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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: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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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2
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Gimenez AM, Marques RF, Regiart M, Bargieri DY. Diagnostic Methods for Non-Falciparum Malaria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:681063. [PMID: 34222049 PMCID: PMC8248680 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.681063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a serious public health problem that affects mostly the poorest countries in the world, killing more than 400,000 people per year, mainly children under 5 years old. Among the control and prevention strategies, the differential diagnosis of the Plasmodium-infecting species is an important factor for selecting a treatment and, consequently, for preventing the spread of the disease. One of the main difficulties for the detection of a specific Plasmodium sp is that most of the existing methods for malaria diagnosis focus on detecting P. falciparum. Thus, in many cases, the diagnostic methods neglect the other non-falciparum species and underestimate their prevalence and severity. Traditional methods for diagnosing malaria may present low specificity or sensitivity to non-falciparum spp. Therefore, there is high demand for new alternative methods able to differentiate Plasmodium species in a faster, cheaper and easier manner to execute. This review details the classical procedures and new perspectives of diagnostic methods for malaria non-falciparum differential detection and the possibilities of their application in different circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Marina Gimenez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo F. Marques
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matías Regiart
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Youssef Bargieri
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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3
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Hietanen J, Chim-Ong A, Sattabongkot J, Nguitragool W. Naturally induced humoral response against Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein 2P1. Malar J 2021; 20:246. [PMID: 34082763 PMCID: PMC8173506 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03784-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent malaria parasite in many countries. A better understanding of human immunity to this parasite can provide new insights for vaccine development. Plasmodium vivax Reticulocyte Binding Proteins (RBPs) are key parasite proteins that interact with human proteins during erythrocyte invasion and are targets of the human immune response. The aim of this study is to characterize the human antibody response to RBP2P1, the most recently described member of the RBP family. Methods The levels of total IgG and IgM against RBP2P1 were measured using plasmas from 68 P. vivax malaria patients and 525 villagers in a malarious village of western Thailand. The latter group comprises asymptomatic carriers and healthy uninfected individuals. Subsets of plasma samples were evaluated for anti-RBP2P1 IgG subtypes and complement-fixing activity. Results As age increased, it was found that the level of anti-RBP2P1 IgG increased while the level of IgM decreased. The main anti-RBP2P1 IgG subtypes were IgG1 and IgG3. The IgG3-seropositive rate was higher in asymptomatic carriers than in patients. The higher level of IgG3 was correlated with higher in vitro RBP2P1-mediated complement fixing activity. Conclusions In natural infection, the primary IgG response to RBP2P1 was IgG1 and IgG3. The predominance of these cytophilic subtypes and the elevated level of IgG3 correlating with complement fixing activity, suggest a possible role of anti-RBP2P1 antibodies in immunity against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Hietanen
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, 10400, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anongruk Chim-Ong
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, 10400, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, 10400, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, 10400, Bangkok, Thailand.
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4
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Songsaigath S, Makiuchi T, Putaporntip C, Pattanawong U, Kuamsab N, Tachibana H, Jongwutiwes S. Immunoglobulin G responses to variant forms of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 9 upon natural infection in Thailand. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3201. [PMID: 33547377 PMCID: PMC7864938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82928-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Merozoite surface protein 9 (MSP9) constitutes a ligand complex involved in erythrocyte invasion by malarial merozoites and is a promising vaccine target. Plasmodium vivax MSP9 (PvMSP9) is immunogenic upon natural malaria exposure. To address whether sequence diversity in PvMSP9 among field isolates could affect natural antibody responses, the recombinant proteins representing two variants each for the N- and the C-terminal domains of PvMSP-9 were used as antigens to assess antibody reactivity among 246 P. vivax-infected patients’ sera from Tak and Ubon Ratchathani Provinces in Thailand. Results revealed that the seropositivity rates of IgG antibodies to the N-terminal antigens were higher than those to the C-terminal antigens (87.80% vs. 67.48%). Most seropositive sera were reactive to both variants, suggesting the presence of common epitopes. Variant-specific antibodies to the N- and the C-terminal antigens were detected in 15.85% and 16.70% of serum samples, respectively. These seropositivity rates were not significant difference between provinces. The seropositivity rates, levels and avidity of anti-PvMSP9 antibodies exhibited positive trends towards increasing malaria episodes. The IgG isotype responses to the N- and the C-terminal antigens were mainly IgG1 and IgG3. The profile of IgG responses may have implications for development of PvMSP9-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunisa Songsaigath
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.,Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Inter-Department Program of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Takashi Makiuchi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Chaturong Putaporntip
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Urassaya Pattanawong
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Napaporn Kuamsab
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Hiroshi Tachibana
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Somchai Jongwutiwes
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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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.
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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
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Kepple D, Pestana K, Tomida J, Abebe A, Golassa L, Lo E. Alternative Invasion Mechanisms and Host Immune Response to Plasmodium vivax Malaria: Trends and Future Directions. Microorganisms 2020; 9:E15. [PMID: 33374596 PMCID: PMC7822457 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax malaria is a neglected tropical disease, despite being more geographically widespread than any other form of malaria. The documentation of P. vivax infections in different parts of Africa where Duffy-negative individuals are predominant suggested that there are alternative pathways for P. vivax to invade human erythrocytes. Duffy-negative individuals may be just as fit as Duffy-positive individuals and are no longer resistant to P.vivax malaria. In this review, we describe the complexity of P. vivax malaria, characterize pathogenesis and candidate invasion genes of P. vivax, and host immune responses to P. vivax infections. We provide a comprehensive review on parasite ligands in several Plasmodium species that further justify candidate genes in P. vivax. We also summarize previous genomic and transcriptomic studies related to the identification of ligand and receptor proteins in P. vivax erythrocyte invasion. Finally, we identify topics that remain unclear and propose future studies that will greatly contribute to our knowledge of P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kepple
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Kareen Pestana
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Junya Tomida
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Abnet Abebe
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia;
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia;
| | - Eugenia Lo
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (K.P.); (J.T.)
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Songsaigath S, Putaporntip C, Kuamsab N, Jongwutiwes S. Structural diversity, natural selection and intragenic recombination in the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 9 locus in Thailand. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 85:104467. [PMID: 32711079 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The merozoite surface protein 9 (MSP9) of malarial parasite forms co-ligand complex with the 19 kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) prior to erythrocyte invasion. Interruption of this process could hamper subsequent asexual erythrocytic development of malaria parasites; therefore, these proteins are considered potential vaccine candidates. In Plasmodium vivax, MSP9 (PvMSP9) contains both conserved and polymorphic repetitive domains that were immunogenic upon natural malaria exposure and conferred protection in vaccination studies in animal models. To investigate the extent of sequence diversity at this locus, 104 P. vivax isolates from 4 major malaria endemic areas of Thailand were analyzed. Results revealed that pvmsp9 contained 3 repeat domains (R1-R3) flanked by conserved domains. Repeat domains exhibit extensive sequence and length variation, in which 14, 39 and 16 haplotypes for domains R1-R3, respectively, circulated in this country. Sequence diversity in pvmsp9 among P. vivax isolates from each endemic area displayed population structure. The extent of sequence diversity in pvmsp9 isolates from the provinces of Tak, Chanthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani and Prachuap Khiri Khan in northwestern, eastern, northeastern and southwestern areas, respectively, was almost comparable and was remarkably higher than that from Yala/Narathiwat population in southern Thailand. Evidence for intragenic recombination in this locus was observed within each P. vivax population except among isolates from Yala and Narathiwat. Synonymous nucleotide diversity significantly exceeded nonsynonymous nucleotide diversity in domains R2 and R3, indicating purifying selection. However, micro-scale signatures of positive and negative selections occurred in both conserved and repeat domains, implying two opposing forces, probably from functional or structural constraint and host immune pressure, could have influenced diversity at this locus. The immunodominant T and B cell epitopes so far identified were invariant or highly conserved across isolates. Further analysis of global isolates is warranted for vaccine design based on this protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunisa Songsaigath
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Inter-Department Program of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chaturong Putaporntip
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Napaporn Kuamsab
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Somchai Jongwutiwes
- Molecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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8
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Soares RR, Nakaie CR, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, da Silva RL, Lima-Junior JDC, Scopel KKG. Main B-cell epitopes of PvAMA-1 and PvMSP-9 are targeted by naturally acquired antibodies and epitope-specific memory cells in acute and convalescent phases of vivax malaria. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12705. [PMID: 32096238 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Although antibodies are considered critical for malaria protection, little is known about the mechanisms/factors that maintain humoral immunity, especially regarding the induction and maintenance of memory B cells over time. In Brazilian endemic areas, this is the first time that the profile of antibody responses and the occurrence of antigen-specific memory B cells (MBC) against P vivax were investigated during acute malaria and up to six months after parasite clearance. For this, we selected two peptides, PvAMA-1(S290-K307) and PvMSP-9(E795-A808) , which represent the apical membrane antigen-1 and merozoite surface protein-9 of P vivax, respectively. Both peptides were previously described as containing linear B-cell epitopes. Our findings were as follows: 1-both peptides were recognized by IgG antibodies at a high frequency (between 24% and 81%) in all study groups; 2-in the absence of infection, the IgG levels remained stable throughout 6 months of follow-up; and 3-PvAMA-1(S290-K307) and PvMSP-9(E795-A808) -specific MBCs were detected in all individual groups in the absence of reinfection throughout the follow-up period, suggesting long-lived MBC. However, no positive association was observed between malaria-specific antibody levels and frequency of MBCs over time. Taken together, these results suggest that peptides can be, in the future, an alternative strategy to polypeptidic vaccine formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Reis Soares
- Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de For a, Juiz de For a, Brazil
| | - Clovis Ryuichi Nakaie
- Departament of Biophysics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Rogério Lauria da Silva
- Departament of Biophysics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Kézia Katiani Gorza Scopel
- Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de For a, Juiz de For a, Brazil
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9
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Antonelli LR, Junqueira C, Vinetz JM, Golenbock DT, Ferreira MU, Gazzinelli RT. The immunology of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Immunol Rev 2019; 293:163-189. [PMID: 31642531 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax infection, the predominant cause of malaria in Asia and Latin America, affects ~14 million individuals annually, with considerable adverse effects on wellbeing and socioeconomic development. A clinical hallmark of Plasmodium infection, the paroxysm, is driven by pyrogenic cytokines produced during the immune response. Here, we review studies on the role of specific immune cell types, cognate innate immune receptors, and inflammatory cytokines on parasite control and disease symptoms. This review also summarizes studies on recurrent infections in individuals living in endemic regions as well as asymptomatic infections, a serious barrier to eliminating this disease. We propose potential mechanisms behind these repeated and subclinical infections, such as poor induction of immunological memory cells and inefficient T effector cells. We address the role of antibody-mediated resistance to P. vivax infection and discuss current progress in vaccine development. Finally, we review immunoregulatory mechanisms, such as inhibitory receptors, T regulatory cells, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, that antagonizes both innate and acquired immune responses, interfering with the development of protective immunity and parasite clearance. These studies provide new insights for the clinical management of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals and the development of an efficacious vaccine for vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lis R Antonelli
- Instituto de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Caroline Junqueira
- Instituto de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Douglas T Golenbock
- Division of Infectious Disease and immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Marcelo U Ferreira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Instituto de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Division of Infectious Disease and immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.,Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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10
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Matos ADS, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Soares IF, Baptista BDO, de Souza RM, Bitencourt-Chaves L, Totino PRR, Sánchez-Arcila JC, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, López-Camacho C, Reyes-Sandoval A, Pratt-Riccio LR, Lima-Junior JDC. Antibody Responses Against Plasmodium vivax TRAP Recombinant and Synthetic Antigens in Naturally Exposed Individuals From the Brazilian Amazon. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2230. [PMID: 31620136 PMCID: PMC6763564 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) is essential for sporozoite motility and the invasion of mosquitoes' salivary gland and vertebrate's hepatocyte and is, thus, considered a promising pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate. Despite the existence of a few reports on naturally acquired immune response against Plasmodium vivax TRAP (PvTRAP), it has never been explored so far in the Amazon region, so results are conflicting. Here, we characterized the (IgG and IgG subclass) antibody reactivity against recombinant PvTRAP in a cross-sectional study of 299 individuals exposed to malaria infection in three municipalities (Cruzeiro do Sul, Mâncio Lima and Guajará) from the Acre state of the Brazilian Amazon. In addition, the full PvTRAP sequence was screened for B-cell epitopes using in silico and in vitro approaches. Firstly, we confirmed that PvTRAP is naturally immunogenic in the cohort population since 49% of the individuals were IgG-responders to it. The observed immune responses were mainly driven by cytophilic IgG1 over all other sublcasses and the IgG levels that was corelated with age and time of residence in the studied area (p < 0.05). Interestingly, only the levels of specific anti-TRAP IgG3 seemed to be associated with protection, as IgG3 responders presented a significantly higher time elapse since the last malaria episode than those recorded for IgG3 non-responders. Regarding the B-cell epitope mapping, among the 148 responders to PvTRAP, four predicted epitopes were confirmed by recognition of antibodies (PvTRAPR197-H227; PvTRAPE237-T258; PvTRAPP344-G374; and PvTRAPE439-K454). Nevertheless, the frequency of responders against these peptides were low and did not show a clear correlation with the antibody response against the corresponding antigen. Moreover, none of the linear confirmed epitopes were located in the binding regions of PvTRAP in respect to the host cell ligand. Collectively, our data confirm the PvTRAP immunogenicity among Amazon inhabitants, while suggesting that the main important B-cell epitopes are not linear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada da Silva Matos
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Lana Bitencourt-Chaves
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Juan Camilo Sánchez-Arcila
- Viral Immunology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - César López-Camacho
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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11
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Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Correa-Moreira D, Soares IF, de-Luca PM, Totino PRR, Morgado FN, Oliveira Henriques MDGD, Peixoto Candea AL, Singh B, Galinski MR, Moreno A, Oliveira-Ferreira J, Lima-Junior JDC. Immunogenicity of synthetic peptide constructs based on PvMSP9 E795-A808, a linear B-cell epitope of the P. vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-9. Vaccine 2018; 37:306-313. [PMID: 30509693 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-9 (PvMSP-9) is a malaria vaccine candidate naturally immunogenic in humans and able to induce high antibody titers in animals when delivered as a recombinant protein. Recently, we identified the sequence EAAPENAEPVHENA (PvMSP9E795-A808) as the main linear B-cell epitope in naturally exposed individuals. However, the potential of PvMSP9E795-A808 as an immunogen in experimental animal models remained unexplored. Here we assess the immunogenicity of PvMSP9E795-A808 using synthetic peptides. The peptides tested in BALB/c mice include two repeats of the sequence EAAPENAEPVHENA tested alone (peptide RII), or linked to an autologous (PvMSP9 peptide pL; pLRII) or heterologous (p2 tetanus toxin universal T cell epitope; TTRII) T cell epitope. Immune responses were evaluated by ELISA, FLUOROSPOT, and indirect immunofluorescence. We show that all of the peptide constructs tested were immunogenic eliciting specific IgG antibodies at different levels, with a prevalence of IgG1 and IgG2. Animals immunized with synthetic peptides containing T cell epitopes (pLRII or TTRII) had more efficient antibody responses that resulted in higher antibody titers able to recognize the native protein by immunofluorescence. Relevantly, the frequency of IFN-γ secreting SFC elicited by immunization with TTRII synthetic peptide was comparable to that reported to the PvMSP9-Nt recombinant protein. Taken together, our study indicates that PvMSP9E795-A808 is highly immunogenic in mice and further studies to evaluate its value as promising vaccine target are warranted. Moreover, our study supports the critical role of CD4 T cell epitopes to enhance humoral responses induced by subunit based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniely Correa-Moreira
- Laboratory of Taxonomy, Biochemistry and Fungi Bioprospecting, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ferreira Soares
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Melo de-Luca
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paulo Renato Rivas Totino
- Laboratory of Malaria Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Nazaré Morgado
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Balwan Singh
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseli Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Josué da Costa Lima-Junior
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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12
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López C, Yepes-Pérez Y, Díaz-Arévalo D, Patarroyo ME, Patarroyo MA. The in Vitro Antigenicity of Plasmodium vivax Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 ( PvRON2) B- and T-Epitopes Selected by HLA-DRB1 Binding Profile. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:156. [PMID: 29868512 PMCID: PMC5962679 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax is a neglected disease which is responsible for the highest morbidity in both Americas and Asia. Despite continuous public health efforts to prevent malarial infection, an effective antimalarial vaccine is still urgently needed. P. vivax vaccine development involves analyzing naturally-infected patients' immune response to the specific proteins involved in red blood cell invasion. The P. vivax rhoptry neck protein 2 (PvRON2) is a highly conserved protein which is expressed in late schizont rhoptries; it interacts directly with AMA-1 and might be involved in moving-junction formation. Bioinformatics approaches were used here to select B- and T-cell epitopes. Eleven high-affinity binding peptides were selected using the NetMHCIIpan-3.0 in silico prediction tool; their in vitro binding to HLA-DRB1*0401, HLA-DRB1*0701, HLA-DRB1*1101 or HLA-DRB1*1302 was experimentally assessed. Four peptides (39152 (HLA-DRB1*04 and 11), 39047 (HLA-DRB1*07), 39154 (HLADRB1*13) and universal peptide 39153) evoked a naturally-acquired T-cell immune response in P. vivax-exposed individuals from two endemic areas in Colombia. All four peptides had an SI greater than 2 in proliferation assays; however, only peptides 39154 and 39153 had significant differences compared to the control group. Peptide 39047 was able to significantly stimulate TNF and IL-10 production while 39154 stimulated TNF production. Allele-specific peptides (but not the universal one) were able to stimulate IL-6 production; however, none induced IFN-γ production. The Bepipred 1.0 tool was used for selecting four B-cell epitopes in silico regarding humoral response. Peptide 39041 was the only one recognized by P. vivax-exposed individuals' sera and had significant differences concerning IgG subclasses; an IgG2 > IgG4 profile was observed for this peptide, agreeing with a protection-inducing role against P. falciparum and P. vivax as previously described for antigens such as RESA and MSP2. The bioinformatics results and in vitro evaluation reported here highlighted two T-cell epitopes (39047 and 39154) being recognized by memory cells and a B-cell epitope (39041) identified by P. vivax-exposed individuals' sera which could be used as potential candidates when designing a subunit-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina López
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,PhD Program in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yoelis Yepes-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,MSc Program in Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diana Díaz-Arévalo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel E Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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13
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Lima-Junior JDC, Morgado FN, Conceição-Silva F. How Can Elispot Add Information to Improve Knowledge on Tropical Diseases? Cells 2017; 6:cells6040031. [PMID: 28961208 PMCID: PMC5755491 DOI: 10.3390/cells6040031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Elispot has been used as an important tool for detecting immune cells' products and functions and has facilitated the understanding of host-pathogen interaction. Despite the incredible diversity of possibilities, two main approaches have been developed: the immunopathogenesis and diagnosis/prognosis of infectious diseases as well as cancer research. Much has been described on the topics of allergy, autoimmune diseases, and HIV-Aids, however, Elispot can also be applied to other infectious diseases, mainly leishmaniasis, malaria, some viruses, helminths and mycosis usually classified as tropical diseases. The comprehension of the function, concentration and diversity of the immune response in the infectious disease is pointed out as crucial to the development of infection or disease in humans and animals. In this review we will describe the knowledge already obtained using Elispot as a method for accessing the profile of immune response as well as the recent advances in information about host-pathogen interaction in order to better understand the clinical outcome of a group of tropical and neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué da Costa Lima-Junior
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Pavilhão 26-4° andar, sala 406-C, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda Nazaré Morgado
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Pavilhão 26-5° andar, sala 509, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Fátima Conceição-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Pavilhão 26-4° andar, sala 406-C, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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14
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Longley RJ, França CT, White MT, Kumpitak C, Sa-Angchai P, Gruszczyk J, Hostetler JB, Yadava A, King CL, Fairhurst RM, Rayner JC, Tham WH, Nguitragool W, Sattabongkot J, Mueller I. Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax infections induce robust IgG responses to multiple blood-stage proteins in a low-transmission region of western Thailand. Malar J 2017; 16:178. [PMID: 28454546 PMCID: PMC5410030 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1826-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thailand is aiming to eliminate malaria by the year 2024. Plasmodium vivax has now become the dominant species causing malaria within the country, and a high proportion of infections are asymptomatic. A better understanding of antibody dynamics to P. vivax antigens in a low-transmission setting, where acquired immune responses are poorly characterized, will be pivotal for developing new strategies for elimination, such as improved surveillance methods and vaccines. The objective of this study was to characterize total IgG antibody levels to 11 key P. vivax proteins in a village of western Thailand. Methods Plasma samples from 546 volunteers enrolled in a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2012 in Kanchanaburi Province were utilized. Total IgG levels to 11 different proteins known or predicted to be involved in reticulocyte binding or invasion (ARP, GAMA, P41, P12, PVX_081550, and five members of the PvRBP family), as well as the leading pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate (CSP) were measured using a multiplexed bead-based assay. Associations between IgG levels and infection status, age, and spatial location were explored. Results Individuals from a low-transmission region of western Thailand reacted to all 11 P. vivax recombinant proteins. Significantly greater IgG levels were observed in the presence of a current P. vivax infection, despite all infected individuals being asymptomatic. IgG levels were also higher in adults (18 years and older) than in children. For most of the proteins, higher IgG levels were observed in individuals living closer to the Myanmar border and further away from local health services. Conclusions Robust IgG responses were observed to most proteins and IgG levels correlated with surrogates of exposure, suggesting these antigens may serve as potential biomarkers of exposure, immunity, or both. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1826-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea J Longley
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Camila T França
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael T White
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Chalermpon Kumpitak
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patiwat Sa-Angchai
- Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jakub Gruszczyk
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jessica B Hostetler
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.,Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anjali Yadava
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, United States Military Malaria Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Christopher L King
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rick M Fairhurst
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. .,ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. .,Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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15
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Folegatti PM, Siqueira AM, Monteiro WM, Lacerda MVG, Drakeley CJ, Braga ÉM. A systematic review on malaria sero-epidemiology studies in the Brazilian Amazon: insights into immunological markers for exposure and protection. Malar J 2017; 16:107. [PMID: 28270152 PMCID: PMC5341168 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1762-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Considerable success in reducing malaria incidence and mortality has been achieved in Brazil, leading to discussions over the possibility of moving towards elimination. However, more than reporting and counting clinical cases, elimination will require the use of efficient tools and strategies for measuring transmission dynamics and detecting the infectious reservoir as the primary indicators of interest for surveillance and evaluation. Because acquisition and maintenance of anti-malarial antibodies depend on parasite exposure, seroprevalence rates could be used as a reliable tool for assessing malaria endemicity and an adjunct measure for monitoring transmission in a rapid and cost-effective manner. Methods This systematic review synthesizes the existing literature on seroprevalence of malaria in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Different study designs (cross-sectional surveys and longitudinal studies) with reported serological results in well-defined Brazilian populations were considered. Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE and LILACS databases were screened and the articles were included per established selection criteria. Data extraction was performed by two authors and a modified critical appraisal tool was applied to assess the quality and completeness of cross-sectional studies regarding defined variables of interest. Results From 220 single records identified, 23 studies were included in this systematic review for the qualitative synthesis. Five studies reported serology results on Plasmodium falciparum, 14 papers assessed Plasmodium vivax and four articles reported results on both Plasmodium species. Considerable heterogeneity among the evaluated malarial antigens, including sporozoite and blood stage antigens, was observed. The majority of recent studies analysed IgG responses against P. vivax antigens reflecting the species distribution pattern in Brazil over the last decades. Most of the published papers were cross-sectional surveys (73.9%) and only six cohort studies were included in this review. Three studies pointed to an association between antibodies against circumsporozoite protein of both P. falciparum and P. vivax and malaria exposure. Furthermore, five out 13 cross-sectional studies evidenced a positive association between IgG antibodies to the conserved 19-kDa C-terminal region of the merozoite surface protein 1 of P. vivax (PvMSP119) and malaria exposure. Conclusions This systematic review identifies potential biomarkers of P. falciparum and P. vivax exposure in areas with variable and unstable malaria transmission in Brazil. However, this study highlights the need for standardization of further studies to provide an ideal monitoring tool to evaluate trends in malaria transmission and the effectiveness of malaria intervention programmes in Brazil. Moreover, the score-based weighted tool developed and used in this study still requires further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Folegatti
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - André M Siqueira
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Wuelton M Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.,Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinícius G Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.,Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Chris J Drakeley
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Érika M Braga
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. .,Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
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16
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López C, Yepes-Pérez Y, Hincapié-Escobar N, Díaz-Arévalo D, Patarroyo MA. What Is Known about the Immune Response Induced by Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Candidates? Front Immunol 2017; 8:126. [PMID: 28243235 PMCID: PMC5304258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax continues being one of the most important infectious diseases around the world; P. vivax is the second most prevalent species and has the greatest geographic distribution. Developing an effective antimalarial vaccine is considered a relevant control strategy in the search for means of preventing the disease. Studying parasite-expressed proteins, which are essential in host cell invasion, has led to identifying the regions recognized by individuals who are naturally exposed to infection. Furthermore, immunogenicity studies have revealed that such regions can trigger a robust immune response that can inhibit sporozoite (hepatic stage) or merozoite (erythrocyte stage) invasion of a host cell and induce protection. This review provides a synthesis of the most important studies to date concerning the antigenicity and immunogenicity of both synthetic peptide and recombinant protein candidates for a vaccine against malaria produced by P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina López
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yoelis Yepes-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; MSc Programme in Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Natalia Hincapié-Escobar
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC) , Bogotá , Colombia
| | - Diana Díaz-Arévalo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (UDCA), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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17
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Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Soares IF, Lopez-Camacho C, Martins da Silva JH, Perce-da-Silva DDS, Têva A, Ramos Franco AM, Pinheiro FG, Chaves LB, Pratt-Riccio LR, Reyes-Sandoval A, Banic DM, Lima-Junior JDC. Plasmodium vivax Cell-Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites: Naturally Acquired Humoral Immune Response and B-Cell Epitope Mapping in Brazilian Amazon Inhabitants. Front Immunol 2017; 8:77. [PMID: 28223984 PMCID: PMC5293784 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), a highly conserved antigen involved in sporozoite motility, plays an important role in the traversal of host cells during the preerythrocytic stage of Plasmodium species. Recently, it has been considered an alternative target when designing novel antimalarial vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum. However, the potential of Plasmodium vivax CelTOS as a vaccine target is yet to be explored. This study evaluated the naturally acquired immune response against a recombinant P. vivax CelTOS (PvCelTOS) (IgG and IgG subclass) in 528 individuals from Brazilian Amazon, as well as the screening of B-cell epitopes in silico and peptide assays to associate the breadth of antibody responses of those individuals with exposition and/or protection correlates. We show that PvCelTOS is naturally immunogenic in Amazon inhabitants with 94 individuals (17.8%) showing specific IgG antibodies against the recombinant protein. Among responders, the IgG reactivity indexes (RIs) presented a direct correlation with the number of previous malaria episodes (p = 0.003; r = 0.315) and inverse correlation with the time elapsed from the last malaria episode (p = 0.031; r = −0.258). Interestingly, high responders to PvCelTOS (RI > 2) presented higher number of previous malaria episodes, frequency of recent malaria episodes, and ratio of cytophilic/non-cytophilic antibodies than low responders (RI < 2) and non-responders (RI < 1). Moreover, a high prevalence of the cytophilic antibody IgG1 over all other IgG subclasses (p < 0.0001) was observed. B-cell epitope mapping revealed five immunogenic regions in PvCelTOS, but no associations between the specific IgG response to peptides and exposure/protection parameters were found. However, the epitope (PvCelTOSI136-E143) was validated as a main linear B-cell epitope, as 92% of IgG responders to PvCelTOS were also responders to this peptide sequence. This study describes for the first time the natural immunogenicity of PvCelTOS in Amazon individuals and identifies immunogenic regions in a full-length protein. The IgG magnitude was mainly composed of cytophilic antibodies (IgG1) and associated with recent malaria episodes. The data presented in this paper add further evidence to consider PvCelTOS as a vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cesar Lopez-Camacho
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | | | | | - Antônio Têva
- Laboratory of Immunodiagnostics, Department of Biological Sciences, National School of Public Health, Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Antônia Maria Ramos Franco
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease, National Institute of Amazonian Research , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Francimeire Gomes Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease, National Institute of Amazonian Research , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Lana Bitencourt Chaves
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | | | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Dalma Maria Banic
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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18
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Ntumngia FB, Thomson-Luque R, Pires CV, Adams JH. The role of the human Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines in malaria susceptibility: current opinions and future treatment prospects. JOURNAL OF RECEPTOR, LIGAND AND CHANNEL RESEARCH 2016; 9:1-11. [PMID: 28943755 PMCID: PMC5608092 DOI: 10.2147/jrlcr.s99725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokine (DARC) is a nonspecific receptor for several proinflammatory cytokines. It is homologous to the G-protein chemokine receptor superfamily, which is suggested to function as a scavenger in many inflammatory-and proinflammatory-related diseases. G-protein chemokine receptors are also known to play a critical role in infectious diseases; they are commonly used as entry vehicles by infectious agents. A typical example is the chemokine receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 used by HIV for infecting target cells. In malaria, DARC is considered an essential receptor that mediates the entry of the human and zoonotic malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi into human reticulocytes and erythrocytes, respectively. This process is mediated through interaction with the parasite ligand known as the Duffy binding protein (DBP). Most therapeutic strategies have been focused on blocking the interaction between DBP and DARC by targeting the parasite ligand, while strategies targeting the receptor, DARC, have not been intensively investigated. The rapid increase in drug resistance and the lack of new effective drugs or a vaccine for malaria constitute a major threat and a need for novel therapeutics to combat disease. This review explores strategies that can be used to target the receptor. Inhibitors of DARC, which block DBP-DARC interaction, can potentially provide an effective strategy for preventing malaria caused by P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis B Ntumngia
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Richard Thomson-Luque
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Camilla V Pires
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - John H Adams
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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19
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Morgado FN, Schubach AO, Pimentel MI, Lyra MR, Vasconcellos ÉCF, Valete-Rosalino CM, Conceição-Silva F. Is There Any Difference between the In Situ and Systemic IL-10 and IFN-γ Production when Clinical Forms of Cutaneous Sporotrichosis Are Compared? PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162764. [PMID: 27622513 PMCID: PMC5021344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungus of the Sporothrix schenckii complex can produce skin lesions in humans, commonly lymphocutaneous (LC) and fixed (F) forms of sporotrichosis. Some authors have suggested that clinical forms are influenced by differences in virulence and genetic profile of isolates. But little is known about the role of immune response in determining the clinical outcome of sporotrichosis. To verify the profile of systemic and in situ IFN-γ and IL-10 expression in sporotrichosis patients, and consequently to detect any difference between the two compartments and/or clinical presentation, we quantified the number of IFN-γ and IL-10 producer peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with S. schenckii antigen (Ss-Ag) by Elispot, and quantified cytokines expression by in situ immunohistochemistry in the same patient. Three groups were formed: 1- LC (n = 9); 2- F (n = 10); 3- healthy individuals (n = 14). All sporotrichosis patients produced high amounts of systemic IFN- γ when compared to uninfected individuals. No differences were observed between LC and F groups. Regarding in situ IL-10 expression, a difference between LC and F groups was observed: LC lesions presented higher amounts of IL-10 than F lesions differently from systemic IL-10 which showed similarities. Our data suggests that LC lesions present higher IL-10 expression which could be related to regulatory mechanisms for compensating the tissue injury, however favoring fungal persistence in the lesions. Surprisingly, there were no differences in systemic and in situ IFN- γ expression between CL and F patients, although it was significantly higher expressed in these patients than in healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda N. Morgado
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Armando O. Schubach
- VigiLeish-Serviço de Infectologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês Pimentel
- VigiLeish-Serviço de Infectologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo R. Lyra
- VigiLeish-Serviço de Infectologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Érica C. F. Vasconcellos
- VigiLeish-Serviço de Infectologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudia M. Valete-Rosalino
- VigiLeish-Serviço de Infectologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia-Oftalmologia/Faculdade de Medicina/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fátima Conceição-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Nicolete VC, Frischmann S, Barbosa S, King CL, Ferreira MU. Naturally Acquired Binding-Inhibitory Antibodies to Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein and Clinical Immunity to Malaria in Rural Amazonians. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:1539-1546. [PMID: 27578850 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibodies to the cysteine-rich domain II of Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) can inhibit binding of this parasite ligand to its receptor on red blood cells, the Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines. These binding-inhibitory antibodies (BIAbs) also inhibit P. vivax invasion of reticulocytes in vitro. METHODS To investigate whether naturally acquired anti-PvDBP antibodies are associated with reduced risk of clinical malaria in a population exposed to low levels of P. vivax transmission, we measured total levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to 5 PvDBP variants and used a functional in vitro assay to quantify their binding-inhibitory activity in a cohort of 466 rural Amazonians followed up for up to 37 months. RESULTS No association between total immunoglobulin G antibody responses to any PvDBP variant and risk of symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed vivax malaria was observed in this cohort. However, a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for age, sex, and genotype for the Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines, showed a >40% decrease in the prospective risk of clinical vivax malaria in subjects with the strongest BIAb responses (upper and middle terciles). High BIAb responses were mostly PvDBP variant transcending and stable over time. CONCLUSIONS Strong naturally acquired BIAb responses are associated with a reduced risk of clinical P. vivax malaria in rural Amazonians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa C Nicolete
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
| | - Sarah Frischmann
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
| | - Susana Barbosa
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Christopher L King
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.,Veteran Affairs Research Service, Louis B. Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
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Beeson JG, Drew DR, Boyle MJ, Feng G, Fowkes FJI, Richards JS. Merozoite surface proteins in red blood cell invasion, immunity and vaccines against malaria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:343-72. [PMID: 26833236 PMCID: PMC4852283 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria accounts for an enormous burden of disease globally, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for the majority of malaria, and P. vivax being a second important cause, especially in Asia, the Americas and the Pacific. During infection with Plasmodium spp., the merozoite form of the parasite invades red blood cells and replicates inside them. It is during the blood-stage of infection that malaria disease occurs and, therefore, understanding merozoite invasion, host immune responses to merozoite surface antigens, and targeting merozoite surface proteins and invasion ligands by novel vaccines and therapeutics have been important areas of research. Merozoite invasion involves multiple interactions and events, and substantial processing of merozoite surface proteins occurs before, during and after invasion. The merozoite surface is highly complex, presenting a multitude of antigens to the immune system. This complexity has proved challenging to our efforts to understand merozoite invasion and malaria immunity, and to developing merozoite antigens as malaria vaccines. In recent years, there has been major progress in this field, and several merozoite surface proteins show strong potential as malaria vaccines. Our current knowledge on this topic is reviewed, highlighting recent advances and research priorities. The authors summarize current knowledge of merozoite surface proteins of malaria parasites; their function in invasion, processing of surface proteins before, during and after invasion, their importance as targets of immunity, and the current status of malaria vaccines that target merozoite surface proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damien R Drew
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle J Boyle
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gaoqian Feng
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Freya J I Fowkes
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jack S Richards
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Lima-Junior JDC, Pratt-Riccio LR. Major Histocompatibility Complex and Malaria: Focus on Plasmodium vivax Infection. Front Immunol 2016; 7:13. [PMID: 26858717 PMCID: PMC4728299 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of host and parasite genetic factors in malaria resistance or susceptibility has been investigated since the middle of the last century. Nowadays, of all diseases that affect man, malaria still plays one of the highest levels of selective pressure on human genome. Susceptibility to malaria depends on exposure profile, epidemiological characteristics, and several components of the innate and adaptive immune system that influences the quality of the immune response generated during the Plasmodium lifecycle in the vertebrate host. But it is well known that the parasite's enormous capacity of genetic variation in conjunction with the host genetics polymorphism is also associated with a wide spectrum of susceptibility degrees to complicated or severe forms of the disease. In this scenario, variations in genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) associated with host resistance or susceptibility to malaria have been identified and used as markers in host-pathogen interaction studies, mainly those evaluating the impact on the immune response, acquisition of resistance, or increased susceptibility to infection or vulnerability to disease. However, due to the intense selective pressure, number of cases, and mortality rates, the majority of the reported associations reported concerned Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Studies on the MHC polymorphism and its association with Plasmodium vivax, which is the most widespread Plasmodium and the most prevalent species outside the African continent, are less frequent but equally important. Despite punctual contributions, there are accumulated evidences of human genetic control in P. vivax infection and disease. Herein, we review the current knowledge in the field of MHC and derived molecules (HLA Class I, Class II, TNF-α, LTA, BAT1, and CTL4) regarding P. vivax malaria. We discuss particularly the results of P. vivax studies on HLA class I and II polymorphisms in relation to host susceptibility, naturally acquired immune response against specific antigens and the implication of this knowledge to overcome the parasite immune evasion. Finally, the potential impact of such polymorphisms on the development of vaccine candidate antigens against P. vivax will be studied.
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23
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Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Martins da Silva JH, Singh B, Jiang J, Meyer EVS, Santos F, Banic DM, Moreno A, Galinski MR, Oliveira-Ferreira J, Lima-Junior JDC. In silico Identification and Validation of a Linear and Naturally Immunogenic B-Cell Epitope of the Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Candidate Merozoite Surface Protein-9. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146951. [PMID: 26788998 PMCID: PMC4720479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic peptide vaccines provide the advantages of safety, stability and low cost. The success of this approach is highly dependent on efficient epitope identification and synthetic strategies for efficacious delivery. In malaria, the Merozoite Surface Protein-9 of Plasmodium vivax (PvMSP9) has been considered a vaccine candidate based on the evidence that specific antibodies were able to inhibit merozoite invasion and recombinant proteins were highly immunogenic in mice and humans. However the identities of linear B-cell epitopes within PvMSP9 as targets of functional antibodies remain undefined. We used several publicly-available algorithms for in silico analyses and prediction of relevant B cell epitopes within PMSP9. We show that the tandem repeat sequence EAAPENAEPVHENA (PvMSP9E795-A808) present at the C-terminal region is a promising target for antibodies, given its high combined score to be a linear epitope and located in a putative intrinsically unstructured region of the native protein. To confirm the predictive value of the computational approach, plasma samples from 545 naturally exposed individuals were screened for IgG reactivity against the recombinant PvMSP9-RIRII729-972 and a synthetic peptide representing the predicted B cell epitope PvMSP9E795-A808. 316 individuals (58%) were responders to the full repetitive region PvMSP9-RIRII, of which 177 (56%) also presented total IgG reactivity against the synthetic peptide, confirming it validity as a B cell epitope. The reactivity indexes of anti-PvMSP9-RIRII and anti-PvMSP9E795-A808 antibodies were correlated. Interestingly, a potential role in the acquisition of protective immunity was associated with the linear epitope, since the IgG1 subclass against PvMSP9E795-A808 was the prevalent subclass and this directly correlated with time elapsed since the last malaria episode; however this was not observed in the antibody responses against the full PvMSP9-RIRII. In conclusion, our findings identified and experimentally confirmed the potential of PvMSP9E795-A808 as an immunogenic linear B cell epitope within the P. vivax malaria vaccine candidate PvMSP9 and support its inclusion in future subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Balwan Singh
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Jianlin Jiang
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Esmeralda V. S. Meyer
- Environmental Health and Safety Office, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Fátima Santos
- National Health Foundation, Department of Entomology, Central Laboratory, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Dalma Maria Banic
- Laboratory of Simulids and Onchocerciasis "Malaria and Onchocerciasis Research", Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Mary R. Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Joseli Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail: (JCLJ); (JO-F)
| | - Josué da Costa Lima-Junior
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail: (JCLJ); (JO-F)
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Abstract
SUMMARYPlasmodium vivaxis the most geographically widespread of the malaria parasites causing human disease, yet it is comparatively understudied compared withPlasmodium falciparum.In this article we review what is known about naturally acquired immunity toP. vivax, and importantly, how this differs to that acquired againstP. falciparum.Immunity to clinicalP. vivaxinfection is acquired more quickly than toP. falciparum, and evidence suggests humans in endemic areas also have a greater capacity to mount a successful immunological memory response to this pathogen. Both of these factors give promise to the idea of a successfulP. vivaxvaccine. We review what is known about both the cellular and humoral immune response, including the role of cytokines, antibodies, immunoregulation, immune memory and immune dysfunction. Furthermore, we discuss where the future lies in terms of advancing our understanding of naturally acquired immunity toP. vivax, through the use of well-designed longitudinal epidemiological studies and modern tools available to immunologists.
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Cutts JC, Powell R, Agius PA, Beeson JG, Simpson JA, Fowkes FJI. Immunological markers of Plasmodium vivax exposure and immunity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med 2014; 12:150. [PMID: 25199532 PMCID: PMC4172944 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-014-0150-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying Plasmodium vivax antigen-specific antibodies associated with P. vivax infection and protective immunity is key to the development of serosurveillance tools and vaccines for malaria. Antibody targets of P. vivax can be identified by seroepidemiological studies of individuals living in P. vivax-endemic areas, and is an important strategy given the limited ability to culture P. vivax in vitro. There have been numerous studies investigating the association between P. vivax antibody responses and P. vivax infection, but there has been no standardization of results to enable comparisons across populations. METHODS We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of population-based, cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies of individuals living in P. vivax-endemic areas. We searched 6 databases and identified 18 studies that met predefined inclusion and quality criteria, and examined the association between antibody responses to P. vivax antigens and P. vivax malaria. RESULTS The majority of studies were published in South America (all from Brazil) and the rest from geographically diverse areas in the Asia-Pacific region. Considerable heterogeneity in estimates was observed, but IgG responses to PvCSP, PvMSP-119, PvMSP-9RIRII, and PvAMA1 were associated with increased odds of P. vivax infection in geographically diverse populations. Potential sources of heterogeneity included study design, different transmission intensities and transmigrant populations. Protective associations were observed for antibodies to PvMSP-119, PvMSP-1NT, PvMSP-3α and PvMSP-9NT antigens, but only in single geographical locations. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review revealed several antigen-specific antibodies that were associated with active infection and protective immunity, which may be useful biomarkers. However, more studies are needed on additional antigens, particularly cohort studies to increase the body of evidence for protective immunity. More studies representing diverse geographical regions encompassing varying P. vivax endemicities are needed to validate the generalizability of the findings and to provide a solid evidence base for the use of P. vivax antigens in vaccines and serosurveillance tools.
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Ferreira AR, Singh B, Cabrera-Mora M, Magri De Souza AC, Queiroz Marques MT, Porto LCS, Santos F, Banic DM, Calvo-Calle JM, Oliveira-Ferreira J, Moreno A, Da Costa Lima-Junior J. Evaluation of naturally acquired IgG antibodies to a chimeric and non-chimeric recombinant species of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein-1: lack of association with HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* in malaria exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105828. [PMID: 25148251 PMCID: PMC4141821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of modular constructs that include antigenic regions targeted by protective immune responses is an attractive approach for subunit vaccine development. However, a main concern of using these vaccine platforms is how to preserve the antigenic identity of conformational B cell epitopes. In the present study we evaluated naturally acquired antibody responses to a chimeric protein engineered to contain a previously defined immunodominant domain of the Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein-1 located between amino acid positions K435-I777. The construct also includes three regions of the cognate protein (F571-D587, I1745-S1786 and L2235-E2263) predicted to contain MHC class II promiscuous T cell epitopes. Plasma samples from 253 naturally exposed individuals were tested against this chimeric protein named PvRMC-RBP1 and a control protein that includes the native sequence PvRBP123-751 in comparative experiments to study the frequency of total IgG and IgG subclass reactivity. HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 allelic groups were typed by PCR-SSO to evaluate the association between major HLA class II alleles and antibody responses. We found IgG antibodies that recognized the chimeric PvRMC-RBP1 and the PvRBP123-751 in 47.1% and 60% of the studied population, respectively. Moreover, the reactivity index against both proteins were comparable and associated with time of exposure (p<0.0001) and number of previous malaria episodes (p<0.005). IgG subclass profile showed a predominance of cytophilic IgG1 over other subclasses against both proteins tested. Collectively these studies suggest that the chimeric PvRMC-RBP1 protein retained antigenic determinants in the PvRBP1435–777 native sequence. Although 52.9% of the population did not present detectable titers of antibodies to PvRMC-RBP1, genetic restriction to this chimeric protein does not seem to occur, since no association was observed between the HLA-DRB1* or HLA-DQB1* alleles and the antibody responses. This experimental evidence strongly suggests that the identity of the conformational B cell epitopes is preserved in the chimeric protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Ribeiro Ferreira
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Balwan Singh
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Monica Cabrera-Mora
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alana Cristina Magri De Souza
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fatima Santos
- National Health Foundation, Department of Entomology, Central Laboratory, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Dalma Maria Banic
- Laboratory for Simuliidae and Onchocerciasis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - J. Mauricio Calvo-Calle
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseli Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AM); (JCLJ)
| | - Josué Da Costa Lima-Junior
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail: (AM); (JCLJ)
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Cheng Y, Wang B, Sattabongkot J, Lim CS, Tsuboi T, Han ET. Immunogenicity and antigenicity of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 10. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2559-68. [PMID: 24764159 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3907-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Among the proteins involved in the invasion by merozoite, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are suggested as potential vaccine candidates because of their localization to apical organelles and the surface; these candidates are predicted to play essential roles during invasion. As a GPI-AP, Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (PvMSP-10) induces high antibody titers. However, such high antibody titers have shown no protective efficacy for animals challenged with P. vivax parasites in a previous study. To adequately evaluate the immunogenicity and further characterize PvMSP-10 in order to understand its vaccine potential, we assessed its immunogenicity by immunizing BALB/c mice with cell-free expressed recombinant PvMSP-10 protein. The antigenicity of MSP-10 was analyzed, and we found 42% sensitivity and 95% specificity using serum samples from P. vivax-infected Korean patients. The IgG1 and IgG3 were the predominant immunoreactive antibodies against PvMSP-10 in vivax patient sera, and IgG1 and IgG3 and Th1-type cytokines were predominantly secreted in PvMSP-10-immunized mice. We conclude that the immunogenicity and antigenicity of MSP-10 may serve as a potential vaccine against vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cheng
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Hyoja2-dong, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
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Stanisic DI, Javati S, Kiniboro B, Lin E, Jiang J, Singh B, Meyer EVS, Siba P, Koepfli C, Felger I, Galinski MR, Mueller I. Naturally acquired immune responses to P. vivax merozoite surface protein 3α and merozoite surface protein 9 are associated with reduced risk of P. vivax malaria in young Papua New Guinean children. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2498. [PMID: 24244763 PMCID: PMC3828159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread human malaria parasite. Cohort studies in Papua New Guinea have identified a rapid onset of immunity against vivax-malaria in children living in highly endemic areas. Although numerous P. vivax merozoite antigens are targets of naturally acquired antibodies, the role of many of these antibodies in protective immunity is yet unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings In a cohort of children aged 1–3 years, antibodies to different regions of Merozoite Surface Protein 3α (PvMSP3α) and Merozoite Surface Protein 9 (PvMSP9) were measured and related to prospective risk of P. vivax malaria during 16 months of active follow-up. Overall, there was a low prevalence of antibodies to PvMSP3α and PvMSP9 proteins (9–65%). Antibodies to the PvMSP3α N-terminal, Block I and Block II regions increased significantly with age while antibodies to the PvMSP3α Block I and PvMSP9 N-terminal regions were positively associated with concurrent P. vivax infection. Independent of exposure (defined as the number of genetically distinct blood-stage infection acquired over time (molFOB)) and age, antibodies specific to both PvMSP3α Block II (adjusted incidence ratio (aIRR) = 0.59, p = 0.011) and PvMSP9 N-terminus (aIRR = 0.68, p = 0.035) were associated with protection against clinical P. vivax malaria. This protection was most pronounced against high-density infections. For PvMSP3α Block II, the effect was stronger with higher levels of antibodies. Conclusions These results indicate that PvMSP3α Block II and PvMSP9 N-terminus should be further investigated for their potential as P. vivax vaccine antigens. Controlling for molFOB assures that the observed associations are not confounded by individual differences in exposure. Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread human malaria parasite. In highly endemic areas such as Papua New Guinea, a very rapid onset of immunity against vivax-malaria is observed. Although it is known that numerous P. vivax merozoite antigens are targets of naturally acquired antibodies, the role of many of these antibodies in protective immunity is yet unknown. In a cohort of 183 children aged 1–3 years, we now show that the presence of antibodies to Merozoite Surface Protein 3α (PvMSP3α) and Merozoite Surface Protein 9 (PvMSP9) are associated with a significant reduction in the burden P. vivax malaria. Antibodies increased with age and in the presence of concurrent P. vivax infections. After adjusting for both age and individual differences in exposure, the strongest reductions in risk were seen in children with antibodies to PvMSP3α Block II (41% reduction, p = 0.001) and PvMSP9 N-terminal region. (32% reduction, p = 0.035). These results indicate that PvMSP3α Block II and PvMSP9 N-terminus should be further investigated for their potential as P. vivax vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle I. Stanisic
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
- * E-mail: (DIS); (IM)
| | - Sarah Javati
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Benson Kiniboro
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Enmoore Lin
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Jianlin Jiang
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Balwan Singh
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Esmeralda V. S. Meyer
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Peter Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Cristian Koepfli
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Swiss Tropical Institute and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ingrid Felger
- Swiss Tropical Institute and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mary R. Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (DIS); (IM)
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Chenet SM, Pacheco MA, Bacon DJ, Collins WE, Barnwell JW, Escalante AA. The evolution and diversity of a low complexity vaccine candidate, merozoite surface protein 9 (MSP-9), in Plasmodium vivax and closely related species. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 20:239-48. [PMID: 24044894 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The merozoite surface protein-9 (MSP-9) has been considered a target for an anti-malarial vaccine since it is one of many proteins involved in the erythrocyte invasion, a critical step in the parasite life cycle. Orthologs encoding this antigen have been found in all known species of Plasmodium parasitic to primates. In order to characterize and investigate the extent and maintenance of MSP-9 genetic diversity, we analyzed DNA sequences of the following malaria parasite species: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium reichenowi, Plasmodium chabaudi, Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium coatneyi, Plasmodium gonderi, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium simiovale, Plasmodium fieldi, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium vivax and evaluated the signature of natural selection in all MSP-9 orthologs. Our findings suggest that the gene encoding MSP-9 is under purifying selection in P. vivax and closely related species. We further explored how selection affected different regions of MSP-9 by comparing the polymorphisms in P. vivax and P. falciparum, and found contrasting patterns between these two species that suggest differences in functional constraints. This observation implies that the MSP-9 orthologs in human parasites may interact differently with the host immune response. Thus, studies carried out in one species cannot be directly translated into the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella M Chenet
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ, USA; Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Mueller I, Galinski MR, Tsuboi T, Arevalo-Herrera M, Collins WE, King CL. Natural acquisition of immunity to Plasmodium vivax: epidemiological observations and potential targets. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2013; 81:77-131. [PMID: 23384622 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407826-0.00003-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Population studies show that individuals acquire immunity to Plasmodium vivax more quickly than Plasmodium falciparum irrespective of overall transmission intensity, resulting in the peak burden of P. vivax malaria in younger age groups. Similarly, actively induced P. vivax infections in malaria therapy patients resulted in faster and generally more strain-transcending acquisition of immunity than P. falciparum infections. The mechanisms behind the more rapid acquisition of immunity to P. vivax are poorly understood. Natural acquired immune responses to P. vivax target both pre-erythrocytic and blood-stage antigens and include humoral and cellular components. To date, only a few studies have investigated the association of these immune responses with protection, with most studies focussing on a few merozoite antigens (such as the Pv Duffy binding protein (PvDBP), the Pv reticulocyte binding proteins (PvRBPs), or the Pv merozoite surface proteins (PvMSP1, 3 & 9)) or the circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP). Naturally acquired transmission-blocking (TB) immunity (TBI) was also found in several populations. Although limited, these data support the premise that developing a multi-stage P. vivax vaccine may be feasible and is worth pursuing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Mueller
- Walter + Eliza Hall Institute, Infection & Immunity Division, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Recombinant yellow fever viruses elicit CD8+ T cell responses and protective immunity against Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59347. [PMID: 23527169 PMCID: PMC3601986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas’ disease is a major public health problem affecting nearly 10 million in Latin America. Despite several experimental vaccines have shown to be immunogenic and protective in mouse models, there is not a current vaccine being licensed for humans or in clinical trial against T. cruzi infection. Towards this goal, we used the backbone of Yellow Fever (YF) 17D virus, one of the most effective and well-established human vaccines, to express an immunogenic fragment derived from T. cruzi Amastigote Surface Protein 2 (ASP-2). The cDNA sequence of an ASP-2 fragment was inserted between E and NS1 genes of YF 17D virus through the construction of a recombinant heterologous cassette. The replication ability and genetic stability of recombinant YF virus (YF17D/ENS1/Tc) was confirmed for at least six passages in Vero cells. Immunogenicity studies showed that YF17D/ENS1/Tc virus elicited neutralizing antibodies and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) producing-cells against the YF virus. Also, it was able to prime a CD8+ T cell directed against the transgenic T. cruzi epitope (TEWETGQI) which expanded significantly as measured by T cell-specific production of IFN-γ before and after T. cruzi challenge. However, most important for the purposes of vaccine development was the fact that a more efficient protective response could be seen in mice challenged after vaccination with the YF viral formulation consisting of YF17D/ENS1/Tc and a YF17D recombinant virus expressing the TEWETGQI epitope at the NS2B-3 junction. The superior protective immunity observed might be due to an earlier priming of epitope-specific IFN-γ-producing T CD8+ cells induced by vaccination with this viral formulation. Our results suggest that the use of viral formulations consisting of a mixture of recombinant YF 17D viruses may be a promising strategy to elicit protective immune responses against pathogens, in general.
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Ntumngia FB, King CL, Adams JH. Finding the sweet spots of inhibition: understanding the targets of a functional antibody against Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein. Int J Parasitol 2012; 42:1055-62. [PMID: 23068913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein region II (DBPII) is an essential ligand for reticulocyte invasion, thereby making this molecule an attractive vaccine candidate against asexual blood-stage P. vivax. Similar to other Plasmodium blood-stage vaccine candidates, strain-specific immunity due to DBPII allelic variation may complicate vaccine efficacy. Targeting immune responses to more conserved epitopes that are potential targets of strain-transcending neutralising immunity is necessary to avoid induction of strain-specific responses to dominant variant epitopes. In this article, we focus on different approaches to optimise the design of DBP immunogenicity to target conserved epitopes, which is important for developing a broadly effective vaccine against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis B Ntumngia
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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Lima-Junior JC, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Banic DM, Jiang J, Singh B, Fabrício-Silva GM, Porto LCS, Meyer EVS, Moreno A, Rodrigues MM, Barnwell JW, Galinski MR, de Oliveira-Ferreira J. Influence of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles on IgG antibody response to the P. vivax MSP-1, MSP-3α and MSP-9 in individuals from Brazilian endemic area. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36419. [PMID: 22649493 PMCID: PMC3359319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2011] [Accepted: 04/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The antibody response generated during malaria infections is of particular interest, since the production of specific IgG antibodies is required for acquisition of clinical immunity. However, variations in antibody responses could result from genetic polymorphism of the HLA class II genes. Given the increasing focus on the development of subunit vaccines, studies of the influence of class II alleles on the immune response in ethnically diverse populations is important, prior to the implementation of vaccine trials. METHODS AND FINDINGS In this study, we evaluated the influence of HLA-DRB1* and -DQB1* allelic groups on the naturally acquired humoral response from Brazilian Amazon individuals (n = 276) against P. vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 (MSP-1), MSP-3α and MSP-9 recombinant proteins. Our results provide information concerning these three P. vivax antigens, relevant for their role as immunogenic surface proteins and vaccine candidates. Firstly, the studied population was heterogeneous presenting 13 HLA-DRB1* and 5 DQB1* allelic groups with a higher frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DQB1*03. The proteins studied were broadly immunogenic in a naturally exposed population with high frequency of IgG antibodies against PvMSP1-19 (86.7%), PvMSP-3 (77%) and PvMSP-9 (76%). Moreover, HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DQB1*03 alleles were associated with a higher frequency of IgG immune responses against five out of nine antigens tested, while HLA-DRB1*01 was associated with a high frequency of non-responders to repetitive regions of PvMSP-9, and the DRB1*16 allelic group with the low frequency of responders to PvMSP3 full length recombinant protein. CONCLUSIONS HLA-DRB1*04 alleles were associated with high frequency of antibody responses to five out of nine recombinant proteins tested in Rondonia State, Brazil. These features could increase the success rate of future clinical trials based on these vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué C. Lima-Junior
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Dalma M. Banic
- Laboratório de Simulídeos e Oncocercose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jianlin Jiang
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Balwan Singh
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gustavo M. Fabrício-Silva
- Histocompatibility and Cryopreservation Laboratory, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luís C. S. Porto
- Histocompatibility and Cryopreservation Laboratory, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Esmeralda V. S. Meyer
- Laboratório de Simulídeos e Oncocercose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Maurício M. Rodrigues
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular (CTCMol), Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - John W. Barnwell
- Division of Parasitic Diseases, CDC/National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mary R. Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Increased interleukin-10 and interferon-γ levels in Plasmodium vivax malaria suggest a reciprocal regulation which is not altered by IL-10 gene promoter polymorphism. Malar J 2011; 10:264. [PMID: 21917128 PMCID: PMC3196927 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-10-264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In human malaria, the naturally-acquired immune response can result in either the elimination of the parasite or a persistent response mediated by cytokines that leads to immunopathology. The cytokines are responsible for all the symptoms, pathological alterations and the outcome of the infection depends on the reciprocal regulation of the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. IL-10 and IFN-gamma are able to mediate this process and their production can be affected by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on gene of these cytokines. In this study, the relationship between cytokine IL-10/IFN-gamma levels, parasitaemia, and their gene polymorphisms was examined and the participation of pro-inflammatory and regulatory balance during a natural immune response in Plasmodium vivax-infected individuals was observed. Methods The serum levels of the cytokines IL-4, IL-12, IFN-gamma and IL-10 from 132 patients were evaluated by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The polymorphism at position +874 of the IFN-gamma gene was identified by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASO-PCR) method, and the polymorphism at position -1082 of the IL-10 gene was analysed by PCR-RFLP (PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). Results The levels of a pro- (IFN-gamma) and an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) were significantly higher in P. vivax-infected individuals as compared to healthy controls. The IFN-gamma levels in primoinfected patients were significantly higher than in patients who had suffered only one and more than one previous episode. The mutant alleles of both IFN-gamma and IL-10 genes were more frequent than the wild allele. In the case of the IFNG+874 polymorphism (IFN-gamma) the frequencies of the mutant (A) and wild (T) alleles were 70.13% and 29.87%, respectively. Similar frequencies were recorded in IL-10-1082, with the mutant (A) allele returning a frequency of 70.78%, and the wild (G) allele a frequency of 29.22%. The frequencies of the alleles associated with reduced production of both IFN-gamma and IL-10 were high, but this effect was only observed in the production of IFN-gamma. Conclusions This study has shown evidence of reciprocal regulation of the levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma cytokines in P. vivax malaria, which is not altered by the presence of polymorphism in the IL-10 gene.
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Lima-Junior JC, Jiang J, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Banic DM, Tran TM, Ribeiro RY, Meyer VSE, De-Simone SG, Santos F, Moreno A, Barnwell JW, Galinski MR, Oliveira-Ferreira J. B cell epitope mapping and characterization of naturally acquired antibodies to the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-3α (PvMSP-3α) in malaria exposed individuals from Brazilian Amazon. Vaccine 2011; 29:1801-11. [PMID: 21215342 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.12.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2010] [Revised: 12/02/2010] [Accepted: 12/22/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-3α (PvMSP-3α) is considered as a potential vaccine candidate. However, the detailed investigations of the type of immune responses induced in naturally exposed populations are necessary. Therefore, we aim to characterize the naturally induced antibody to PvMSP-3α in 282 individuals with different levels of exposure to malaria infections residents in Brazilian Amazon. PvMSP3 specific antibodies (IgA, IgG and IgG subclass) to five recombinant proteins and the epitope mapping by Spot-synthesis technique to full-protein sequence of amino acids (15aa sequence with overlapping sequence of 9aa) were performed. Our results indicates that PvMSP3 is highly immunogenic in naturally exposed populations, where 78% of studied individuals present IgG immune response against the full-length recombinant protein (PVMSP3-FL) and IgG subclass profile was similar to all five recombinant proteins studied with a high predominance of IgG1 and IgG3. We also observe that IgG and subclass levels against PvMSP3 are associated with malaria exposure. The PvMSP3 epitope mapping by Spot-synthesis shows a natural recognition of at least 15 antigenic determinants, located mainly in the two blocks of repeats, confirming the high immunogenicity of this region. In conclusion, PvMSP-3α is immunogenic in naturally exposed individuals to malaria infections and that antibodies to PvMSP3 are induced to several B cell epitopes. The presence of PvMSP3 cytophilic antibodies (IgG1 and IgG3), suggests that this mechanism could also occur in P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Lima-Junior
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Institute Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Oliveira-Ferreira J, Lacerda MVG, Brasil P, Ladislau JLB, Tauil PL, Daniel-Ribeiro CT. Malaria in Brazil: an overview. Malar J 2010; 9:115. [PMID: 20433744 PMCID: PMC2891813 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2009] [Accepted: 04/30/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is still a major public health problem in Brazil, with approximately 306,000 registered cases in 2009, but it is estimated that in the early 1940s, around six million cases of malaria occurred each year. As a result of the fight against the disease, the number of malaria cases decreased over the years and the smallest numbers of cases to-date were recorded in the 1960s. From the mid-1960s onwards, Brazil underwent a rapid and disorganized settlement process in the Amazon and this migratory movement led to a progressive increase in the number of reported cases. Although the main mosquito vector (Anopheles darlingi) is present in about 80% of the country, currently the incidence of malaria in Brazil is almost exclusively (99,8% of the cases) restricted to the region of the Amazon Basin, where a number of combined factors favors disease transmission and impair the use of standard control procedures. Plasmodium vivax accounts for 83,7% of registered cases, while Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for 16,3% and Plasmodium malariae is seldom observed. Although vivax malaria is thought to cause little mortality, compared to falciparum malaria, it accounts for much of the morbidity and for huge burdens on the prosperity of endemic communities. However, in the last few years a pattern of unusual clinical complications with fatal cases associated with P. vivax have been reported in Brazil and this is a matter of concern for Brazilian malariologists. In addition, the emergence of P. vivax strains resistant to chloroquine in some reports needs to be further investigated. In contrast, asymptomatic infection by P. falciparum and P. vivax has been detected in epidemiological studies in the states of Rondonia and Amazonas, indicating probably a pattern of clinical immunity in both autochthonous and migrant populations. Seropidemiological studies investigating the type of immune responses elicited in naturally-exposed populations to several malaria vaccine candidates in Brazilian populations have also been providing important information on whether immune responses specific to these antigens are generated in natural infections and their immunogenic potential as vaccine candidates. The present difficulties in reducing economic and social risk factors that determine the incidence of malaria in the Amazon Region render impracticable its elimination in the region. As a result, a malaria-integrated control effort--as a joint action on the part of the government and the population--directed towards the elimination or reduction of the risks of death or illness, is the direction adopted by the Brazilian government in the fight against the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseli Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Pavilhão Leônidas Deane - 5° andar, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - CEP 21.045-900, RJ - Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz and Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS) - Ministério da Saúde (MS), Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Pavilhão Leônidas Deane - 4° andar. Av. Brasil 4365. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - CEP 21.045-900, RJ - Brazil
| | - Marcus VG Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas, Av. Pedro Teixeira 25, Manaus, Amazonas - CEP 69.040-000, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Brasil
- Centro de Pesquisa Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz and Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS) - Ministério da Saúde (MS), Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - CEP 21.045-900, RJ - Brazil
| | - José LB Ladislau
- Programa Nacional de Controle da Malária, SVS-MS, Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco G, Sobreloja, sala 151. Brasília - CEP 70.058-900, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Tauil
- Área de Medicina Social, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília - CEP 70.910-900, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Pavilhão Leônidas Deane - 5° andar, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - CEP 21.045-900, RJ - Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz and Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS) - Ministério da Saúde (MS), Brazil
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Lima-Junior JC, Banic DM, Tran TM, Meyer VSE, De-Simone SG, Santos F, Porto LCS, Marques MTQ, Moreno A, Barnwell JW, Galinski MR, Oliveira-Ferreira J. Promiscuous T-cell epitopes of Plasmodium merozoite surface protein 9 (PvMSP9) induces IFN-gamma and IL-4 responses in individuals naturally exposed to malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. Vaccine 2010; 28:3185-91. [PMID: 20189487 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2009] [Revised: 01/28/2010] [Accepted: 02/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein (PvMSP9) stimulates both cellular and humoral immune responses in individuals who are naturally infected by this parasite species. To identify immunodominant human T-cell epitopes in PvMSP9, we used the MHC class II binding peptide prediction algorithm ProPred. Eleven synthetic peptides representing predicted putative promiscuous T-cell epitopes were tested in IFN-gamma and IL-4 ELISPOT assays using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from 142 individuals from Rondonia State, Brazil who had been naturally exposed to P. vivax infections. To determine whether the predicted epitopes are preferentially recognized in the context of multiple alleles, MHC Class II typing of the cohort was also performed. Five synthetic peptides elicited robust cellular responses, and the overall frequencies of IFN-gamma and IL-4 responders to at least one of the promiscuous peptides were 62% and 46%, respectively. The frequencies of IFN-gamma and IL-4 responders to each peptide were not associated with a particular HLA-DRB1 allelic group since most of the peptides induced a response in individuals of 12 out of 13 studied allelic groups. The prediction of promiscuous epitopes using ProPred led to the identification of immunodominant epitopes recognized by PBMC from a significant proportion of a genetically heterogeneous population exposed to malaria infections. The combination of several such T-cell epitopes in a vaccine construct may increase the frequency of responders and the overall efficacy of subunit vaccines in genetically distinct populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Lima-Junior
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Institute Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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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.
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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
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