1
|
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.
Collapse
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
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Moskovitz R, Pholcharee T, DonVito SM, Guloglu B, Lowe E, Mohring F, Moon RW, Higgins MK. Structural basis for DARC binding in reticulocyte invasion by Plasmodium vivax. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3637. [PMID: 37336887 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39357-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The symptoms of malaria occur during the blood stage of infection, when the parasite replicates within human red blood cells. The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax, selectively invades reticulocytes in a process which requires an interaction between the ectodomain of the human DARC receptor and the Plasmodium vivax Duffy-binding protein, PvDBP. Previous studies have revealed that a small helical peptide from DARC binds to region II of PvDBP (PvDBP-RII). However, it is also known that sulphation of tyrosine residues on DARC affects its binding to PvDBP and these residues were not observed in previous structures. We therefore present the structure of PvDBP-RII bound to sulphated DARC peptide, showing that a sulphate on tyrosine 41 binds to a charged pocket on PvDBP-RII. We use molecular dynamics simulations, affinity measurements and growth-inhibition experiments in parasites to confirm the importance of this interaction. We also reveal the epitope for vaccine-elicited growth-inhibitory antibody DB1. This provides a complete understanding of the binding of PvDBP-RII to DARC and will guide the design of vaccines and therapeutics to target this essential interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Re'em Moskovitz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Tossapol Pholcharee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Sophia M DonVito
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Bora Guloglu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Edward Lowe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Franziska Mohring
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Robert W Moon
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ndegwa DN, Kundu P, Hostetler JB, Marin-Menendez A, Sanderson T, Mwikali K, Verzier LH, Coyle R, Adjalley S, Rayner JC. Using Plasmodium knowlesi as a model for screening Plasmodium vivax blood-stage malaria vaccine targets reveals new candidates. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1008864. [PMID: 34197567 PMCID: PMC8279373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is responsible for the majority of malaria cases outside Africa. Unlike P. falciparum, the P. vivax life-cycle includes a dormant liver stage, the hypnozoite, which can cause infection in the absence of mosquito transmission. An effective vaccine against P. vivax blood stages would limit symptoms and pathology from such recurrent infections, and therefore could play a critical role in the control of this species. Vaccine development in P. vivax, however, lags considerably behind P. falciparum, which has many identified targets with several having transitioned to Phase II testing. By contrast only one P. vivax blood-stage vaccine candidate based on the Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP), has reached Phase Ia, in large part because the lack of a continuous in vitro culture system for P. vivax limits systematic screening of new candidates. We used the close phylogenetic relationship between P. vivax and P. knowlesi, for which an in vitro culture system in human erythrocytes exists, to test the scalability of systematic reverse vaccinology to identify and prioritise P. vivax blood-stage targets. A panel of P. vivax proteins predicted to function in erythrocyte invasion were expressed as full-length recombinant ectodomains in a mammalian expression system. Eight of these antigens were used to generate polyclonal antibodies, which were screened for their ability to recognize orthologous proteins in P. knowlesi. These antibodies were then tested for inhibition of growth and invasion of both wild type P. knowlesi and chimeric P. knowlesi lines modified using CRISPR/Cas9 to exchange P. knowlesi genes with their P. vivax orthologues. Candidates that induced antibodies that inhibited invasion to a similar level as PvDBP were identified, confirming the utility of P. knowlesi as a model for P. vivax vaccine development and prioritizing antigens for further follow up.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duncan N. Ndegwa
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Embu, Embu, Kenya
| | - Prasun Kundu
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica B. Hostetler
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Theo Sanderson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kioko Mwikali
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa H. Verzier
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Coyle
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Adjalley
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julian C. Rayner
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
De SL, Ntumngia FB, Nicholas J, Adams JH. Progress towards the development of a P. vivax vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:97-112. [PMID: 33481638 PMCID: PMC7994195 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1880898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Plasmodium vivax causes significant public health problems in endemic regions. A vaccine to prevent disease is critical, considering the rapid spread of drug-resistant parasite strains, and the development of hypnozoites in the liver with potential for relapse. A minimally effective vaccine should prevent disease and transmission while an ideal vaccine provides sterile immunity. AREAS COVERED Despite decades of research, the complex life cycle, technical challenges and a lack of funding have hampered progress of P. vivax vaccine development. Here, we review the progress of potential P. vivax vaccine candidates from different stages of the parasite life cycle. We also highlight the challenges and important strategies for rational vaccine design. These factors can significantly increase immune effector mechanisms and improve the protective efficacy of these candidates in clinical trials to generate sustained protection over longer periods of time. EXPERT OPINION A vaccine that presents functionally-conserved epitopes from multiple antigens from various stages of the parasite life cycle is key to induce broadly neutralizing strain-transcending protective immunity to effectively disrupt parasite development and transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sai Lata De
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| | - Justin Nicholas
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schäfer C, Roobsoong W, Kangwanrangsan N, Bardelli M, Rawlinson TA, Dambrauskas N, Trakhimets O, Parthiban C, Goswami D, Reynolds LM, Kennedy SY, Flannery EL, Murphy SC, Sather DN, Draper SJ, Sattabongkot J, Mikolajczak SA, Kappe SHI. A Humanized Mouse Model for Plasmodium vivax to Test Interventions that Block Liver Stage to Blood Stage Transition and Blood Stage Infection. iScience 2020; 23:101381. [PMID: 32739836 PMCID: PMC7399188 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax remains vastly understudied, mainly due to the lack of suitable laboratory models. Here, we report a humanized mouse model to test interventions that block P. vivax parasite transition from liver stage infection to blood stage infection. Human liver-chimeric FRGN huHep mice infected with P. vivax sporozoites were infused with human reticulocytes, allowing transition of exo-erythrocytic merozoites to reticulocyte infection and development into all erythrocytic forms, including gametocytes, in vivo. In order to test the utility of this model for preclinical assessment of interventions, the invasion blocking potential of a monoclonal antibody targeting the essential interaction of the P. vivax Duffy Binding Protein with the Duffy antigen receptor was tested by passive immunization. This antibody inhibited invasion by over 95%, providing unprecedented in vivo evidence that PvDBP constitutes a promising blood stage vaccine candidate and proving our model highly suitable to test blood stage interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carola Schäfer
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Niwat Kangwanrangsan
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | | | | | - Nicholas Dambrauskas
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Olesya Trakhimets
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Chaitra Parthiban
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Debashree Goswami
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Laura M Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Spencer Y Kennedy
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Erika L Flannery
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - D Noah Sather
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Simon J Draper
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sebastian A Mikolajczak
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Han JH, Cho JS, Ong JJY, Park JH, Nyunt MH, Sutanto E, Trimarsanto H, Petros B, Aseffa A, Getachew S, Sriprawat K, Anstey NM, Grigg MJ, Barber BE, William T, Qi G, Liu Y, Pearson RD, Auburn S, Price RN, Nosten F, Rénia L, Russell B, Han ET. Genetic diversity and neutral selection in Plasmodium vivax erythrocyte binding protein correlates with patient antigenicity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008202. [PMID: 32645098 PMCID: PMC7347095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread and difficult to treat cause of human malaria. The development of vaccines against the blood stages of P. vivax remains a key objective for the control and elimination of vivax malaria. Erythrocyte binding-like (EBL) protein family members such as Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) are of critical importance to erythrocyte invasion and have been the major target for vivax malaria vaccine development. In this study, we focus on another member of EBL protein family, P. vivax erythrocyte binding protein (PvEBP). PvEBP was first identified in Cambodian (C127) field isolates and has subsequently been showed its preferences for binding reticulocytes which is directly inhibited by antibodies. We analysed PvEBP sequence from 316 vivax clinical isolates from eight countries including China (n = 4), Ethiopia (n = 24), Malaysia (n = 53), Myanmar (n = 10), Papua New Guinea (n = 16), Republic of Korea (n = 10), Thailand (n = 174), and Vietnam (n = 25). PvEBP gene exhibited four different phenotypic clusters based on the insertion/deletion (indels) variation. PvEBP-RII (179-479 aa.) showed highest polymorphism similar to other EBL family proteins in various Plasmodium species. Whereas even though PvEBP-RIII-V (480-690 aa.) was the most conserved domain, that showed strong neutral selection pressure for gene purifying with significant population expansion. Antigenicity of both of PvEBP-RII (16.1%) and PvEBP-RIII-V (21.5%) domains were comparatively lower than other P. vivax antigen which expected antigens associated with merozoite invasion. Total IgG recognition level of PvEBP-RII was stronger than PvEBP-RIII-V domain, whereas total IgG inducing level was stronger in PvEBP-RIII-V domain. These results suggest that PvEBP-RII is mainly recognized by natural IgG for innate protection, whereas PvEBP-RIII-V stimulates IgG production activity by B-cell for acquired immunity. Overall, the low antigenicity of both regions in patients with vivax malaria likely reflects genetic polymorphism for strong positive selection in PvEBP-RII and purifying selection in PvEBP-RIII-V domain. These observations pose challenging questions to the selection of EBP and point out the importance of immune pressure and polymorphism required for inclusion of PvEBP as a vaccine candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee-Sun Cho
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- Jenner Institute, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica J. Y. Ong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ji-Hoon Park
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Edwin Sutanto
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Beyene Petros
- College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abraham Aseffa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Jimma Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sisay Getachew
- College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Jimma Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kanlaya Sriprawat
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Nicholas M. Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Matthew J. Grigg
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Bridget E. Barber
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Timothy William
- Infectious Diseases Society Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Sabah, Malaysia
- Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah, Malaysia
- Gleneagles Hospital, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Gao Qi
- Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaobao Liu
- Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Richard D. Pearson
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Auburn
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ric N. Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Francois Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Rénia
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Bruce Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Structural basis for inhibition of Plasmodium vivax invasion by a broadly neutralizing vaccine-induced human antibody. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:1497-1507. [PMID: 31133755 PMCID: PMC6711757 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0462-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The most widespread form of malaria is caused by Plasmodium vivax. To replicate, this parasite must invade immature red blood cells, through a process which requires interaction of the Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein, PvDBP with its human receptor, the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines, DARC. Naturally acquired antibodies that inhibit this interaction associate with clinical immunity, suggesting PvDBP as a leading candidate for inclusion in a vaccine to prevent malaria due to Plasmodium vivax. Here, we isolated a panel of monoclonal antibodies from human volunteers immunised in a clinical vaccine trial of PvDBP. We screened their ability to prevent PvDBP from binding to DARC, and their capacity to block red blood cell invasion by a transgenic Plasmodium knowlesi parasite genetically modified to express PvDBP and to prevent reticulocyte invasion by multiple clinical isolates of Plasmodium vivax. This identified a broadly neutralising human monoclonal antibody which inhibited invasion of all tested strains of Plasmodium vivax. Finally, we determined the structure of a complex of this antibody bound to PvDBP, indicating the molecular basis for inhibition. These findings will guide future vaccine design strategies and open up possibilities for testing the prophylactic use of such an antibody.
Collapse
|
9
|
Payne RO, Silk SE, Elias SC, Milne KH, Rawlinson TA, Llewellyn D, Shakri AR, Jin J, Labbé GM, Edwards NJ, Poulton ID, Roberts R, Farid R, Jørgensen T, Alanine DG, de Cassan SC, Higgins MK, Otto TD, McCarthy JS, de Jongh WA, Nicosia A, Moyle S, Hill AV, Berrie E, Chitnis CE, Lawrie AM, Draper SJ. Human vaccination against Plasmodium vivax Duffy-binding protein induces strain-transcending antibodies. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93683. [PMID: 28614791 PMCID: PMC5470884 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread human malaria geographically; however, no effective vaccine exists. Red blood cell invasion by the P. vivax merozoite depends on an interaction between the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) and region II of the parasite’s Duffy-binding protein (PvDBP_RII). Naturally acquired binding-inhibitory antibodies against this interaction associate with clinical immunity, but it is unknown whether these responses can be induced by human vaccination. METHODS. Safety and immunogenicity of replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus serotype 63 (ChAd63) and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) viral vectored vaccines targeting PvDBP_RII (Salvador I strain) were assessed in an open-label dose-escalation phase Ia study in 24 healthy UK adults. Vaccines were delivered by the intramuscular route in a ChAd63-MVA heterologous prime-boost regimen using an 8-week interval. RESULTS. Both vaccines were well tolerated and demonstrated a favorable safety profile in malaria-naive adults. PvDBP_RII–specific ex-vivo IFN-γ T cell, antibody-secreting cell, memory B cell, and serum IgG responses were observed after the MVA boost immunization. Vaccine-induced antibodies inhibited the binding of vaccine homologous and heterologous variants of recombinant PvDBP_RII to the DARC receptor, with median 50% binding-inhibition titers greater than 1:100. CONCLUSION. We have demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge that strain-transcending antibodies can be induced against the PvDBP_RII antigen by vaccination in humans. These vaccine candidates warrant further clinical evaluation of efficacy against the blood-stage P. vivax parasite. TRIAL REGISTRATION. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01816113. FUNDING. Support was provided by the UK Medical Research Council, UK National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and the Wellcome Trust. A clinical trial of a candidate blood-stage Plasmodium vivax vaccine targeting the Duffy-binding protein demonstrates safety and immunogenicity in healthy adults and induces strain-transcending antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth O Payne
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Silk
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sean C Elias
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn H Milne
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Llewellyn
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - A Rushdi Shakri
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
| | - Jing Jin
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nick J Edwards
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ian D Poulton
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Roberts
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Farid
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas Jørgensen
- ExpreS2, ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | | | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas D Otto
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - James S McCarthy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Willem A de Jongh
- ExpreS2, ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Alfredo Nicosia
- ReiThera SRL (formerly Okairòs SRL), Viale Città d'Europa, Rome, Italy.,CEINGE, Naples, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Sarah Moyle
- Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Vs Hill
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Berrie
- Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Chetan E Chitnis
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.,Institut Pasteur, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Paris, France
| | - Alison M Lawrie
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J Draper
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cheng Y, Lu F, Wang B, Li J, Han JH, Ito D, Kong DH, Jiang L, Wu J, Ha KS, Takashima E, Sattabongkot J, Cao J, Nyunt MH, Kyaw MP, Desai SA, Miller LH, Tsuboi T, Han ET. Plasmodium vivax GPI-anchored micronemal antigen (PvGAMA) binds human erythrocytes independent of Duffy antigen status. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35581. [PMID: 27759110 PMCID: PMC5069673 DOI: 10.1038/srep35581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax, a major agent of malaria in both temperate and tropical climates, has been thought to be unable to infect humans lacking the Duffy (Fy) blood group antigen because this receptor is critical for erythrocyte invasion. Recent surveys in various endemic regions, however, have reported P. vivax infections in Duffy-negative individuals, suggesting that the parasite may utilize alternative receptor-ligand pairs to complete the erythrocyte invasion. Here, we identified and characterized a novel parasite ligand, Plasmodium vivax GPI-anchored micronemal antigen (PvGAMA), that bound human erythrocytes regardless of Duffy antigen status. PvGAMA was localized at the microneme in the mature schizont-stage parasites. The antibodies against PvGAMA fragments inhibited PvGAMA binding to erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. The erythrocyte-specific binding activities of PvGAMA were significantly reduced by chymotrypsin treatment. Thus, PvGAMA may be an adhesion molecule for the invasion of Duffy-positive and -negative human erythrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cheng
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Parasitology, Wuxi Medical School, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.,Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Feng Lu
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Parasitology, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD 20852, USA.,Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Deok-Hoon Kong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Unit of Human Parasite Molecular and Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Kwon-Soo Ha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Eizo Takashima
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jun Cao
- Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's China
| | - Myat Htut Nyunt
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | | | - Sanjay A Desai
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Louis H Miller
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Development of vaccines for Plasmodium vivax malaria. Vaccine 2015; 33:7489-95. [PMID: 26428453 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.09.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax continues to cause significant morbidity outside Africa with more than 50% of malaria cases in many parts of South and South-east Asia, Pacific islands, Central and South America being attributed to P. vivax infections. The unique biology of P. vivax, including its ability to form latent hypnozoites that emerge months to years later to cause blood stage infections, early appearance of gametocytes before clinical symptoms are apparent and a shorter development cycle in the vector makes elimination of P. vivax using standard control tools difficult. The availability of an effective vaccine that provides protection and prevents transmission would be a valuable tool in efforts to eliminate P. vivax. Here, we review the latest developments related to P. vivax malaria vaccines and discuss the challenges as well as directions toward the goal of developing highly efficacious vaccines against P. vivax malaria.
Collapse
|
12
|
de Cassan SC, Shakri AR, Llewellyn D, Elias SC, Cho JS, Goodman AL, Jin J, Douglas AD, Suwanarusk R, Nosten FH, Rénia L, Russell B, Chitnis CE, Draper SJ. Preclinical Assessment of Viral Vectored and Protein Vaccines Targeting the Duffy-Binding Protein Region II of Plasmodium Vivax. Front Immunol 2015. [PMID: 26217340 PMCID: PMC4495344 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria vaccine development has largely focused on Plasmodium falciparum; however, a reawakening to the importance of Plasmodium vivax has spurred efforts to develop vaccines against this difficult to treat and at times severe form of relapsing malaria, which constitutes a significant proportion of human malaria cases worldwide. The almost complete dependence of P. vivax red blood cell invasion on the interaction of the P. vivax Duffy-binding protein region II (PvDBP_RII) with the human Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) makes this antigen an attractive vaccine candidate against blood-stage P. vivax. Here, we generated both preclinical and clinically compatible adenoviral and poxviral vectored vaccine candidates expressing the Salvador I allele of PvDBP_RII – including human adenovirus serotype 5 (HAdV5), chimpanzee adenovirus serotype 63 (ChAd63), and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors. We report on the antibody and T cell immunogenicity of these vaccines in mice or rabbits, either used alone in a viral vectored prime-boost regime or in “mixed-modality” adenovirus prime – protein-in-adjuvant boost regimes (using a recombinant PvDBP_RII protein antigen formulated in Montanide®ISA720 or Abisco®100 adjuvants). Antibodies induced by these regimes were found to bind to native parasite antigen from P. vivax infected Thai patients and were capable of inhibiting the binding of PvDBP_RII to its receptor DARC using an in vitro binding inhibition assay. In recent years, recombinant ChAd63 and MVA vectors have been quickly translated into human clinical trials for numerous antigens from P. falciparum as well as a growing number of other pathogens. The vectors reported here are immunogenic in small animals, elicit antibodies against PvDBP_RII, and have recently entered clinical trials, which will provide the first assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of the PvDBP_RII antigen in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - A Rushdi Shakri
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , New Delhi , India
| | | | - Sean C Elias
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Jee Sun Cho
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore , Singapore , Singapore ; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) , Singapore , Singapore
| | - Anna L Goodman
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Jing Jin
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | | | - Rossarin Suwanarusk
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore , Singapore , Singapore ; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) , Singapore , Singapore
| | - François H Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University , Mae Sot , Thailand
| | - Laurent Rénia
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore , Singapore , Singapore ; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) , Singapore , Singapore
| | - Bruce Russell
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore , Singapore , Singapore
| | - Chetan E Chitnis
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , New Delhi , India
| | - Simon J Draper
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
't Hart BA, Bogers WM, Haanstra KG, Verreck FA, Kocken CH. The translational value of non-human primates in preclinical research on infection and immunopathology. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 759:69-83. [PMID: 25814254 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The immune system plays a central role in the defense against environmental threats - such as infection with viruses, parasites or bacteria - but can also be a cause of disease, such as in the case of allergic or autoimmune disorders. In the past decades the impressive development of biotechnology has provided scientists with biological tools for the development of highly selective treatments for the different types of disorders. However, despite some clear successes the translation of scientific discoveries into effective treatments has remained challenging. The often-disappointing predictive validity of the preclinical animal models that are used in the selection of the most promising vaccine or drug candidates is the Achilles heel in the therapy development process. This publication summarizes the relevance and usage of non-human primates as pre-clinical model in infectious and autoimmune diseases, in particular for biologicals, which due to their high species-specificity are inactive in lower species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bert A 't Hart
- Department Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Department Neuroscience, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Willy M Bogers
- Department Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
| | - Krista G Haanstra
- Department Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
| | - Frank A Verreck
- Department Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
| | - Clemens H Kocken
- Department Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
de Sousa TN, Kano FS, de Brito CFA, Carvalho LH. The Duffy binding protein as a key target for a Plasmodium vivax vaccine: lessons from the Brazilian Amazon. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 109:608-17. [PMID: 25185002 PMCID: PMC4156454 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax infects human erythrocytes through a major pathway that requires interaction between an apical parasite protein, the Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) and its receptor on reticulocytes, the Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC). The importance of the interaction between PvDBP (region II, DBPII) and DARC to P. vivax infection has motivated our malaria research group at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) to conduct a number of immunoepidemiological studies to characterise the naturally acquired immunity to PvDBP in populations living in the Amazon rainforest. In this review, we provide an update on the immunology and molecular epidemiology of PvDBP in the Brazilian Amazon - an area of markedly unstable malaria transmission - and compare it with data from other parts of Latin America, as well as Asia and Oceania.
Collapse
|
15
|
Arévalo-Herrera M, Forero-Peña DA, Rubiano K, Gómez-Hincapie J, Martínez NL, Lopez-Perez M, Castellanos A, Céspedes N, Palacios R, Oñate JM, Herrera S. Plasmodium vivax sporozoite challenge in malaria-naïve and semi-immune Colombian volunteers. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99754. [PMID: 24963662 PMCID: PMC4070897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Significant progress has been recently achieved in the development of Plasmodium vivax challenge infections in humans, which are essential for vaccine and drug testing. With the goal of accelerating clinical development of malaria vaccines, the outcome of infections experimentally induced in naïve and semi-immune volunteers by infected mosquito bites was compared. Methods Seven malaria-naïve and nine semi-immune Colombian adults (n = 16) were subjected to the bites of 2–4 P. vivax sporozoite-infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Parasitemia levels, malaria clinical manifestations, and immune responses were assessed and compared. Results All volunteers developed infections as confirmed by microscopy and RT-qPCR. No significant difference in the pre-patent period (mean 12.5 and 12.8 days for malaria-naïve and malaria-exposed, respectively) was observed but naïve volunteers developed classical malaria signs and symptoms, while semi-immune volunteers displayed minor or no symptoms at the day of diagnosis. A malaria-naïve volunteer developed a transient low submicroscopic parasitemia that cured spontaneously. Infection induced an increase in specific antibody levels in both groups. Conclusion Sporozoite infectious challenge was safe and reproducible in semi-immune and naïve volunteers. This model will provide information for simultaneous comparison of the protective efficacy of P. vivax vaccines in naïve and semi-immune volunteers under controlled conditions and would accelerate P. vivax vaccine development. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT01585077
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- School of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | - David A. Forero-Peña
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Kelly Rubiano
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - José Gómez-Hincapie
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Nora L. Martínez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Mary Lopez-Perez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Angélica Castellanos
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Nora Céspedes
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- School of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | - Sócrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Céspedes N, Habel C, Lopez-Perez M, Castellanos A, Kajava AV, Servis C, Felger I, Moret R, Arévalo-Herrera M, Corradin G, Herrera S. Plasmodium vivax antigen discovery based on alpha-helical coiled coil protein motif. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100440. [PMID: 24959747 PMCID: PMC4069070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein α-helical coiled coil structures that elicit antibody responses, which block critical functions of medically important microorganisms, represent a means for vaccine development. By using bioinformatics algorithms, a total of 50 antigens with α-helical coiled coil motifs orthologous to Plasmodium falciparum were identified in the P. vivax genome. The peptides identified in silico were chemically synthesized; circular dichroism studies indicated partial or high α-helical content. Antigenicity was evaluated using human sera samples from malaria-endemic areas of Colombia and Papua New Guinea. Eight of these fragments were selected and used to assess immunogenicity in BALB/c mice. ELISA assays indicated strong reactivity of serum samples from individuals residing in malaria-endemic regions and sera of immunized mice, with the α-helical coiled coil structures. In addition, ex vivo production of IFN-γ by murine mononuclear cells confirmed the immunogenicity of these structures and the presence of T-cell epitopes in the peptide sequences. Moreover, sera of mice immunized with four of the eight antigens recognized native proteins on blood-stage P. vivax parasites, and antigenic cross-reactivity with three of the peptides was observed when reacted with both the P. falciparum orthologous fragments and whole parasites. Results here point to the α-helical coiled coil peptides as possible P. vivax malaria vaccine candidates as were observed for P. falciparum. Fragments selected here warrant further study in humans and non-human primate models to assess their protective efficacy as single components or assembled as hybrid linear epitopes.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Motifs
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/chemistry
- Antigens, Protozoan/genetics
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- Circular Dichroism
- Computational Biology
- Cross Reactions/immunology
- Databases, Genetic
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Genome, Protozoan
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Mice
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/immunology
- Plasmodium vivax/genetics
- Plasmodium vivax/immunology
- Protein Structure, Secondary
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Céspedes
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- School of Health, University of Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Catherine Habel
- Biochemistry Department, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Angélica Castellanos
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Fundación Centro de Primates, Cali, Colombia
| | - Andrey V. Kajava
- Centre de Recherches de Biochimie Macromoleculaire (CRBM) and Institut de Biologie Computationnelle (IBC), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- University ITMO, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Catherine Servis
- Biochemistry Department, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ingrid Felger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Remy Moret
- Hôpital Saint Camille, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- School of Health, University of Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Sócrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Patarroyo MA, Calderón D, Moreno-Pérez DA. Vaccines againstPlasmodium vivax: a research challenge. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 11:1249-60. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.12.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
18
|
Shakri AR, Rizvi MMA, Chitnis CE. Development of quantitative receptor-ligand binding assay for use as a tool to estimate immune responses against Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein Region II. J Immunoassay Immunochem 2013; 33:403-13. [PMID: 22963489 DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2012.659781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies generated against Region II of Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvRII) can block binding of this parasite ligand to its receptor, the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), and prevent erythrocyte infection by the parasite. An in vitro functional assay that can serve as an immune correlate of an antigen activity is an important tool to guide vaccine development. We describe here the development of a quantitative binding assay and its use to study immune responses against PvRII. The assay was used to test anti-PvRII mouse sera, and was found a useful tool for quantitative estimation of anti-PvRII blocking antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Rushdi Shakri
- Malaria Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Kano FS, Sanchez BAM, Sousa TN, Tang ML, Saliba J, Oliveira FM, Nogueira PA, Gonçalves AQ, Fontes CJF, Soares IS, Brito CFA, Rocha RS, Carvalho LH. Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein: baseline antibody responses and parasite polymorphisms in a well-consolidated settlement of the Amazon Region. Trop Med Int Health 2012; 17:989-1000. [PMID: 22643072 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.03016.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate risk factors associated with the acquisition of antibodies against Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) - a leading malaria vaccine candidate - in a well-consolidated agricultural settlement of the Brazilian Amazon Region and to determine the sequence diversity of the PvDBP ligand domain (DBP(II)) within the local malaria parasite population. METHODS Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data were collected from 541 volunteers using a structured questionnaire. Malaria parasites were detected by conventional microscopy and PCR, and blood collection was used for antibody assays and molecular characterisation of DBP(II). RESULTS The frequency of malaria infection was 7% (6% for P. vivax and 1% for P. falciparum), with malaria cases clustered near mosquito breeding sites. Nearly 50% of settlers had anti-PvDBP IgG antibodies, as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with subject's age being the only strong predictor of seropositivity to PvDBP. Unexpectedly, low levels of DBP(II) diversity were found within the local malaria parasites, suggesting the existence of low gene flow between P. vivax populations, probably due to the relative isolation of the studied settlement. CONCLUSION The recognition of PvDBP by a significant proportion of the community, associated with low levels of DBP(II) diversity among local P. vivax, reinforces the variety of malaria transmission patterns in communities from frontier settlements. Such studies should provide baseline information for antimalarial vaccines now in development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flora S Kano
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Valencia SH, Rodríguez DC, Acero DL, Ocampo V, Arévalo-Herrera M. Platform for Plasmodium vivax vaccine discovery and development. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106 Suppl 1:179-92. [PMID: 21881773 PMCID: PMC4832982 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000900023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the American continent. It generates a global burden of 80-100 million cases annually and represents a tremendous public health problem, particularly in the American and Asian continents. A malaria vaccine would be considered the most cost-effective measure against this vector-borne disease and it would contribute to a reduction in malaria cases and to eventual eradication. Although significant progress has been achieved in the search for Plasmodium falciparum antigens that could be used in a vaccine, limited progress has been made in the search for P. vivax components that might be eligible for vaccine development. This is primarily due to the lack of in vitro cultures to serve as an antigen source and to inadequate funding. While the most advanced P. falciparum vaccine candidate is currently being tested in Phase III trials in Africa, the most advanced P. vivax candidates have only advanced to Phase I trials. Herein, we describe the overall strategy and progress in P. vivax vaccine research, from antigen discovery to preclinical and clinical development and we discuss the regional potential of Latin America to develop a comprehensive platform for vaccine development.
Collapse
|
21
|
Wiley SR, Raman VS, Desbien A, Bailor HR, Bhardwaj R, Shakri AR, Reed SG, Chitnis CE, Carter D. Targeting TLRs Expands the Antibody Repertoire in Response to a Malaria Vaccine. Sci Transl Med 2011; 3:93ra69. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
22
|
Maestre A, Muskus C, Duque V, Agudelo O, Liu P, Takagi A, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Sim KL, Hoffman SL, Corradin G, Velez ID, Wang R. Acquired antibody responses against Plasmodium vivax infection vary with host genotype for duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC). PLoS One 2010; 5:e11437. [PMID: 20664684 PMCID: PMC2896388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2009] [Accepted: 04/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Polymorphism of the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) is associated with susceptibility to and the severity of Plasmodium vivax malaria in humans. P. vivax uses DARC to invade erythrocytes. Individuals lacking DARC are ‘resistant’ to P. vivax erythrocytic infection. However, susceptibility to P. vivax in DARC+ individuals is reported to vary between specific DARC genotypes. We hypothesized that the natural acquisition of antibodies to P. vivax blood stages may vary with the host genotype and the level of DARC expression. Furthermore, high parasitemia has been reported to effect the acquisition of immunity against pre-erythrocytic parasites. We investigated the correlation between host DARC genotypes and the frequency and magnitude of antibodies against P. vivax erythrocytic stage antigens. Methodology/Findings We assessed the frequencies and magnitudes of antibody responses against P. vivax and P. falciparum sporozoite and erythrocytic antigens in Colombian donors from malaria-endemic regions. The frequency and level of naturally-acquired antibodies against the P. vivax erythrocytic antigens merozoite surface protein 1 (PvMSP1) and Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) varied with the host DARC genotypes. Donors with one negative allele (FY*B/FY*Bnull and FY*A/FY*Bnull) were more likely to have anti-PvMSP1 and anti-PvDBP antibodies than those with two positive alleles (FY*B/FY*B and FY*A/FY*B). The lower IgG3 and IgG1 components of the total IgG response may account for the decreased responses to P. vivax erythrocytic antigens with FY*A/FY*B and FY*B/FY*B genotypes. No such association was detected with P. falciparum erythrocytic antigens, which does not use DARC for erythrocyte invasion. Conclusion/Significance Individuals with higher DARC expression, which is associated with higher susceptibility to P. vivax infection, exhibited low frequencies and magnitudes of P. vivax blood-stage specific antibody responses. This may indicate that one of the primary mechanisms by which P. vivax evades host immunity is through DARC indirectly down-regulating humoral responses against erythrocytic invasion and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Maestre
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Muskus
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Victoria Duque
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Olga Agudelo
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Pu Liu
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Akihide Takagi
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - John H. Adams
- University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kim Lee Sim
- Protein Potential LLC., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | - Ivan D. Velez
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ruobing Wang
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Teo YY, Small KS, Kwiatkowski DP. Methodological challenges of genome-wide association analysis in Africa. Nat Rev Genet 2010; 11:149-60. [PMID: 20084087 PMCID: PMC3769612 DOI: 10.1038/nrg2731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Medical research in Africa has yet to benefit from the advent of genome-wide association (GWA) analysis, partly because the genotyping tools and statistical methods that have been developed for European and Asian populations struggle to deal with the high levels of genome diversity and population structure in Africa. However, the haplotypic diversity of African populations might help to overcome one of the major roadblocks in GWA research, the fine mapping of causal variants. We review the methodological challenges and consider how GWA studies in Africa will be transformed by new approaches in statistical imputation and large-scale genome sequencing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yik-Ying Teo
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kerrin S. Small
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Dominic P. Kwiatkowski
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kap YS, van Meurs M, van Driel N, Koopman G, Melief MJ, Brok HPM, Laman JD, 't Hart BA. A monoclonal antibody selection for immunohistochemical examination of lymphoid tissues from non-human primates. J Histochem Cytochem 2009; 57:1159-67. [PMID: 19729671 DOI: 10.1369/jhc.2009.954123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-human primates (NHPs) offer valuable animal models for basic research into human diseases and for the preclinical validation of new therapeutics. Detailed in situ examination of the involved cell types using immunohistochemistry is often hampered by the lack of cross-reactive antibodies (Abs). In the current study, we have tested a large panel of monoclonal antibodies raised against human leukocyte differentiation and activation markers for cross-reactivity on cryosections of lymphoid tissue from six NHP species. In total, we have tested 130 Abs against 69 antigens expressed in tissues from one great ape species (chimpanzee/Pan troglodytes), two Old World species (rhesus macaque/Macaca mulatta and cynomolgus macaque/Macaca fascicularis), and three New World species (common marmoset/Callithrix jacchus, cotton-top tamarin/Saguinus oedipus, and owl monkey/Aotus triviogatus). We have found a large panel of cross-reactive Abs: 93 of 102 (91%) in chimpanzee, 97 of 125 (78%) in rhesus macaque, 70 of 109 (64%) in cynomolgus macaque, 69 of 116 (60%) in common marmoset, 40 of 81 (49%) in cotton-top tamarin, and 35 of 80 (44%) in owl monkey. The availability of a reliable panel of cross-reactive markers is important to gaining further insight into immunological processes in disease-affected tissues from NHP species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda S Kap
- Departments of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Key gaps in the knowledge of Plasmodium vivax, a neglected human malaria parasite. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2009; 9:555-66. [PMID: 19695492 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(09)70177-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 467] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
26
|
Abstract
The Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokine (DARC) is a seven segment transmembrane protein. It was firstly discovered as a blood group antigen and was the first specific gene locus assigned to a specific autosome in man. It became more famous as an erythrocyte receptor for malaria parasites (Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi), and finally for chemokines. DARC is an unorthodox chemokine receptor as (i) it binds chemokines of both CC and CXC classes and (ii) it lacks the Asp-Arg-Tyr consensus motif in its second cytoplasmic loop hence cannot couple to G proteins and activate their signaling pathways. DARC had also been associated to cancer progression, numerous inflammatory diseases, and possibly to AIDS. In this review, we will summarize important biological data on DARC. Then we shall focus on recent development of the elaboration and analyzes of structural models of DARC. We underline the difficulty to propose pertinent structural models of transmembrane protein using comparative modeling process, and other dedicated approaches as the Protein Blocks. The chosen structural models encompass most of the biochemical data known to date. Finally, we present recent development of protein-protein docking between DARC structural models and CXCL-8 structures. We propose a hierarchical search based on separated rigid and flexible docking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre G de Brevern
- INSERM UMR-S 665, Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7, Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, 6, rue Alexandre Cabanel, 75739 Paris 15, France.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
More attention is being focused on malaria today than any time since the world's last efforts to achieve eradication over 40 years ago. The global community is now discussing strategies aimed at dramatically reducing malarial disease burden and the eventual eradication of all types of malaria, everywhere. As a consequence, Plasmodium vivax, which has long been neglected and mistakenly considered inconsequential, is now entering into the strategic debates taking place on malaria epidemiology and control, drug resistance, pathogenesis and vaccines. Thus, contrary to the past, the malaria research community is becoming more aware and concerned about the widespread spectrum of illness and death caused by up to a couple of hundred million cases of vivax malaria each year. This review brings these issues to light and provides an overview of P. vivax vaccine development, then and now. Progress had been slow, given inherent research challenges and minimal support in the past, but prospects are looking better for making headway in the next few years. P. vivax, known to invade the youngest red blood cells, the reticulocytes, presents a strong challenge towards developing a reliable long-term culture system to facilitate needed research. The P. vivax genome was published recently, and vivax researchers now need to coordinate efforts to discover new vaccine candidates, establish new vaccine approaches, capitalize on non-human primate models for testing, and investigate the unique biological features of P. vivax, including the elusive P. vivax hypnozoites. Comparative studies on both P. falciparum and P. vivax in many areas of research will be essential to eradicate malaria. And to this end, the education and training of future generations of dedicated "malariologists" to advance our knowledge, understanding and the development of new interventions against each of the malaria species infecting humans also will be essential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - John W Barnwell
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|