. Autophagy therefore controls BISP levels. In Bph14 plants, autophagy restores cellular homeostasis by downregulating HPR when feeding by brown planthoppers ceases. We identify an insect saliva protein sensed by a plant immune receptor and discover a three-way interaction system that offers opportunities for developing high-yield, insect-resistant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaxin Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junhan Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingyang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaojie Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinxin Shangguan
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingfang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shengli Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunxue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiwei Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Di Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rongzhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lili Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuxian Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Linda L Walling
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Qifa Zhang
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangcun He
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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26
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Miura K, Diouf A, Fay MP, Barrett JR, Payne RO, Olotu AI, Minassian AM, Silk SE, Draper SJ, Long CA. Assessment of precision in growth inhibition assay (GIA) using human anti-PfRH5 antibodies. Malar J 2023; 22:159. [PMID: 37208733 PMCID: PMC10196285 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04591-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For blood-stage malaria vaccine development, the in vitro growth inhibition assay (GIA) has been widely used to evaluate functionality of vaccine-induced antibodies (Ab), and Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5) is a leading blood-stage antigen. However, precision, also called "error of assay (EoA)", in GIA readouts and the source of EoA has not been evaluated systematically. METHODS In the Main GIA experiment, 4 different cultures of P. falciparum 3D7 parasites were prepared with red blood cells (RBC) collected from 4 different donors. For each culture, 7 different anti-RH5 Ab (either monoclonal or polyclonal Ab) were tested by GIA at two concentrations on three different days (168 data points). To evaluate sources of EoA in % inhibition in GIA (%GIA), a linear model fit was conducted including donor (source of RBC) and day of GIA as independent variables. In addition, 180 human anti-RH5 polyclonal Ab were tested in a Clinical GIA experiment, where each Ab was tested at multiple concentrations in at least 3 independent GIAs using different RBCs (5,093 data points). The standard deviation (sd) in %GIA and in GIA50 (Ab concentration that gave 50%GIA) readouts, and impact of repeat assays on 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of these readouts was estimated. RESULTS The Main GIA experiment revealed that the RBC donor effect was much larger than the day effect, and an obvious donor effect was also observed in the Clinical GIA experiment. Both %GIA and log-transformed GIA50 data reasonably fit a constant sd model, and sd of %GIA and log-transformed GIA50 measurements were calculated as 7.54 and 0.206, respectively. Taking the average of three repeat assays (using three different RBCs) reduces the 95%CI width in %GIA or in GIA50 measurements by ~ half compared to a single assay. CONCLUSIONS The RBC donor effect (donor-to-donor variance on the same day) in GIA was much bigger than the day effect (day-to-day variance using the same donor's RBC) at least for the RH5 Ab evaluated in this study; thus, future GIA studies should consider the donor effect. In addition, the 95%CI for %GIA and GIA50 shown here help when comparing GIA results from different samples/groups/studies; therefore, this study supports future malaria blood-stage vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Michael P Fay
- Biostatistics Research Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Jordan R Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Ruth O Payne
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Ally I Olotu
- Interventions and Clinical Trials Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania
| | - Angela M Minassian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Sarah E Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
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27
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Srinivasan P, Yanik S, Venkatesh V, Parker M, Diouf A, Sarkar D, Miura K, Long C, Boulanger M. Structure guided mimicry of an essential P. falciparum receptor-ligand complex enhances cross neutralizing antibodies. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2733434. [PMID: 37131813 PMCID: PMC10153359 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2733434/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Invasion of human red blood cells (RBCs) by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) merozoites relies on the interaction between two parasite proteins, apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) 1,2 . Antibodies to AMA1 confer limited protection against P. falciparum in non-human primate malaria models 3,4 . However, clinical trials with recombinant AMA1 alone (apoAMA1) saw no protection, likely due to inadequate levels of functional antibodies 5-8 . Notably, immunization with AMA1 in its ligand bound conformation using RON2L, a 49 amino acid peptide from RON2, confers superior protection against P. falciparum malaria by enhancing the proportion of neutralizing antibodies 9,10 . A limitation of this approach, however, is that it requires the two vaccine components to form a complex in solution. To facilitate vaccine development, we engineered chimeric antigens by strategically replacing the AMA1 DII loop that is displaced upon ligand binding with RON2L. Structural characterization of the fusion chimera, Fusion-F D12 to 1.55 Å resolution showed that it closely mimics the binary receptor-ligand complex. Immunization studies showed that Fusion-F D12 immune sera neutralized parasites more efficiently than apoAMA1 immune sera despite having an overall lower anti-AMA1 titer, suggesting improvement in antibody quality. Furthermore, immunization with Fusion-F D12 enhanced antibodies targeting conserved epitopes on AMA1 resulting in greater neutralization of non-vaccine type parasites. Identifying epitopes of such cross-neutralizing antibodies will help in the development of an effective, strain-transcending malaria vaccine. Our fusion protein design is a robust vaccine platform that can be enhanced by incorporating polymorphisms in AMA1 to effectively neutralize all P. falciparum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Carole Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Resarch, NIAID/NIH
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Fotoran WL, Silva JRD, Glitz C, Ferreira LCDS, Wunderlich G. Establishment of an Antiplasmodial Vaccine Based on PfRH5-Encoding RNA Replicons Stabilized by Cationic Liposomes. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041223. [PMID: 37111706 PMCID: PMC10145066 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nucleic acid-based vaccines have been studied for the past four decades, but the approval of the first messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic opened renewed perspectives for the development of similar vaccines against different infectious diseases. Presently available mRNA vaccines are based on non-replicative mRNA, which contains modified nucleosides encased in lipid vesicles, allowing for entry into the host cell cytoplasm, and reducing inflammatory reactions. An alternative immunization strategy employs self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) derived from alphaviruses, but lacks viral structural genes. Once incorporated into ionizable lipid shells, these vaccines lead to enhanced gene expression, and lower mRNA doses are required to induce protective immune responses. In the present study, we tested a samRNA vaccine formulation based on the SP6 Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) vector incorporated into cationic liposomes (dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide and a cholesterol derivative). Three vaccines were generated that encoded two reporter genes (GFP and nanoLuc) and the Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte binding protein homologue 5 (PfRH5). METHODS Transfection assays were performed using Vero and HEK293T cells, and the mice were immunized via the intradermal route using a tattooing device. RESULTS The liposome-replicon complexes showed high transfection efficiencies with in vitro cultured cells, whereas tattooing immunization with GFP-encoding replicons demonstrated gene expression in mouse skin up to 48 h after immunization. Mice immunized with liposomal PfRH5-encoding RNA replicons elicited antibodies that recognized the native protein expressed in P. falciparum schizont extracts, and inhibited the growth of the parasite in vitro. CONCLUSION Intradermal delivery of cationic lipid-encapsulated samRNA constructs is a feasible approach for developing future malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley L Fotoran
- Department of Parasitology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Jamile Ramos da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Christiane Glitz
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Institute of Animal Physiology, Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Luís Carlos de Souza Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
- Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP, University of São Paulo, Avenida Lucio Martins Rodrigues 370, São Paulo 05508-020, SP, Brazil
| | - Gerhard Wunderlich
- Department of Parasitology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
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Björnsson KH, Barfod L. A complex equation - adding to Plasmodium falciparum invasion. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:160-162. [PMID: 36682939 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum invasion complex - consisting of the prime blood-stage vaccine candidates PfRH5, PfCyRPA and PfRipr - is essential and conserved. New data from Scally et al. reveal that the complex consists of two additional proteins, adding important knowledge to the current understanding of the biology behind the invasion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper H Björnsson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lea Barfod
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Vigdorovich V, Patel H, Watson A, Raappana A, Reynolds L, Selman W, Beeman S, Edlefsen PT, Kappe SHI, Sather DN. Coimmunization with Preerythrocytic Antigens alongside Circumsporozoite Protein Can Enhance Sterile Protection against Plasmodium Sporozoite Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0379122. [PMID: 36847573 PMCID: PMC10100930 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03791-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle and present numerous antigen targets that may contribute to protective immune responses. The currently recommended vaccine-RTS,S-functions by targeting the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP), which is the most abundant surface protein of the sporozoite form responsible for initiating infection of the human host. Despite showing only moderate efficacy, RTS,S has established a strong foundation for the development of next-generation subunit vaccines. Our previous work characterizing the sporozoite surface proteome identified additional non-CSP antigens that may be useful as immunogens individually or in combination with CSP. In this study, we examined eight such antigens using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii as a model system. We demonstrate that despite conferring weak protection individually, coimmunizing each of several of these antigens alongside CSP could significantly enhance the sterile protection achieved by CSP immunization alone. Thus, our work provides compelling evidence that a multiantigen preerythrocytic vaccine approach may enhance protection compared to CSP-only vaccines. This lays the groundwork for further studies aimed at testing the identified antigen combinations in human vaccination trials that assess efficacy with controlled human malaria infection. IMPORTANCE The currently approved malaria vaccine targets a single parasite protein (CSP) and results in only partial protection. We tested several additional vaccine targets in combination with CSP to identify those that could enhance protection from infection upon challenge in the mouse malaria model. In identifying several such enhancing vaccine targets, our work indicates that a multiprotein immunization approach may be a promising avenue to achieving higher levels of protection from infection. Our work identified several candidate leads for follow-up in the models relevant for human malaria and provides an experimental framework for efficiently carrying out such screens for other combinations of vaccine targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Vigdorovich
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hardik Patel
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alexander Watson
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew Raappana
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laura Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - William Selman
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Suzannah Beeman
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Paul T. Edlefsen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - D. Noah Sather
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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31
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Dickey TH, Gupta R, McAleese H, Ouahes T, Orr-Gonzalez S, Ma R, Muratova O, Salinas ND, Hume JCC, Lambert LE, Duffy PE, Tolia NH. Design of a stabilized non-glycosylated Pfs48/45 antigen enables a potent malaria transmission-blocking nanoparticle vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:20. [PMID: 36808125 PMCID: PMC9938515 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A malaria vaccine that blocks parasite transmission from human to mosquito would be a powerful method of disrupting the parasite lifecycle and reducing the incidence of disease in humans. Pfs48/45 is a promising antigen in development as a transmission blocking vaccine (TBV) against the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The third domain of Pfs48/45 (D3) is an established TBV candidate, but production challenges have hampered development. For example, to date, a non-native N-glycan is required to stabilize the domain when produced in eukaryotic systems. Here, we implement a SPEEDesign computational design and in vitro screening pipeline that retains the potent transmission blocking epitope in Pfs48/45 while creating a stabilized non-glycosylated Pfs48/45 D3 antigen with improved characteristics for vaccine manufacture. This antigen can be genetically fused to a self-assembling single-component nanoparticle, resulting in a vaccine that elicits potent transmission-reducing activity in rodents at low doses. The enhanced Pfs48/45 antigen enables many new and powerful approaches to TBV development, and this antigen design method can be broadly applied towards the design of other vaccine antigens and therapeutics without interfering glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayne H. Dickey
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Richi Gupta
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Holly McAleese
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Tarik Ouahes
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Sachy Orr-Gonzalez
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Rui Ma
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Olga Muratova
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Nichole D. Salinas
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Jen C. C. Hume
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Lynn E. Lambert
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Patrick E. Duffy
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA ,grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Pathogenesis and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Niraj H. Tolia
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
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Nielsen CM, Barrett JR, Davis C, Fallon JK, Goh C, Michell AR, Griffin C, Kwok A, Loos C, Darko S, Laboune F, Tekman M, Diouf A, Miura K, Francica JR, Ransier A, Long CA, Silk SE, Payne RO, Minassian AM, Lauffenburger DA, Seder RA, Douek DC, Alter G, Draper SJ. Delayed boosting improves human antigen-specific Ig and B cell responses to the RH5.1/AS01B malaria vaccine. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e163859. [PMID: 36692019 PMCID: PMC9977309 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.163859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Modifications to vaccine delivery that increase serum antibody longevity are of great interest for maximizing efficacy. We have previously shown that a delayed fractional (DFx) dosing schedule (0-1-6 month) - using AS01B-adjuvanted RH5.1 malaria antigen - substantially improves serum IgG durability as compared with monthly dosing (0-1-2 month; NCT02927145). However, the underlying mechanism and whether there are wider immunological changes with DFx dosing were unclear. Here, PfRH5-specific Ig and B cell responses were analyzed in depth through standardized ELISAs, flow cytometry, systems serology, and single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq). Data indicate that DFx dosing increases the magnitude and durability of circulating PfRH5-specific B cells and serum IgG1. At the peak antibody magnitude, DFx dosing was distinguished by a systems serology feature set comprising increased FcRn binding, IgG avidity, and proportion of G2B and G2S2F IgG Fc glycans, alongside decreased IgG3, antibody-dependent complement deposition, and proportion of G1S1F IgG Fc glycan. Concomitantly, scRNA-Seq data show a higher CDR3 percentage of mutation from germline and decreased plasma cell gene expression in circulating PfRH5-specific B cells. Our data, therefore, reveal a profound impact of DFx dosing on the humoral response and suggest plausible mechanisms that could enhance antibody longevity, including improved FcRn binding by serum Ig and a potential shift in the underlying cellular response from circulating short-lived plasma cells to nonperipheral long-lived plasma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christine Davis
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Fallon
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cyndi Goh
- University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Ashlin R. Michell
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine Griffin
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew Kwok
- University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Center for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Carolin Loos
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samuel Darko
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Farida Laboune
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mehmet Tekman
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Amy Ransier
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole A. Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah E. Silk
- University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth O. Payne
- University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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33
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Chandley P, Ranjan R, Kumar S, Rohatgi S. Host-parasite interactions during Plasmodium infection: Implications for immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1091961. [PMID: 36685595 PMCID: PMC9845897 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1091961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a global infectious disease that remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Multiple environmental and host and parasite factors govern the clinical outcomes of malaria. The host immune response against the Plasmodium parasite is heterogenous and stage-specific both in the human host and mosquito vector. The Plasmodium parasite virulence is predominantly associated with its ability to evade the host's immune response. Despite the availability of drug-based therapies, Plasmodium parasites can acquire drug resistance due to high antigenic variations and allelic polymorphisms. The lack of licensed vaccines against Plasmodium infection necessitates the development of effective, safe and successful therapeutics. To design an effective vaccine, it is important to study the immune evasion strategies and stage-specific Plasmodium proteins, which are targets of the host immune response. This review provides an overview of the host immune defense mechanisms and parasite immune evasion strategies during Plasmodium infection. Furthermore, we also summarize and discuss the current progress in various anti-malarial vaccine approaches, along with antibody-based therapy involving monoclonal antibodies, and research advancements in host-directed therapy, which can together open new avenues for developing novel immunotherapies against malaria infection and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Chandley
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
| | - Ravikant Ranjan
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Soma Rohatgi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India,*Correspondence: Soma Rohatgi,
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Healer J, Thompson JK, Mackwell KL, Browne CD, Seager BA, Ngo A, Lowes KN, Silk SE, Pulido D, King LDW, Christen JM, Noe AR, Kotraiah V, Masendycz PJ, Rajagopalan R, Lucas L, Stanford MM, Soisson L, Diggs C, Miller R, Youll S, Wycherley K, Draper SJ, Cowman AF. RH5.1-CyRPA-Ripr antigen combination vaccine shows little improvement over RH5.1 in a preclinical setting. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1049065. [PMID: 36605129 PMCID: PMC9807911 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1049065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background RH5 is the leading vaccine candidate for the Plasmodium falciparum blood stage and has shown impact on parasite growth in the blood in a human clinical trial. RH5 binds to Ripr and CyRPA at the apical end of the invasive merozoite form, and this complex, designated RCR, is essential for entry into human erythrocytes. RH5 has advanced to human clinical trials, and the impact on parasite growth in the blood was encouraging but modest. This study assessed the potential of a protein-in-adjuvant blood stage malaria vaccine based on a combination of RH5, Ripr and CyRPA to provide improved neutralizing activity against P. falciparum in vitro. Methods Mice were immunized with the individual RCR antigens to down select the best performing adjuvant formulation and rats were immunized with the individual RCR antigens to select the correct antigen dose. A second cohort of rats were immunized with single, double and triple antigen combinations to assess immunogenicity and parasite neutralizing activity in growth inhibition assays. Results The DPX® platform was identified as the best performing formulation in potentiating P. falciparum inhibitory antibody responses to these antigens. The three antigens derived from RH5, Ripr and CyRPA proteins formulated with DPX induced highly inhibitory parasite neutralising antibodies. Notably, RH5 either as a single antigen or in combination with Ripr and/or CyRPA, induced inhibitory antibodies that outperformed CyRPA, Ripr. Conclusion An RCR combination vaccine may not induce substantially improved protective immunity as compared with RH5 as a single immunogen in a clinical setting and leaves the development pathway open for other antigens to be combined with RH5 as a next generation malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Healer
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer K. Thompson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Karen L. Mackwell
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Benjamin A. Seager
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kym N. Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah E. Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Pulido
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lloyd D. W. King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amy R. Noe
- Leidos Life Sciences, Frederick, MD, United States
| | | | - Paul J. Masendycz
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Lorraine Soisson
- Malaria Vaccine Development Program, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC, United States
| | - Carter Diggs
- Malaria Vaccine Development Program, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC, United States
| | - Robin Miller
- Malaria Vaccine Development Program, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC, United States
| | - Susan Youll
- Malaria Vaccine Development Program, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC, United States
| | - Kaye Wycherley
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Simon J. Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: Alan F. Cowman,
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Grace PS, Gunn BM, Lu LL. Engineering the supernatural: monoclonal antibodies for challenging infectious diseases. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 78:102818. [PMID: 36242952 PMCID: PMC9612313 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies can be deployed faster than antimicrobials and vaccines. However, the majority of mAbs treat cancer and autoimmune diseases, whereas a minority treat infection. This is in part because targeting a single antigen by the antibody Fab domain is insufficient to stop the dynamic microbial life cycle. Thus, finding the 'right' antigens remains the focus of intense investigations. Equally important is the antibody-Fc domain that has the capacity to induce immune responses that enhance neutralization, and limit pathology and transmission. While Fc-effector functions have been less deeply studied, conceptual and technical advances reveal previously underappreciated antibody potential to combat diseases from microbes difficult to address with current diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, including S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, P. falciparum, and M. tuberculosis. What is learned about engineering antibodies for these challenging organisms will enhance our approach to new and emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia S Grace
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bronwyn M Gunn
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Lenette L Lu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; Department of Immunology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; Parkland Health & Hospital System, United States.
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36
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Mangou K, Moore AJ, Thiam LG, Ba A, Orfanó A, Desamours I, Ndegwa DN, Goodwin J, Guo Y, Sheng Z, Patel SD, Diallo F, Sene SD, Pouye MN, Faye AT, Thiam A, Nunez V, Diagne CT, Sadio BD, Shapiro L, Faye O, Mbengue A, Bei AK. Structure-guided insights into potential function of novel genetic variants in the malaria vaccine candidate PfRh5. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19403. [PMID: 36371450 PMCID: PMC9653458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23929-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent stall in the global reduction of malaria deaths has made the development of a highly effective vaccine essential. A major challenge to developing an efficacious vaccine is the extensive diversity of Plasmodium falciparum antigens. While genetic diversity plays a major role in immune evasion and is a barrier to the development of both natural and vaccine-induced protective immunity, it has been under-prioritized in the evaluation of malaria vaccine candidates. This study uses genomic approaches to evaluate genetic diversity in next generation malaria vaccine candidate PfRh5. We used targeted deep amplicon sequencing to identify non-synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in PfRh5 (Reticulocyte-Binding Protein Homologue 5) in 189 P. falciparum positive samples from Southern Senegal and identified 74 novel SNPs. We evaluated the population prevalence of these SNPs as well as the frequency in individual samples and found that only a single SNP, C203Y, was present at every site. Many SNPs were unique to the individual sampled, with over 90% of SNPs being found in just one infected individual. In addition to population prevalence, we assessed individual level SNP frequencies which revealed that some SNPs were dominant (frequency of greater than 25% in a polygenomic sample) whereas most were rare, present at 2% or less of total reads mapped to the reference at the given position. Structural modeling uncovered 3 novel SNPs occurring under epitopes bound by inhibitory monoclonal antibodies, potentially impacting immune evasion, while other SNPs were predicted to impact PfRh5 structure or interactions with the receptor or binding partners. Our data demonstrate that PfRh5 exhibits greater genetic diversity than previously described, with the caveat that most of the uncovered SNPs are at a low overall frequency in the individual and prevalence in the population. The structural studies reveal that novel SNPs could have functional implications on PfRh5 receptor binding, complex formation, or immune evasion, supporting continued efforts to validate PfRh5 as an effective malaria vaccine target and development of a PfRh5 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadidiatou Mangou
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Adam J Moore
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Laty Gaye Thiam
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Aboubacar Ba
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alessandra Orfanó
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ife Desamours
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Duncan Ndungu Ndegwa
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- University of Embu, Embu, Kenya
| | - Justin Goodwin
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yicheng Guo
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zizhang Sheng
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Saurabh D Patel
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fatoumata Diallo
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Seynabou D Sene
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Mariama N Pouye
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Awa Thioub Faye
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alassane Thiam
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Vanessa Nunez
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cheikh Tidiane Diagne
- MIVEGEC (Infectious Diseases and Vector: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Control), University of Montpelier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Lawrence Shapiro
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ousmane Faye
- Pôle Virologie, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alassane Mbengue
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Amy K Bei
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
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37
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Ko KT, Lennartz F, Mekhaiel D, Guloglu B, Marini A, Deuker DJ, Long CA, Jore MM, Miura K, Biswas S, Higgins MK. Structure of the malaria vaccine candidate Pfs48/45 and its recognition by transmission blocking antibodies. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5603. [PMID: 36153317 PMCID: PMC9509318 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33379-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective malaria vaccine remains a global health priority and vaccine immunogens which prevent transmission of the parasite will have important roles in multi-component vaccines. One of the most promising candidates for inclusion in a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine is the gamete surface protein Pfs48/45, which is essential for development of the parasite in the mosquito midgut. Indeed, antibodies which bind Pfs48/45 can prevent transmission if ingested with the parasite as part of the mosquito bloodmeal. Here we present the structure of full-length Pfs48/45, showing its three domains to form a dynamic, planar, triangular arrangement. We reveal where transmission-blocking and non-blocking antibodies bind on Pfs48/45. Finally, we demonstrate that antibodies which bind across this molecule can be transmission-blocking. These studies will guide the development of future Pfs48/45-based vaccine immunogens. Pfs48/45, a surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum, is a promising anti-malarial vaccine candidate whose structure is not entirely resolved. Here, the authors present the structure of the full-length molecule, and characterise the binding and activity of transmission blocking antibodies.
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38
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Borkens Y. Malaria-Antigene in der Ära der mRNA-Impfstoffe. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2022; 170:828-838. [PMID: 35855690 PMCID: PMC9281189 DOI: 10.1007/s00112-022-01554-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
ZusammenfassungBereits in den frühen 1990er-Jahren wurde erstmals eine durch einen mRNA-Impfstoff ausgelöste Immunantwort beschrieben. Seitdem wurden mRNA-Impfstoffe für eine mögliche Prophylaxe erforscht und diskutiert. Doch erst mit der COVID-19-Pandemie erlebten diese Impfstoffe einen wahren Boom. Die ersten mRNA-Impfstoffe wurden gegen SARS-CoV‑2 zugelassen und zeigten große Erfolge. Es ist daher nicht verwunderlich, dass sich die Hersteller auch auf andere Krankheiten und Pathogene konzentrieren. Neben viralen Krankheiten wie Influenza oder Aids steht Malaria weit oben auf dieser Liste. Viele Pharmaunternehmen (u. a. die deutschen Unternehmen BioNTech und CureVac) haben bereits bestätigt, an mRNA-Impfstoffen gegen Malaria zu forschen. Dabei ist die Entwicklung eines funktionierenden Impfstoffes gegen Malaria kein leichtes Unterfangen. Seit den 1960ern wird an möglichen Impfstoffen geforscht. Die Ergebnisse sind dabei eher ernüchternd. Erst 2015 erhielt der Impfstoff RTS,S/AS01 eine positive Bewertung der Europäischen Arzneimittel-Agentur. Seitdem wird der Impfstoff in Afrika getestet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Borkens
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Science, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, 4811 Townsville, Queensland Australien
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Lyons FMT, Gabriela M, Tham WH, Dietrich MH. Plasmodium 6-Cysteine Proteins: Functional Diversity, Transmission-Blocking Antibodies and Structural Scaffolds. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:945924. [PMID: 35899047 PMCID: PMC9309271 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.945924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The 6-cysteine protein family is one of the most abundant surface antigens that are expressed throughout the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle. Many members of the 6-cysteine family have critical roles in parasite development across the life cycle in parasite transmission, evasion of the host immune response and host cell invasion. The common feature of the family is the 6-cysteine domain, also referred to as s48/45 domain, which is conserved across Aconoidasida. This review summarizes the current approaches for recombinant expression for 6-cysteine proteins, monoclonal antibodies against 6-cysteine proteins that block transmission and the growing collection of crystal structures that provide insights into the functional domains of this protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frankie M. T. Lyons
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melanie H. Dietrich
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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40
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Thiam LG, Mangou K, Ba A, Mbengue A, Bei AK. Leveraging genome editing to functionally evaluate Plasmodium diversity. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:558-571. [PMID: 35469746 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ambitious goal of malaria elimination requires an in-depth understanding of the parasite's biology to counter the growing threat of antimalarial resistance and immune evasion. Timely assessment of the functional impact of antigenic diversity in the early stages of vaccine development will be critical for achieving the goal of malaria control, elimination, and ultimately eradication. Recent advances in targeted genome editing enabled the functional validation of resistance-associated markers in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria-causing pathogen and strain-specific immune neutralization. This review explores recent advances made in leveraging genome editing to aid the functional evaluation of Plasmodium diversity and highlights how these techniques can assist in prioritizing both therapeutic and vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laty Gaye Thiam
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Khadidiatou Mangou
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Aboubacar Ba
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alassane Mbengue
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Amy K Bei
- G4 - Malaria Experimental Genetic Approaches & Vaccines, Pôle Immunophysiopathologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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41
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Nacer A, Kivi G, Pert R, Juronen E, Holenya P, Aliprandini E, Amino R, Silvie O, Quinkert D, Le Duff Y, Hurley M, Reimer U, Tover A, Draper SJ, Gilbert S, Ho MM, Bowyer PW. Expanding the Malaria Antibody Toolkit: Development and Characterisation of Plasmodium falciparum RH5, CyRPA, and CSP Recombinant Human Monoclonal Antibodies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901253. [PMID: 35782147 PMCID: PMC9243361 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, an infection caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, continues to exact a significant toll on public health with over 200 million cases world-wide, and annual deaths in excess of 600,000. Considerable progress has been made to reduce malaria burden in endemic countries in the last two decades. However, parasite and mosquito resistance to frontline chemotherapies and insecticides, respectively, highlights the continuing need for the development of safe and effective vaccines. Here we describe the development of recombinant human antibodies to three target proteins from Plasmodium falciparum: reticulocyte binding protein homologue 5 (PfRH5), cysteine-rich protective antigen (PfCyRPA), and circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). All three proteins are key targets in the development of vaccines for blood-stage or pre-erythrocytic stage infections. We have developed potent anti-PfRH5, PfCyRPA and PfCSP monoclonal antibodies that will prove useful tools for the standardisation of assays in preclinical research and the assessment of these antigens in clinical trials. We have generated some very potent anti-PfRH5 and anti-PfCyRPA antibodies with some clones >200 times more potent than the polyclonal anti-AMA-1 antibodies used for the evaluation of blood stage antigens. While the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies are not directly comparable, the data provide evidence that these new antibodies are very good at blocking invasion. These antibodies will therefore provide a valuable resource and have potential as biological standards to help harmonise pre-clinical malaria research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Nacer
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Adéla Nacer, ; Paul W. Bowyer,
| | - Gaily Kivi
- Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Raini Pert
- Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | | | - Pavlo Holenya
- Research and Development, JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rogerio Amino
- Malaria Infection & Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yann Le Duff
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Hurley
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Ulf Reimer
- Research and Development, JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Simon J. Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Gilbert
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Mei Mei Ho
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W. Bowyer
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Adéla Nacer, ; Paul W. Bowyer,
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42
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Wilder BK, Vigdorovich V, Carbonetti S, Minkah N, Hertoghs N, Raappana A, Cardamone H, Oliver BG, Trakhimets O, Kumar S, Dambrauskas N, Arredondo SA, Camargo N, Seilie AM, Murphy SC, Kappe SHI, Sather DN. Anti-TRAP/SSP2 monoclonal antibodies can inhibit sporozoite infection and may enhance protection of anti-CSP monoclonal antibodies. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:58. [PMID: 35618791 PMCID: PMC9135708 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00480-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine-induced sterilizing protection from infection by Plasmodium parasites, the pathogens that cause malaria, will be essential in the fight against malaria as it would prevent both malaria-related disease and transmission. Stopping the relatively small number of parasites injected by the mosquito before they can migrate from the skin to the liver is an attractive means to this goal. Antibody-eliciting vaccines have been used to pursue this objective by targeting the major parasite surface protein present during this stage, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). While CSP-based vaccines have recently had encouraging success in disease reduction, this was only achieved with extremely high antibody titers and appeared less effective for a complete block of infection (i.e., sterile protection). While such disease reduction is important, these and other results indicate that strategies focusing on CSP alone may not achieve the high levels of sterile protection needed for malaria eradication. Here, we show that monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing another sporozoite protein, TRAP/SSP2, exhibit a range of inhibitory activity and that these mAbs may augment CSP-based protection despite conferring no sterile protection on their own. Therefore, pursuing a multivalent subunit vaccine immunization is a promising strategy for improving infection-blocking malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon K Wilder
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Vladimir Vigdorovich
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sara Carbonetti
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nana Minkah
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nina Hertoghs
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew Raappana
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hayley Cardamone
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian G Oliver
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Olesya Trakhimets
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas Dambrauskas
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Silvia A Arredondo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nelly Camargo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annette M Seilie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - D Noah Sather
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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43
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Aleshnick M, Florez-Cuadros M, Martinson T, Wilder BK. Monoclonal antibodies for malaria prevention. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1810-1821. [PMID: 35395399 PMCID: PMC8979832 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific proteins that are cloned from a single B cell and bind to a single epitope on a pathogen. These laboratory-made molecules can serve as prophylactics or therapeutics for infectious diseases and have an impressive capacity to modulate the progression of disease, as demonstrated for the first time on a large scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high specificity and natural starting point of monoclonal antibodies afford an encouraging safety profile, yet the high cost of production remains a major limitation to their widespread use. While a monoclonal antibody approach to abrogating malaria infection is not yet available, the unique life cycle of the malaria parasite affords many opportunities for such proteins to act, and preliminary research into the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies in preventing malaria infection, disease, and transmission is encouraging. This review examines the current status and future outlook for monoclonal antibodies against malaria in the context of the complex life cycle and varied antigenic targets expressed in the human and mosquito hosts, and provides insight into the strengths and limitations of this approach to curtailing one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Aleshnick
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Thomas Martinson
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Brandon K Wilder
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA; Department of Parasitology, U.S. Naval Medical Research 6 (NAMRU-6), Lima, Peru
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44
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Molina-Franky J, Patarroyo ME, Kalkum M, Patarroyo MA. The Cellular and Molecular Interaction Between Erythrocytes and Plasmodium falciparum Merozoites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:816574. [PMID: 35433504 PMCID: PMC9008539 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.816574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal human malaria parasite, partly due to its genetic variability and ability to use multiple invasion routes via its binding to host cell surface receptors. The parasite extensively modifies infected red blood cell architecture to promote its survival which leads to increased cell membrane rigidity, adhesiveness and permeability. Merozoites are initially released from infected hepatocytes and efficiently enter red blood cells in a well-orchestrated process that involves specific interactions between parasite ligands and erythrocyte receptors; symptoms of the disease occur during the life-cycle’s blood stage due to capillary blockage and massive erythrocyte lysis. Several studies have focused on elucidating molecular merozoite/erythrocyte interactions and host cell modifications; however, further in-depth analysis is required for understanding the parasite’s biology and thus provide the fundamental tools for developing prophylactic or therapeutic alternatives to mitigate or eliminate Plasmodium falciparum-related malaria. This review focuses on the cellular and molecular events during Plasmodium falciparum merozoite invasion of red blood cells and the alterations that occur in an erythrocyte once it has become infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Molina-Franky
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- PhD Programme in Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel Elkin Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Health Sciences Division, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Markus Kalkum
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Markus Kalkum, ; Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo,
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Health Sciences Division, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Markus Kalkum, ; Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo,
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45
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Knudsen AS, Walker MR, Agullet JP, Björnsson KH, Bassi MR, Barfod L. Enhancing neutralization of Plasmodium falciparum using a novel monoclonal antibody against the rhoptry-associated membrane antigen. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3040. [PMID: 35197516 PMCID: PMC8866459 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06921-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of malaria is associated with blood-stage infection and there is strong evidence that antibodies specific to parasite blood-stage antigens can control parasitemia. This provides a strong rational for applying blood-stage antigen components in a multivalent vaccine, as the induced antibodies in combination can enhance protection. The Plasmodium falciparum rhoptry-associated membrane antigen (PfRAMA) is a promising vaccine target, due to its fundamental role in merozoite invasion and low level of polymorphism. Polyclonal antibodies against PfRAMA are able to inhibit P. falciparum growth and interact synergistically when combined with antibodies against P. falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein 5 (PfRh5) or cysteine-rich protective antigen (PfCyRPA). In this study, we identified a novel PfRAMA-specific mAb with neutralizing activity, which in combination with PfRh5- or PfCyRPA-specific mAbs potentiated the neutralizing effect. By applying phage display technology, we mapped the protective epitope to be in the C-terminal region of PfRAMA. Our results confirmed previous finding of synergy between PfRAMA-, PfRh5- and PfCyRPA-specific antibodies, thereby paving the way of testing these antigens (or fragments of these antigens) in combination to improve the efficacy of blood-stage malaria vaccines. The results emphasize the importance of directing antibody responses towards protective epitopes, as the majority of anti-PfRAMA mAbs were unable to inhibit merozoite invasion of erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne S Knudsen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Melanie R Walker
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judit P Agullet
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper H Björnsson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria R Bassi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lea Barfod
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Heterotypic interactions drive antibody synergy against a malaria vaccine candidate. Nat Commun 2022; 13:933. [PMID: 35177602 PMCID: PMC8854392 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28601-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding mechanisms of antibody synergy is important for vaccine design and antibody cocktail development. Examples of synergy between antibodies are well-documented, but the mechanisms underlying these relationships often remain poorly understood. The leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate, CyRPA, is essential for invasion of Plasmodium falciparum into human erythrocytes. Here we present a panel of anti-CyRPA monoclonal antibodies that strongly inhibit parasite growth in in vitro assays. Structural studies show that growth-inhibitory antibodies bind epitopes on a single face of CyRPA. We also show that pairs of non-competing inhibitory antibodies have strongly synergistic growth-inhibitory activity. These antibodies bind to neighbouring epitopes on CyRPA and form lateral, heterotypic interactions which slow antibody dissociation. We predict that such heterotypic interactions will be a feature of many immune responses. Immunogens which elicit such synergistic antibody mixtures could increase the potency of vaccine-elicited responses to provide robust and long-lived immunity against challenging disease targets. Antibodies can have synergistic effects, but mechanisms are not well understood. Here, Ragotte et al. identify three antibodies that bind neighbouring epitopes on CyRPA, a malaria vaccine candidate, and show that lateral interactions between the antibodies slow dissociation and inhibit parasite growth synergistically.
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Global diversity and balancing selection of 23 leading Plasmodium falciparum candidate vaccine antigens. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009801. [PMID: 35108259 PMCID: PMC8843232 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigation of the diversity of malaria parasite antigens can help prioritize and validate them as vaccine candidates and identify the most common variants for inclusion in vaccine formulations. Studies of vaccine candidates of the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, have focused on a handful of well-known antigens, while several others have never been studied. Here we examine the global diversity and population structure of leading vaccine candidate antigens of P. falciparum using the MalariaGEN Pf3K (version 5.1) resource, comprising more than 2600 genomes from 15 malaria endemic countries. A stringent variant calling pipeline was used to extract high quality antigen gene 'haplotypes' from the global dataset and a new R-package named VaxPack was used to streamline population genetic analyses. In addition, a newly developed algorithm that enables spatial averaging of selection pressure on 3D protein structures was applied to the dataset. We analysed the genes encoding 23 leading and novel candidate malaria vaccine antigens including csp, trap, eba175, ama1, rh5, and CelTOS. Our analysis shows that current malaria vaccine formulations are based on rare haplotypes and thus may have limited efficacy against natural parasite populations. High levels of diversity with evidence of balancing selection was detected for most of the erythrocytic and pre-erythrocytic antigens. Measures of natural selection were then mapped to 3D protein structures to predict targets of functional antibodies. For some antigens, geographical variation in the intensity and distribution of these signals on the 3D structure suggests adaptation to different human host or mosquito vector populations. This study provides an essential framework for the diversity of P. falciparum antigens to be considered in the design of the next generation of malaria vaccines.
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Broketa M, Bruhns P. Single-Cell Technologies for the Study of Antibody-Secreting Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 12:821729. [PMID: 35173713 PMCID: PMC8841722 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.821729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-secreting cells (ASC), plasmablasts and plasma cells, are terminally differentiated B cells responsible for large-scale production and secretion of antibodies. ASC are derived from activated B cells, which may differentiate extrafollicularly or form germinal center (GC) reactions within secondary lymphoid organs. ASC therefore consist of short-lived, poorly matured plasmablasts that generally secrete lower-affinity antibodies, or long-lived, highly matured plasma cells that generally secrete higher-affinity antibodies. The ASC population is responsible for producing an immediate humoral B cell response, the polyclonal antibody repertoire, as well as in parallel building effective humoral memory and immunity, or potentially driving pathology in the case of autoimmunity. ASC are phenotypically and transcriptionally distinct from other B cells and further distinguishable by morphology, varied lifespans, and anatomical localization. Single cell analyses are required to interrogate the functional and transcriptional diversity of ASC and their secreted antibody repertoire and understand the contribution of individual ASC responses to the polyclonal humoral response. Here we summarize the current and emerging functional and molecular techniques for high-throughput characterization of ASC with single cell resolution, including flow and mass cytometry, spot-based and microfluidic-based assays, focusing on functional approaches of the secreted antibodies: specificity, affinity, and secretion rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Broketa
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1222, Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège doctoral, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Matteo Broketa, ; Pierre Bruhns,
| | - Pierre Bruhns
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1222, Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Matteo Broketa, ; Pierre Bruhns,
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PCRCR complex is essential for invasion of human erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:2039-2053. [PMID: 36396942 PMCID: PMC9712106 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01261-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The most severe form of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. These parasites invade human erythrocytes, and an essential step in this process involves the ligand PfRh5, which forms a complex with cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA) and PfRh5-interacting protein (PfRipr) (RCR complex) and binds basigin on the host cell. We identified a heteromeric disulfide-linked complex consisting of P. falciparum Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein (PfPTRAMP) and P. falciparum cysteine-rich small secreted protein (PfCSS) and have shown that it binds RCR to form a pentameric complex, PCRCR. Using P. falciparum lines with conditional knockouts, invasion inhibitory nanobodies to both PfPTRAMP and PfCSS, and lattice light-sheet microscopy, we show that they are essential for merozoite invasion. The PCRCR complex functions to anchor the contact between merozoite and erythrocyte membranes brought together by strong parasite deformations. We solved the structure of nanobody-PfCSS complexes to identify an inhibitory epitope. Our results define the function of the PCRCR complex and identify invasion neutralizing epitopes providing a roadmap for structure-guided development of these proteins for a blood stage malaria vaccine.
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Lennartz F, Higgins MK. Surface Plasmon Resonance Analysis of PfEMP1 Interaction with Receptors. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2470:467-482. [PMID: 35881367 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2189-9_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A detailed understanding of the interaction between the highly variant Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane proteins 1 (PfEMP1) and their human binding partners is essential to explain their roles in disease development in malaria, as well as to understand how antibodies can inhibit these interactions and how the parasite manages to evade such an immune response. This chapter focuses on using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as a reproducible, high-throughput method to quantitatively characterize these interactions. We describe how to utilize protein A or A/G and streptavidin for protein immobilization on SPR sensor chips and provide instructions on how to biotinylate proteins for this purpose and how to use SPR for binding competition assays. Since these experiments rely on recombinant proteins, we also present a method to verify their structural integrity using circular dichroism spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Lennartz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Macromolecular Crystallography, Berlin, Germany.
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