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Yamamoto Y, Fabbri C, Okuhara D, Takagi R, Kawabata Y, Katayama T, Iyori M, Hasyim AA, Sakamoto A, Mizukami H, Shida H, Lopes S, Yoshida S. A two-dose viral-vectored Plasmodium vivax multistage vaccine confers durable protection and transmission-blockade in a pre-clinical study. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1372584. [PMID: 38745665 PMCID: PMC11091281 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1372584] [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: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Among Plasmodium spp. responsible for human malaria, Plasmodium vivax ranks as the second most prevalent and has the widest geographical range; however, vaccine development has lagged behind that of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest Plasmodium species. Recently, we developed a multistage vaccine for P. falciparum based on a heterologous prime-boost immunization regimen utilizing the attenuated vaccinia virus strain LC16m8Δ (m8Δ)-prime and adeno-associated virus type 1 (AAV1)-boost, and demonstrated 100% protection and more than 95% transmission-blocking (TB) activity in the mouse model. In this study, we report the feasibility and versatility of this vaccine platform as a P. vivax multistage vaccine, which can provide 100% sterile protection against sporozoite challenge and >95% TB efficacy in the mouse model. Our vaccine comprises m8Δ and AAV1 viral vectors, both harboring the gene encoding two P. vivax circumsporozoite (PvCSP) protein alleles (VK210; PvCSP-Sal and VK247; -PNG) and P25 (Pvs25) expressed as a Pvs25-PvCSP fusion protein. For protective efficacy, the heterologous m8Δ-prime/AAV1-boost immunization regimen showed 100% (short-term; Day 28) and 60% (long-term; Day 242) protection against PvCSP VK210 transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. For TB efficacy, mouse sera immunized with the vaccine formulation showed >75% TB activity and >95% transmission reduction activity by a direct membrane feeding assay using P. vivax isolates in blood from an infected patient from the Brazilian Amazon region. These findings provide proof-of-concept that the m8Δ/AAV1 vaccine platform is sufficiently versatile for P. vivax vaccine development. Future studies are needed to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, vaccine efficacy, and synergistic effects on protection and transmission blockade in a non-human primate model for Phase I trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Camila Fabbri
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane/Fiocruz Amazônia, Laboratório de Diagnóstico e Controle e Doenças Infecciosas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Unidade de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema - UPCCB, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Daiki Okuhara
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Rina Takagi
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yuna Kawabata
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takuto Katayama
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Iyori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ammar A. Hasyim
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Akihiko Sakamoto
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Jichi Medical University, Shimono, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hisatoshi Shida
- Laboratory of Primate Model, Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Stefanie Lopes
- Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane/Fiocruz Amazônia, Laboratório de Diagnóstico e Controle e Doenças Infecciosas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Unidade de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema - UPCCB, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Shigeto Yoshida
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
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Mazhari R, Takashima E, Longley RJ, Ruybal-Pesantez S, White MT, Kanoi BN, Nagaoka H, Kiniboro B, Siba P, Tsuboi T, Mueller I. Identification of novel Plasmodium vivax proteins associated with protection against clinical malaria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1076150. [PMID: 36761894 PMCID: PMC9905245 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1076150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
As progress towards malaria elimination continues, the challenge posed by the parasite species Plasmodium vivax has become more evident. In many regions co-endemic for P. vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, as transmission has declined the proportion of cases due to P. vivax has increased. Novel tools that directly target P. vivax are thus warranted for accelerated elimination. There is currently no advanced vaccine for P. vivax and only a limited number of potential candidates in the pipeline. In this study we aimed to identify promising P. vivax proteins that could be used as part of a subunit vaccination approach. We screened 342 P. vivax protein constructs for their ability to induce IgG antibody responses associated with protection from clinical disease in a cohort of children from Papua New Guinea. This approach has previously been used to successfully identify novel candidates. We were able to confirm previous results from our laboratory identifying the proteins reticulocyte binding protein 2b and StAR-related lipid transfer protein, as well as at least four novel candidates with similar levels of predicted protective efficacy. Assessment of these P. vivax proteins in further studies to confirm their potential and identify functional mechanisms of protection against clinical disease are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Mazhari
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eizo Takashima
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Rhea J Longley
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Shazia Ruybal-Pesantez
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael T White
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, G5 Épidémiologie et Analyse des Maladies Infectieuses, Département de Santé Globale, Paris, France
| | - Bernard N Kanoi
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, Directorate of Research and Innovation, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya
| | - Hikaru Nagaoka
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Benson Kiniboro
- Vector Borne Disease Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Peter Siba
- Vector Borne Disease Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Cell-Free Sciences, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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3
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da Veiga GTS, Moriggi MR, Vettorazzi JF, Müller-Santos M, Albrecht L. Plasmodium vivax vaccine: What is the best way to go? Front Immunol 2023; 13:910236. [PMID: 36726991 PMCID: PMC9885200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most devastating human infectious diseases caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites. A search for an effective and safe vaccine is the main challenge for its eradication. Plasmodium vivax is the second most prevalent Plasmodium species and the most geographically distributed parasite and has been neglected for decades. This has a massive gap in knowledge and consequently in the development of vaccines. The most significant difficulties in obtaining a vaccine against P. vivax are the high genetic diversity and the extremely complex life cycle. Due to its complexity, studies have evaluated P. vivax antigens from different stages as potential targets for an effective vaccine. Therefore, the main vaccine candidates are grouped into preerythrocytic stage vaccines, blood-stage vaccines, and transmission-blocking vaccines. This review aims to support future investigations by presenting the main findings of vivax malaria vaccines to date. There are only a few P. vivax vaccines in clinical trials, and thus far, the best protective efficacy was a vaccine formulated with synthetic peptide from a circumsporozoite protein and Montanide ISA-51 as an adjuvant with 54.5% efficacy in a phase IIa study. In addition, the majority of P. vivax antigen candidates are polymorphic, induce strain-specific and heterogeneous immunity and provide only partial protection. Nevertheless, immunization with recombinant proteins and multiantigen vaccines have shown promising results and have emerged as excellent strategies. However, more studies are necessary to assess the ideal vaccine combination and test it in clinical trials. Developing a safe and effective vaccine against vivax malaria is essential for controlling and eliminating the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what is already known to propose and identify new candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele Tatiane Soares da Veiga
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Parasites Research, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil,Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo Müller-Santos
- Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Parasites Research, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil,*Correspondence: Letusa Albrecht,
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Moita D, Maia TG, Duarte M, Andrade CM, Albuquerque IS, Dwivedi A, Silva JC, González-Céron L, Janse CJ, Mendes AM, Prudêncio M. A genetically modified Plasmodium berghei parasite as a surrogate for whole-sporozoite vaccination against P. vivax malaria. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:163. [PMID: 36526627 PMCID: PMC9755804 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00585-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Two malaria parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and P. vivax (Pv) are responsible for most of the disease burden caused by malaria. Vaccine development against this disease has focused mainly on Pf. Whole-sporozoite (WSp) vaccination, targeting pre-erythrocytic (PE) parasite stages, is a promising strategy for immunization against malaria and several PfWSp-based vaccine candidates are currently undergoing clinical evaluation. In contrast, no WSp candidates have been developed for Pv, mainly due to constraints in the production of Pv sporozoites in the laboratory. Recently, we developed a novel approach for WSp vaccination against Pf based on the use of transgenic rodent P. berghei (Pb) sporozoites expressing immunogens of this human-infective parasite. We showed that this platform can be used to deliver PE Pf antigens, eliciting both targeted humoral responses and cross-species cellular immune responses against Pf. Here we explored this WSp platform for the delivery of Pv antigens. As the Pv circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a leading vaccine candidate antigen, we generated a transgenic Pb parasite, PbviVac, that, in addition to its endogenous PbCSP, expresses PvCSP under the control of a strictly PE promoter. Immunofluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed that both the PbCSP and the PvCSP antigens are expressed in PbviVac sporozoites and liver stages and that PbviVac sporozoite infectivity of hepatic cells is similar to that of its wild-type Pb counterpart. Immunization of mice with PbviVac sporozoites elicits the production of anti-PvCSP antibodies that efficiently recognize and bind to Pv sporozoites. Our results warrant further development and evaluation of PbviVac as a surrogate for WSp vaccination against Pv malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moita
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Teresa G Maia
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Duarte
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolina M Andrade
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês S Albuquerque
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ankit Dwivedi
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lilia González-Céron
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Chris J Janse
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - António M Mendes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Abstract
"The Primate Malarias" book has been a uniquely important resource for multiple generations of scientists, since its debut in 1971, and remains pertinent to the present day. Indeed, nonhuman primates (NHPs) have been instrumental for major breakthroughs in basic and pre-clinical research on malaria for over 50 years. Research involving NHPs have provided critical insights and data that have been essential for malaria research on many parasite species, drugs, vaccines, pathogenesis, and transmission, leading to improved clinical care and advancing research goals for malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Whilst most malaria scientists over the decades have been studying Plasmodium falciparum, with NHP infections, in clinical studies with humans, or using in vitro culture or rodent model systems, others have been dedicated to advancing research on Plasmodium vivax, as well as on phylogenetically related simian species, including Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium coatneyi, and Plasmodium knowlesi. In-depth study of these four phylogenetically related species over the years has spawned the design of NHP longitudinal infection strategies for gathering information about ongoing infections, which can be related to human infections. These Plasmodium-NHP infection model systems are reviewed here, with emphasis on modern systems biological approaches to studying longitudinal infections, pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccines. Recent discoveries capitalizing on NHP longitudinal infections include an advanced understanding of chronic infections, relapses, anaemia, and immune memory. With quickly emerging new technological advances, more in-depth research and mechanistic discoveries can be anticipated on these and additional critical topics, including hypnozoite biology, antigenic variation, gametocyte transmission, bone marrow dysfunction, and loss of uninfected RBCs. New strategies and insights published by the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) are recapped here along with a vision that stresses the importance of educating future experts well trained in utilizing NHP infection model systems for the pursuit of innovative, effective interventions against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center (Yerkes National Primate Research Center), Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Tsuboi T, del Portillo HA, Mueller I. Editorial on the special issue on Plasmodium vivax: Current situation and challenges towards elimination. Parasitol Int 2022; 89:102594. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Liu ZSJ, Sattabongkot J, White M, Chotirat S, Kumpitak C, Takashima E, Harbers M, Tham WH, Healer J, Chitnis CE, Tsuboi T, Mueller I, Longley RJ. Naturally acquired antibody kinetics against Plasmodium vivax antigens in people from a low malaria transmission region in western Thailand. BMC Med 2022; 20:89. [PMID: 35260169 PMCID: PMC8904165 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02281-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is the dominant Plasmodium spp. causing the disease malaria in low-transmission regions outside of Africa. These regions often feature high proportions of asymptomatic patients with sub-microscopic parasitaemia and relapses. Naturally acquired antibody responses are induced after Plasmodium infection, providing partial protection against high parasitaemia and clinical episodes. However, previous work has failed to address the presence and maintenance of such antibody responses to P. vivax particularly in low-transmission regions. METHODS We followed 34 patients in western Thailand after symptomatic P. vivax infections to monitor antibody kinetics over 9 months, during which no recurrent infections occurred. We assessed total IgG, IgG subclass and IgM levels to up to 52 P. vivax proteins every 2-4 weeks using a multiplexed Luminex® assay and identified protein-specific variation in antibody longevity. Mathematical modelling was used to generate the estimated half-life of antibodies, long-, and short-lived antibody-secreting cells. RESULTS Generally, an increase in antibody level was observed within 1-week post symptomatic infection, followed by an exponential decay of different rates. We observed mostly IgG1 dominance and IgG3 sub-dominance in this population. IgM responses followed similar kinetic patterns to IgG, with some proteins unexpectedly inducing long-lived IgM responses. We also monitored antibody responses against 27 IgG-immunogenic antigens in 30 asymptomatic individuals from a similar region. Our results demonstrate that most antigens induced robust and long-lived total IgG responses following asymptomatic infections in the absence of (detected) boosting infections. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides new insights into the development and maintenance of naturally acquired immunity to P. vivax and will guide the potential use of serology to indicate immune status and/or identify populations at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Shih-Jung Liu
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Current affiliation: Deakin University, School of Medicine, IMPACT, Institute for Innovation in Physical and Mental Health and Clinical Translation, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Michael White
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Analytics G5 Unit, Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Sadudee Chotirat
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chalermpon Kumpitak
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Eizo Takashima
- Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Matthias Harbers
- CellFree Sciences Co., Ltd., Yokohama, Japan and RIKEN Centre for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Julie Healer
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Chetan E Chitnis
- Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines, Department of Parasites & Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Ivo Mueller
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Rhea J Longley
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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