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Miura K, Flores-Garcia Y, Long CA, Zavala F. Vaccines and monoclonal antibodies: new tools for malaria control. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0007123. [PMID: 38656211 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00071-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYMalaria remains one of the biggest health problems in the world. While significant reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality had been achieved from 2000 to 2015, the favorable trend has stalled, rather significant increases in malaria cases are seen in multiple areas. In 2022, there were 249 million estimated cases, and 608,000 malaria-related deaths, mostly in infants and children aged under 5 years, globally. Therefore, in addition to the expansion of existing anti-malarial control measures, it is critical to develop new tools, such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), to fight malaria. In the last 2 years, the first and second malaria vaccines, both targeting Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite proteins (PfCSP), have been recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent P. falciparum malaria in children living in moderate to high transmission areas. While the approval of the two malaria vaccines is a considerable milestone in vaccine development, they have much room for improvement in efficacy and durability. In addition to the two approved vaccines, recent clinical trials with mAbs against PfCSP, blood-stage vaccines against P. falciparum or P. vivax, and transmission-blocking vaccine or mAb against P. falciparum have shown promising results. This review summarizes the development of the anti-PfCSP vaccines and mAbs, and recent topics in the blood- and transmission-blocking-stage vaccine candidates and mAbs. We further discuss issues of the current vaccines and the directions for the development of next-generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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2
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Marques RF, Gimenez AM, Caballero O, Simpson A, Salazar AM, Amino R, Godin S, Gazzinelli RT, Soares IS. Non-clinical toxicity and immunogenicity evaluation of a Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine using Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®) as adjuvant. Vaccine 2024; 42:2394-2406. [PMID: 38448321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Malaria caused byPlasmodium vivaxis a pressing public health problem in tropical and subtropical areas.However, little progress has been made toward developing a P. vivaxvaccine, with only three candidates being tested in clinical studies. We previously reported that one chimeric recombinant protein (PvCSP-All epitopes) containing the conserved C-terminus of the P. vivax Circumsporozoite Protein (PvCSP), the three variant repeat domains, and aToll-like receptor-3 agonist,Poly(I:C), as an adjuvant (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, a dsRNA analog mimicking viral RNA), elicits strong antibody-mediated immune responses in mice to each of the three allelic forms of PvCSP. In the present study, a pre-clinical safety evaluation was performed to identify potential local and systemic toxic effects of the PvCSP-All epitopes combined with the Poly-ICLC (Poly I:C plus poly-L-lysine, Hiltonol®) or Poly-ICLC when subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6 mice and New Zealand White Rabbits followed by a 21-day recovery period. Overall, all observations were considered non-adverse and were consistent with the expected inflammatory response and immune stimulation following vaccine administration. High levels of vaccine-induced specific antibodies were detected both in mice and rabbits. Furthermore, mice that received the vaccine formulation were protected after the challenge with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing CSP repeats from P. vivax sporozoites (Pb/Pv-VK210). In conclusion, in these non-clinical models, repeated dose administrations of the PvCSP-All epitopes vaccine adjuvanted with a Poly-ICLC were immunogenic, safe, and well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo F Marques
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alba M Gimenez
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Andres M Salazar
- Oncovir, Inc. Washington, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
| | - Steven Godin
- Smithers Avanza Toxicology Services, Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America
| | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Irene S Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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3
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Locke E, Flores-Garcia Y, Mayer BT, MacGill RS, Borate B, Salgado-Jimenez B, Gerber MW, Mathis-Torres S, Shapiro S, King CR, Zavala F. Establishing RTS,S/AS01 as a benchmark for comparison to next-generation malaria vaccines in a mouse model. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:29. [PMID: 38341502 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00819-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
New strategies are needed to reduce the incidence of malaria, and promising approaches include vaccines targeting the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). To improve upon the malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, it is essential to standardize preclinical assays to measure the potency of next-generation vaccines against this benchmark. We focus on RTS,S/AS01-induced antibody responses and functional activity in conjunction with robust statistical analyses. Transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoites containing full-length P. falciparum CSP (tgPb-PfCSP) allow two assessments of efficacy: quantitative reduction in liver infection following intravenous challenge, and sterile protection from mosquito bite challenge. Two or three doses of RTS,S/AS01 were given intramuscularly at 3-week intervals, with challenge 2-weeks after the last vaccination. Minimal inter- and intra-assay variability indicates the reproducibility of the methods. Importantly, the range of this model is suitable for screening more potent vaccines. Levels of induced anti-CSP antibody 2A10 equivalency were also associated with activity: 105 μg/mL (95% CI: 68.8, 141) reduced liver infection by 50%, whereas 285 μg/mL (95% CI: 166, 404) is required for 50% sterile protection from mosquito bite challenge. Additionally, the liver burden model was able to differentiate between protected and non-protected human plasma samples from a controlled human malaria infection study, supporting these models' relevance and predictive capability. Comparison in animal models of CSP-based vaccine candidates to RTS,S/AS01 is now possible under well controlled conditions. Assessment of the quality of induced antibodies, likely a determinant of durability of protection in humans, should be possible using these methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Locke
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bryan T Mayer
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Randall S MacGill
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Bhavesh Borate
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Berenice Salgado-Jimenez
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Monica W Gerber
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Shamika Mathis-Torres
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Shapiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - C Richter King
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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4
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Tripathi P, Bender MF, Lei H, Da Silva Pereira L, Shen CH, Bonilla B, Dillon M, Ou L, Pancera M, Wang LT, Zhang B, Batista FD, Idris AH, Seder RA, Kwong PD. Cryo-EM structures of anti-malarial antibody L9 with circumsporozoite protein reveal trimeric L9 association and complete 27-residue epitope. Structure 2023; 31:480-491.e4. [PMID: 36931276 PMCID: PMC10237622 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody L9 recognizes the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) and is highly protective following controlled human malaria challenge. To gain insight into its function, we determined cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of L9 in complex with full-length PfCSP and assessed how this recognition influenced protection by wild-type and mutant L9s. Cryo-EM reconstructions at 3.6- and 3.7-Å resolution revealed L9 to recognize PfCSP as an atypical trimer. Each of the three L9s in the trimer directly recognized an Asn-Pro-Asn-Val (NPNV) tetrapeptide on PfCSP and interacted homotypically to facilitate L9-trimer assembly. We analyzed peptides containing different repeat tetrapeptides for binding to wild-type and mutant L9s to delineate epitope and homotypic components of L9 recognition; we found both components necessary for potent malaria protection. Last, we found the 27-residue stretch recognized by L9 to be highly conserved in P. falciparum isolates, suggesting the newly revealed complete L9 epitope to be an attractive vaccine target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhanshu Tripathi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael F Bender
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Haotian Lei
- Research Technology Branch Electron Microscopy Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lais Da Silva Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chen-Hsiang Shen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian Bonilla
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Li Ou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marie Pancera
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lawrence T Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Facundo D Batista
- Departments of Immunology and Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, USA
| | - Azza H Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter D Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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5
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Wang LT, Hurlburt NK, Schön A, Flynn BJ, Flores-Garcia Y, Pereira LS, Kiyuka PK, Dillon M, Bonilla B, Zavala F, Idris AH, Francica JR, Pancera M, Seder RA. The light chain of the L9 antibody is critical for binding circumsporozoite protein minor repeats and preventing malaria. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110367. [PMID: 35172158 PMCID: PMC8896312 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
L9 is a potent human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that preferentially binds two adjacent NVDP minor repeats and cross-reacts with NANP major repeats of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) on malaria-infective sporozoites. Understanding this mAb's ontogeny and mechanisms of binding PfCSP will facilitate vaccine development. Here, we isolate mAbs clonally related to L9 and show that this B cell lineage has baseline NVDP affinity and evolves to acquire NANP reactivity. Pairing the L9 kappa light chain (L9κ) with clonally related heavy chains results in chimeric mAbs that cross-link two NVDPs, cross-react with NANP, and more potently neutralize sporozoites in vivo compared with their original light chain. Structural analyses reveal that the chimeric mAbs bound minor repeats in a type-1 β-turn seen in other repeat-specific antibodies. These data highlight the importance of L9κ in binding NVDP on PfCSP to neutralize sporozoites and suggest that PfCSP-based immunogens might be improved by presenting ≥2 NVDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence T Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas K Hurlburt
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Arne Schön
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Barbara J Flynn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lais S Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Patience K Kiyuka
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian Bonilla
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Azza H Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joseph R Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marie Pancera
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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6
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Flores-Garcia Y, Wang LT, Park M, Asady B, Idris AH, Kisalu NK, Muñoz C, Pereira LS, Francica JR, Seder RA, Zavala F. The P. falciparum CSP repeat region contains three distinct epitopes required for protection by antibodies in vivo. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010042. [PMID: 34748617 PMCID: PMC8601602 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rare and potent monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (CSP) on infective sporozoites (SPZ) preferentially bind the PfCSP junctional tetrapeptide NPDP or NVDP minor repeats while cross-reacting with NANP central repeats in vitro. The extent to which each of these epitopes is required for protection in vivo is unknown. Here, we assessed whether junction-, minor repeat- and central repeat-preferring human mAbs (CIS43, L9 and 317 respectively) bound and protected against in vivo challenge with transgenic P. berghei (Pb) SPZ expressing either PfCSP with the junction and minor repeats knocked out (KO), or PbCSP with the junction and minor repeats knocked in (KI). In vivo protection studies showed that the junction and minor repeats are necessary and sufficient for CIS43 and L9 to neutralize KO and KI SPZ, respectively. In contrast, 317 required major repeats for in vivo protection. These data establish that human mAbs can prevent malaria infection by targeting three different protective epitopes (NPDP, NVDP, NANP) in the PfCSP repeat region. This report will inform vaccine development and the use of mAbs to passively prevent malaria. Human monoclonal antibodies are a promising approach for preventing malaria. Highly potent human antibodies show preferential binding to the junction or minor repeat regions of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of P. falciparum and cross-react to repetitive (NANP) repeats. The requirement for these binding sites for mediating protection in vivo remains unknown. Here, using transgenic P. berghei parasites expressing PfCSP containing deletions of these junctional or minor epitopes, or PbCSP containing additions of these PfCSP epitopes, we demonstrate these epitopes are necessary and sufficient to mediate protection and don’t require cross-reactivity to the NANP repeats. Our findings establish a mechanism of antibody mediated protection in vivo to prevent malaria and provide the rationale for multi-epitope vaccines to increase the breadth of the antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lawrence T. Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Minah Park
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Beejan Asady
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Azza H. Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Neville K. Kisalu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christian Muñoz
- Medical Technology Department, Faculty of Health Science, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Lais S. Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph R. Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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7
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Gimenez AM, Salman AM, Marques RF, López-Camacho C, Harrison K, Kim YC, Janse CJ, Soares IS, Reyes-Sandoval A. A universal vaccine candidate against Plasmodium vivax malaria confers protective immunity against the three PvCSP alleles. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17928. [PMID: 34504134 PMCID: PMC8429696 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96986-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a highly prevalent parasitic disease in regions with tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. Among the species of Plasmodium causing human malaria, P. vivax is the second most prevalent and the most geographically widespread species. A major target of a pre-erythrocytic vaccine is the P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP). In previous studies, we fused two recombinant proteins representing three allelic variants of PvCSP (VK210, VK247 and P. vivax-like) to the mumps virus nucleocapsid protein to enhance immune responses against PvCSP. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of these recombinants in mice challenged with transgenic P. berghei parasites expressing PvCSP allelic variants. Formulations containing Poly (I:C) or Montanide ISA720 as adjuvants elicited high and long-lasting IgG antibody titers specific to each PvCSP allelic variant. Immunized mice were challenged with two existing chimeric P. berghei parasite lines expressing PvCSP-VK210 and PvCSP-VK247. We also developed a novel chimeric line expressing the third allelic variant, PvCSP-P. vivax-like, as a new murine immunization-challenge model. Our formulations conferred partial protection (significant delay in the time to reach 1% parasitemia) against challenge with the three chimeric parasites. Our results provide insights into the development of a vaccine targeting multiple strains of P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Marina Gimenez
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.,Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ahmed M Salman
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Rodolfo F Marques
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - César López-Camacho
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Kate Harrison
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Young Chan Kim
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Chris J Janse
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden Malaria Research Group, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, (LUMC, L4-Q), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Irene S Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK. .,Instituto Politécnico Nacional, IPN, Av. Luis Enrique Erro S/N. Unidad Adolfo López Mateos, Zacatenco, CP 07738, Mexico City, Mexico.
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8
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Raissi V, Etemadi S, Getso MI, Mehravaran A, Raiesi O. Structure-genetic diversity and recombinant protein of circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of vivax malaria antigen: A potential malaria vaccine candidate. GENE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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9
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Hopp CS, Kanatani S, Archer NK, Miller RJ, Liu H, Chiou KK, Miller LS, Sinnis P. Comparative intravital imaging of human and rodent malaria sporozoites reveals the skin is not a species-specific barrier. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e11796. [PMID: 33750026 PMCID: PMC8033530 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201911796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria infection starts with the injection of Plasmodium sporozoites into the host’s skin. Sporozoites are motile and move in the skin to find and enter blood vessels to be carried to the liver. Here, we present the first characterization of P. falciparum sporozoites in vivo, analyzing their motility in mouse skin and human skin xenografts and comparing their motility to two rodent malaria species. These data suggest that in contrast to the liver and blood stages, the skin is not a species‐specific barrier for Plasmodium. Indeed, P. falciparum sporozoites enter blood vessels in mouse skin at similar rates to the rodent malaria parasites. Furthermore, we demonstrate that antibodies targeting sporozoites significantly impact the motility of P. falciparum sporozoites in mouse skin. Though the sporozoite stage is a validated vaccine target, vaccine trials have been hampered by the lack of good animal models for human malaria parasites. Pre‐clinical screening of next‐generation vaccines would be significantly aided by the in vivo platform we describe here, expediting down‐selection of candidates prior to human vaccine trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine S Hopp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Sachie Kanatani
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nathan K Archer
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert J Miller
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Haiyun Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin K Chiou
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lloyd S Miller
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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10
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Miyazaki Y, Marin-Mogollon C, Imai T, Mendes AM, van der Laak R, Sturm A, Geurten FJA, Miyazaki S, Chevalley-Maurel S, Ramesar J, Kolli SK, Kroeze H, van Schuijlenburg R, Salman AM, Wilder BK, Reyes-Sandoval A, Dechering KJ, Prudêncio M, Janse CJ, Khan SM, Franke-Fayard B. Generation of a Genetically Modified Chimeric Plasmodium falciparum Parasite Expressing Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein for Malaria Vaccine Development. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:591046. [PMID: 33392104 PMCID: PMC7773900 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.591046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric rodent malaria parasites with the endogenous circumsporozoite protein (csp) gene replaced with csp from the human parasites Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and P. vivax (Pv) are used in preclinical evaluation of CSP vaccines. Chimeric rodent parasites expressing PfCSP have also been assessed as whole sporozoite (WSP) vaccines. Comparable chimeric P. falciparum parasites expressing CSP of P. vivax could be used both for clinical evaluation of vaccines targeting PvCSP in controlled human P. falciparum infections and in WSP vaccines targeting P. vivax and P. falciparum. We generated chimeric P. falciparum parasites expressing both PfCSP and PvCSP. These Pf-PvCSP parasites produced sporozoite comparable to wild type P. falciparum parasites and expressed PfCSP and PvCSP on the sporozoite surface. Pf-PvCSP sporozoites infected human hepatocytes and induced antibodies to the repeats of both PfCSP and PvCSP after immunization of mice. These results support the use of Pf-PvCSP sporozoites in studies optimizing vaccines targeting PvCSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Miyazaki
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Takashi Imai
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Host Defense, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - António M Mendes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | | | - Fiona J A Geurten
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Shinya Miyazaki
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Jai Ramesar
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Surendra K Kolli
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Hans Kroeze
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Ahmed M Salman
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Brandon K Wilder
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Chris J Janse
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Shahid M Khan
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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11
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A Multistage Formulation Based on Full-Length CSP and AMA-1 Ectodomain of Plasmodium vivax Induces High Antibody Titers and T-cells and Partially Protects Mice Challenged with a Transgenic Plasmodium berghei Parasite. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8060916. [PMID: 32560380 PMCID: PMC7356588 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with Plasmodium vivax are predominant in the Americas, representing 75% of malaria cases. Previously perceived as benign, malaria vivax is, in fact, a highly debilitating and economically important disease. Considering the high complexity of the malaria parasite life cycle, it has been hypothesized that an effective vaccine formulation against Plasmodium should contain multiple antigens expressed in different parasite stages. Based on that, we analyzed a recombinant P. vivax vaccine formulation mixing the apical membrane antigen 1 ectodomain (PvAMA-1) and a full-length circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP-AllFL) previously studied by our group, which elicits a potent antibody response in mice. Genetically distinct strains of mice (C57BL/6 and BALB/c) were immunized with the proteins, alone or in combination, in the presence of poly(I:C) adjuvant, a TLR3 agonist. In C57BL/6, high-antibody titers were induced against PvAMA-1 and the three PvCSP variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like). Meanwhile, mixing PvAMA-1 with PvCSP-AllFL had no impact on total IgG antibody titers, which were long-lasting. Moreover, antibodies from immunized mice recognized VK210 sporozoites and blood-stage parasites by immunofluorescence assay. However, in the BALB/c model, the antibody response against PvCSP-AllFL was relatively low. PvAMA-1-specific CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T-cell responses were observed in C57BL/6 mice, and the cellular response was impaired by PvCSP-AllFL combination. More relevant, the multistage vaccine formulation provided partial protection in mice challenged with a transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoite expressing the homologous PvCSP protein.
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12
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Marques RF, Gimenez AM, Aliprandini E, Novais JT, Cury DP, Watanabe IS, Dominguez MR, Silveira ELV, Amino R, Soares IS. Protective Malaria Vaccine in Mice Based on the Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Fused with the Mumps Nucleocapsid Protein. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020190. [PMID: 32325874 PMCID: PMC7348950 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most common species of human malaria parasite found outside Africa, with high endemicity in Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania. Although Plasmodium falciparum causes the majority of deaths, P. vivax can lead to severe malaria and result in significant morbidity and mortality. The development of a protective vaccine will be a major step toward malaria elimination. Recently, a formulation containing the three allelic variants of the P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP—All epitopes) showed partial protection in mice after a challenge with the hybrid Plasmodium berghei (Pb) sporozoite, in which the PbCSP central repeats were replaced by the VK210 PvCSP repeats (Pb/Pv sporozoite). In the present study, the chimeric PvCSP allelic variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like) were fused with the mumps virus nucleocapsid protein in the absence (NLP-CSPR) or presence of the conserved C-terminal (CT) domain of PvCSP (NLP-CSPCT). To elicit stronger humoral and cellular responses, Pichia pastoris yeast was used to assemble them as nucleocapsid-like particles (NLPs). Mice were immunized with each recombinant protein adjuvanted with Poly (I:C) and presented a high frequency of antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) on days 5 and 30, respectively, in the spleen and bone marrow. Moreover, high IgG titers against all PvCSP variants were detected in the sera. Later, these immunized mice with NLP-CSPCT were challenged with Pb/Pv sporozoites. Sterile protection was observed in 30% of the challenged mice. Therefore, this vaccine formulation use has the potential to be a good candidate for the development of a universal vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo F. Marques
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Alba Marina Gimenez
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-010 SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Aliprandini
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; (E.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Janaina T. Novais
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Diego P. Cury
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (D.P.C.); (I.-S.W.)
| | - Ii-Sei Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (D.P.C.); (I.-S.W.)
| | - Mariana R. Dominguez
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Eduardo L. V. Silveira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; (E.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Irene S. Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Raghunandan R, Mayer BT, Flores-Garcia Y, Gerber MW, Gottardo R, Jhun H, Herrera SM, Perez-Ramos DW, Locke E, King CR, Zavala F. Characterization of two in vivo challenge models to measure functional activity of monoclonal antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. Malar J 2020; 19:113. [PMID: 32183833 PMCID: PMC7079517 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03181-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New strategies are needed to reduce the incidence of malaria, and promising approaches include the development of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). To select the best candidates and speed development, it is essential to standardize preclinical assays to measure the potency of such interventions in animal models. METHODS Two assay configurations were studied using transgenic Plasmodium berghei expressing Plasmodium falciparum full-length circumsporozoite protein. The assays measured (1) reduction in parasite infection of the liver (liver burden) following an intravenous (i.v) administration of sporozoites and (2) protection from parasitaemia following mosquito bite challenge. Two human CSP mAbs, AB311 and AB317, were compared for their ability to inhibit infection. Multiple independent experiments were conducted to define assay variability and resultant impact on the ability to discriminate differences in mAb functional activity. RESULTS Overall, the assays produced highly consistent results in that all individual experiments showed greater functional activity for AB317 compared to AB311 as calculated by the dose required for 50% inhibition (ID50) as well as the serum concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50). The data were then used to model experimental designs with adequate statistical power to rigorously screen, compare, and rank order novel anti-CSP mAbs. CONCLUSION The results indicate that in vivo assays described here can provide reliable information for comparing the functional activity of mAbs. The results also provide guidance regarding selection of the appropriate experimental design, dose selection, and group sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rama Raghunandan
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20001, USA.
| | - Bryan T Mayer
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Monica W Gerber
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Raphael Gottardo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Hugo Jhun
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Sonia M Herrera
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel W Perez-Ramos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily Locke
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - C Richter King
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20001, USA.
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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14
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Flores-Garcia Y, Herrera SM, Jhun H, Pérez-Ramos DW, King CR, Locke E, Raghunandan R, Zavala F. Optimization of an in vivo model to study immunity to Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic stages. Malar J 2019; 18:426. [PMID: 31849326 PMCID: PMC6918627 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium is a key surface antigen that induces antibodies and T-cells, conferring immune protection in animal models and humans. However, much of the work on CSP and immunity has been developed based on studies using rodent or non-human primate CSP antigens, which may not be entirely translatable to CSP expressed by human malaria parasites, especially considering the host specificity of the different species. METHODS Using a genetically engineered strain of Plasmodium berghei that expresses luciferase, GFP and the Plasmodium falciparum orthologue of CSP, the effect of laboratory preparation, mosquito treatment and mouse factors on sporozoite infectivity was assessed using an in vivo bioluminescence assay on mice. This assay was compared with a PCR-based protection assay using an already described monoclonal antibody that can provide sterile protection against sporozoite challenge. RESULTS Bioluminescence assay demonstrated similar detection levels of the quantity and kinetics of liver-stage infection, compared to PCR-based detection. This assay was used to evaluate treatment of sporozoite and delivery method on mouse infectivity, as well as the effects of age, sex and strain of mice. Finally, this assay was used to test the protective capacity of monoclonal antibody AB317; results strongly recapitulate the findings of previous work on this antibody. CONCLUSIONS The PbGFP-Luc line and in vivo bioluminescence imaging provide highly sensitive read-outs of liver-stage infection in mice, and this method can be useful to reliably evaluate potency of pre-erythrocytic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sonia M Herrera
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Hugo Jhun
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Daniel W Pérez-Ramos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - C Richter King
- PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Emily Locke
- PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Ramadevi Raghunandan
- PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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15
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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: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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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16
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Xu R, Liu Y, Fan R, Liang R, Yue L, Liu S, Su XZ, Li J. Generation and functional characterisation of Plasmodium yoelii csp deletion mutants using a microhomology-based CRISPR/Cas9 method. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:705-714. [PMID: 31202685 PMCID: PMC10993195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing method that has greatly facilitated functional studies in many eukaryotic organisms including malaria parasites. Due to the lack of genes encoding enzymes necessary for the non-homologous end joining DNA repair pathway, genetic manipulation of malaria parasite genomes is generally accomplished through homologous recombination requiring the presence of DNA templates. Recently, an alternative double-strand break repair pathway, microhomology-mediated end joining, was found in the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Taking advantage of the MMEJ pathway, we developed a MMEJ-based CRISPR/Cas9 (mCRISPR) strategy to efficiently generate multiple mutant parasites simultaneously in genes with repetitive sequences. As a proof of principle, we successfully produced various size mutants in the central repeat region of the Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite surface protein without the use of template DNA. Monitoring mixed parasite populations and individual parasites with different sizes of CSP-CRR showed that the CSP-CRR plays a role in the development of mosquito stages, with severe developmental defects in parasites with large deletions in the repeat region. However, the majority of the csp mutant parasite clones grew similarly to the wild type P. yoelii 17XL parasite in mice. This study develops a useful technique to efficiently generate mutant parasites with deletions or insertions, and shows that the CSP-CRR plays a role in parasite development in mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yanjing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Ruoxi Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Rui Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Lixia Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Shengfa Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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17
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Goh YS, McGuire D, Rénia L. Vaccination With Sporozoites: Models and Correlates of Protection. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1227. [PMID: 31231377 PMCID: PMC6560154 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite continuous efforts, the century-old goal of eradicating malaria still remains. Multiple control interventions need to be in place simultaneously to achieve this goal. In addition to effective control measures, drug therapies and insecticides, vaccines are critical to reduce mortality and morbidity. Hence, there are numerous studies investigating various malaria vaccine candidates. Most of the malaria vaccine candidates are subunit vaccines. However, they have shown limited efficacy in Phase II and III studies. To date, only whole parasite formulations have been shown to induce sterile immunity in human. In this article, we review and discuss the recent developments in vaccination with sporozoites and the mechanisms of protection involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Shan Goh
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Biopolis, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel McGuire
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Biopolis, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Laurent Rénia
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Biopolis, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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18
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Gorki V, Singh R, Walter NS, Bagai U, Salunke DB. Synthesis and Evaluation of Antiplasmodial Efficacy of β-Carboline Derivatives against Murine Malaria. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:13200-13210. [PMID: 30411030 PMCID: PMC6217594 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The difficulty of developing an efficient malaria vaccine along with increasing spread of multidrug resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum to the available antimalarial drugs poses the need to discover safe and efficacious antimalarial drugs to control malaria. An alternative strategy is to synthesize compounds possessing structures similar to the active natural products or marketed drugs. Several biologically active natural products and drugs contain β-carboline moiety. In the present study, few selected β-carboline derivatives have been synthesized and tested for their in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity against the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei (NK-65). The designed analogs exhibited considerable in vitro antimalarial activity. Two compounds (1R,3S)-methyl 1-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylate (9a) and (1R,3S)-methyl 1-(pyridin-3-yl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylate (9b) were further selected for in vivo studies. Both the lead compounds (9a and 9b) were observed to be safe for oral administration. The therapeutic effective dose (ED50) for 9a and 9b were determined and in the animal model, 9a (at 50 mg/kg dose) exhibited better activity in terms of parasite clearance and enhancement of host survival. Biochemical investigations also point toward the safety of the compound to the hepatic and renal functions of the rodent host. Further studies are underway to explore its activity alone as well as in combination therapy with artesunate against the human malaria parasite P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Gorki
- Parasitology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, and Department of Chemistry and Centre
of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab
University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Rahul Singh
- Parasitology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, and Department of Chemistry and Centre
of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab
University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Neha Sylvia Walter
- Parasitology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, and Department of Chemistry and Centre
of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab
University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Upma Bagai
- Parasitology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, and Department of Chemistry and Centre
of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab
University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Deepak B. Salunke
- Parasitology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, and Department of Chemistry and Centre
of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab
University, Chandigarh 160014, India
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19
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Fonseca JA, McCaffery JN, Caceres J, Kashentseva E, Singh B, Dmitriev IP, Curiel DT, Moreno A. Inclusion of the murine IgGκ signal peptide increases the cellular immunogenicity of a simian adenoviral vectored Plasmodium vivax multistage vaccine. Vaccine 2018; 36:2799-2808. [PMID: 29657070 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.03.091] [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: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cellular and humoral immune responses are both involved in protection against Plasmodium infections. The only malaria vaccine available, RTS,S, primarily induces short-lived antibodies and targets only a pre-erythrocytic stage antigen. Inclusion of erythrocytic stage targets and enhancing cellular immunogenicity are likely necessary for developing an effective second-generation malaria vaccine. Adenovirus vectors have been used to improve the immunogenicity of protein-based vaccines. However, the clinical assessment of adenoviral-vectored malaria vaccines candidates has shown the induction of robust Plasmodium-specific CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. Signal peptides (SP) have been used to enhance the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines, but have not been tested in viral vector vaccine platforms. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to determine if the addition of the SP derived from the murine IgGκ light chain within a recombinant adenovirus vector encoding a multistage P. vivax vaccine candidate could improve the CD4+ T cell response. METHODS In this proof-of-concept study, we immunized CB6F1/J mice with either the recombinant simian adenovirus 36 vector containing the SP (SP-SAd36) upstream from a transgene encoding a chimeric P. vivax multistage protein or the same SAd36 vector without the SP. Mice were subsequently boosted twice with the corresponding recombinant proteins emulsified in Montanide ISA 51 VG. Immunogenicity was assessed by measurement of antibody quantity and quality, and cytokine production by T cells after the final immunization. RESULTS The SP-SAd36 immunization regimen induced significantly higher antibody avidity against the chimeric P. vivax proteins tested and higher frequencies of IFN-γ and IL-2 CD4+ and CD8+ secreting T cells, when compared to the unmodified SAd36 vector. CONCLUSIONS The addition of the murine IgGκ signal peptide significantly enhances the immunogenicity of a SAd36 vectored P. vivax multi-stage vaccine candidate in mice. The potential of this approach to improve upon existing viral vector vaccine platforms warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jairo A Fonseca
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States
| | - Jessica N McCaffery
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
| | - Juan Caceres
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
| | - Elena Kashentseva
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine 660 S. Euclid Ave., 4511 Forest Park Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
| | - Balwan Singh
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
| | - Igor P Dmitriev
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine 660 S. Euclid Ave., 4511 Forest Park Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
| | - David T Curiel
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine 660 S. Euclid Ave., 4511 Forest Park Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States.
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20
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Davies HM, Nofal SD, McLaughlin EJ, Osborne AR. Repetitive sequences in malaria parasite proteins. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 41:923-940. [PMID: 29077880 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fux046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Five species of parasite cause malaria in humans with the most severe disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Many of the proteins encoded in the P. falciparum genome are unusually enriched in repetitive low-complexity sequences containing a limited repertoire of amino acids. These repetitive sequences expand and contract dynamically and are among the most rapidly changing sequences in the genome. The simplest repetitive sequences consist of single amino acid repeats such as poly-asparagine tracts that are found in approximately 25% of P. falciparum proteins. More complex repeats of two or more amino acids are also common in diverse parasite protein families. There is no universal explanation for the occurrence of repetitive sequences and it is possible that many confer no function to the encoded protein and no selective advantage or disadvantage to the parasite. However, there are increasing numbers of examples where repetitive sequences are important for parasite protein function. We discuss the diverse roles of low-complexity repetitive sequences throughout the parasite life cycle, from mediating protein-protein interactions to enabling the parasite to evade the host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heledd M Davies
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie D Nofal
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Emilia J McLaughlin
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Osborne
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
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21
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Baay MFD, Richie TL, Neels P. Human challenge trials in vaccine development, Rockville, MD, USA, September 28-30, 2017. Biologicals 2018; 61:85-94. [PMID: 29573967 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Alliance for Biological Standardization organized the second workshop on human challenge trials (HCT) in Rockville, MD, in September 2017. The objective of this meeting was to examine the use of HCT, in response to the continuing human suffering caused by infectious diseases, preventable by the development of new and improved vaccines. For this, the approach of HCT could be valuable, as HCT can provide key safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and efficacy data, and can be used to study host-pathogen biology. HCT can generate these data with speed, efficiency and minimal expense, albeit not with the same level of robustness as clinical trials. Incorporated wisely into a clinical development plan, HCT can support optimization or down-selection of new vaccine candidates, assuring that only the worthiest candidates progress to field testing. HCT may also provide pivotal efficacy data in support of licensure, particularly when field efficacy studies are not feasible. Many aspects of HCT were discussed by the participants, including new and existing models, standardization and ethics. A consensus was achieved that HCT, if ethically justified and performed with careful attention to safety and informed consent, should be pursued to promote and accelerate vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc F D Baay
- P95 Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology Services, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Thomas L Richie
- Sanaria Institute for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Pieter Neels
- International Alliance for Biological Standardization, Lyon, France.
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22
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Chaudhry SR, Lwin N, Phelan D, Escalante AA, Battistuzzi FU. Comparative analysis of low complexity regions in Plasmodia. Sci Rep 2018; 8:335. [PMID: 29321589 PMCID: PMC5762703 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18695-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Low complexity regions (LCRs) are a common feature shared by many genomes, but their evolutionary and functional significance remains mostly unknown. At the core of the uncertainty is a poor understanding of the mechanisms that regulate their retention in genomes, whether driven by natural selection or neutral evolution. Applying a comparative approach of LCRs to multiple strains and species is a powerful approach to identify patterns of conservation in these regions. Using this method, we investigate the evolutionary history of LCRs in the genus Plasmodium based on orthologous protein coding genes shared by 11 species and strains from primate and rodent-infecting pathogens. We find multiple lines of evidence in support of natural selection as a major evolutionary force shaping the composition and conservation of LCRs through time and signatures that their evolutionary paths are species specific. Our findings add a comparative analysis perspective to the debate on the evolution of LCRs and harness the power of sequence comparisons to identify potential functionally important LCR candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Chaudhry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - N Lwin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - D Phelan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - A A Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - F U Battistuzzi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA. .,Center for Data Science and Big Data Analytics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA.
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23
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Armistead JS, Adams JH. Advancing Research Models and Technologies to Overcome Biological Barriers to Plasmodium vivax Control. Trends Parasitol 2017; 34:114-126. [PMID: 29153587 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria prevalence has declined in the past 10 years, especially outside of sub-Saharan Africa. However, the proportion of cases due to Plasmodium vivax is increasing, accounting for up to 90-100% of the malaria burden in endemic regions. Nonetheless, investments in malaria research and control still prioritize Plasmodium falciparum while largely neglecting P. vivax. Specific biological features of P. vivax, particularly invasion of reticulocytes, occurrence of dormant liver forms of the parasite, and the potential for transmission of sexual-stage parasites prior to onset of clinical illness, promote its persistence and hinder development of research tools and interventions. This review discusses recent advances in P. vivax research, current knowledge of its unique biology, and proposes priorities for P. vivax research and control efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Armistead
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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24
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Gimenez AM, Lima LC, Françoso KS, Denapoli PMA, Panatieri R, Bargieri DY, Thiberge JM, Andolina C, Nosten F, Renia L, Nussenzweig RS, Nussenzweig V, Amino R, Rodrigues MM, Soares IS. Vaccine Containing the Three Allelic Variants of the Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Antigen Induces Protection in Mice after Challenge with a Transgenic Rodent Malaria Parasite. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1275. [PMID: 29075260 PMCID: PMC5642139 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most common species that cause malaria outside of the African continent. The development of an efficacious vaccine would contribute greatly to control malaria. Recently, using bacterial and adenoviral recombinant proteins based on the P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP), we demonstrated the possibility of eliciting strong antibody-mediated immune responses to each of the three allelic forms of P. vivax CSP (PvCSP). In the present study, recombinant proteins representing the PvCSP alleles (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like), as well as a hybrid polypeptide, named PvCSP-All epitopes, were generated. This hybrid containing the conserved C-terminal of the PvCSP and the three variant repeat domains in tandem were successfully produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris. After purification and biochemical characterization, they were used for the experimental immunization of C57BL/6 mice in a vaccine formulation containing the adjuvant Poly(I:C). Immunization with a recombinant protein expressing all three different allelic forms in fusion elicited high IgG antibody titers reacting with all three different allelic variants of PvCSP. The antibodies targeted both the C-terminal and repeat domains of PvCSP and recognized the native protein on the surface of P. vivax sporozoites. More importantly, mice that received the vaccine formulation were protected after challenge with chimeric Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing CSP repeats of P. vivax sporozoites (Pb/PvVK210). Our results suggest that it is possible to elicit protective immunity against one of the most common PvCSP alleles using soluble recombinant proteins expressed by P. pastoris. These recombinant proteins are promising candidates for clinical trials aiming to develop a multiallele vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Marina Gimenez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Chagas Lima
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katia Sanches Françoso
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscila M. A. Denapoli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel Panatieri
- Unit of Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Department of Parasitology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Chiara Andolina
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Francois Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Renia
- Singapore Immunology Network, Biopolis, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Mauricio M. Rodrigues
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Irene S. Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Sack BK, Mikolajczak SA, Fishbaugher M, Vaughan AM, Flannery EL, Nguyen T, Betz W, Jane Navarro M, Foquet L, Steel RWJ, Billman ZP, Murphy SC, Hoffman SL, Chakravarty S, Sim BKL, Behet M, Reuling IJ, Walk J, Scholzen A, Sauerwein RW, Ishizuka AS, Flynn B, Seder RA, Kappe SHI. Humoral protection against mosquito bite-transmitted Plasmodium falciparum infection in humanized mice. NPJ Vaccines 2017; 2:27. [PMID: 29263882 PMCID: PMC5634440 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-017-0028-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A malaria vaccine that prevents infection will be an important new tool in continued efforts of malaria elimination, and such vaccines are under intense development for the major human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Antibodies elicited by vaccines can block the initial phases of parasite infection when sporozoites are deposited into the skin by mosquito bite and then target the liver for further development. However, there are currently no standardized in vivo preclinical models that can measure the inhibitory activity of antibody specificities against Pf sporozoite infection via mosquito bite. Here, we use human liver-chimeric mice as a challenge model to assess prevention of natural Pf sporozoite infection by antibodies. We demonstrate that these mice are consistently infected with Pf by mosquito bite and that this challenge can be combined with passive transfer of either monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal human IgG from immune serum to measure antibody-mediated blocking of parasite infection using bioluminescent imaging. This methodology is useful to down-select functional antibodies and to investigate mechanisms or immune correlates of protection in clinical trials, thereby informing rational vaccine optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Thao Nguyen
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Will Betz
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA USA
| | | | - Lander Foquet
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA USA
| | | | - Zachary P. Billman
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Sean C. Murphy
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA USA
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jona Walk
- Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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26
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Othman AS, Marin-Mogollon C, Salman AM, Franke-Fayard BM, Janse CJ, Khan SM. The use of transgenic parasites in malaria vaccine research. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 16:1-13. [DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2017.1333426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Syibli Othman
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Catherin Marin-Mogollon
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Blandine M. Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Shahid M. Khan
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands
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27
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Frischknecht F, Matuschewski K. Plasmodium Sporozoite Biology. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:cshperspect.a025478. [PMID: 28108531 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a025478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoite transmission is a critical population bottleneck in parasite life-cycle progression and, hence, a target for prophylactic drugs and vaccines. The recent progress of a candidate antisporozoite subunit vaccine formulation to licensure highlights the importance of sporozoite transmission intervention in the malaria control portfolio. Sporozoites colonize mosquito salivary glands, migrate through the skin, penetrate blood vessels, breach the liver sinusoid, and invade hepatocytes. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate the remarkable sporozoite journey in the invertebrate vector and the vertebrate host can inform evidence-based next-generation drug development programs and immune intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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28
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Salman AM, Montoya-Díaz E, West H, Lall A, Atcheson E, Lopez-Camacho C, Ramesar J, Bauza K, Collins KA, Brod F, Reis F, Pappas L, González-Cerón L, Janse CJ, Hill AVS, Khan SM, Reyes-Sandoval A. Rational development of a protective P. vivax vaccine evaluated with transgenic rodent parasite challenge models. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46482. [PMID: 28417968 PMCID: PMC5394459 DOI: 10.1038/srep46482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of a protective and broadly-acting vaccine against the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax, will be a major step towards malaria elimination. However, a P. vivax vaccine has remained elusive by the scarcity of pre-clinical models to test protective efficacy and support further clinical trials. In this study, we report the development of a highly protective CSP-based P. vivax vaccine, a virus-like particle (VLP) known as Rv21, able to provide 100% sterile protection against a stringent sporozoite challenge in rodent models to malaria, where IgG2a antibodies were associated with protection in absence of detectable PvCSP-specific T cell responses. Additionally, we generated two novel transgenic rodent P. berghei parasite lines, where the P. berghei csp gene coding sequence has been replaced with either full-length P. vivax VK210 or the allelic VK247 csp that additionally express GFP-Luciferase. Efficacy of Rv21 surpassed viral-vectored vaccination using ChAd63 and MVA. We show for the first time that a chimeric VK210/247 antigen can elicit high level cross-protection against parasites expressing either CSP allele, which provide accessible and affordable models suitable to support the development of P. vivax vaccines candidates. Rv21 is progressing to GMP production and has entered a path towards clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Salman
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.,Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, (LUMC, L4-Q), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Montoya-Díaz
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Heather West
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Amar Lall
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Erwan Atcheson
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Cesar Lopez-Camacho
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Jai Ramesar
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, (LUMC, L4-Q), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karolis Bauza
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Katharine A Collins
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Florian Brod
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Fernando Reis
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte - MG - Brasil
| | - Leontios Pappas
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Lilia González-Cerón
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 4ta Avenida Norte y Calle 19 Poniente, Tapachula, Chiapas, CP 30740, Mexico
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, (LUMC, L4-Q), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adrian V S Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Shahid M Khan
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, (LUMC, L4-Q), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
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29
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Evaluation of Plasmodium vivax Cell-Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites as a Preerythrocytic P. vivax Vaccine. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00501-16. [PMID: 28179403 PMCID: PMC5382829 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00501-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Four different vaccine platforms, each targeting the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PvCelTOS), were generated and assessed for protective efficacy. These platforms consisted of a recombinant chimpanzee adenoviral vector 63 (ChAd63) expressing PvCelTOS (Ad), a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing PvCelTOS (MVA), PvCelTOS conjugated to bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particles (VLPs), and a recombinant PvCelTOS protein expressed in eukaryotic HEK293T cells (protein). Inbred BALB/c mice and outbred CD-1 mice were immunized using the following prime-boost regimens: Ad-MVA, Ad-VLPs, and Ad-protein. Protective efficacy against sporozoite challenge was assessed after immunization using a novel chimeric rodent Plasmodium berghei parasite (Pb-PvCelTOS). This chimeric parasite expresses P. vivax CelTOS in place of the endogenous P. berghei CelTOS and produces fully infectious sporozoites. A single Ad immunization in BALB/c and CD-1 mice induced anti-PvCelTOS antibodies which were boosted efficiently using MVA, VLP, or protein immunization. PvCelTOS-specific gamma interferon- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-producing CD8+ T cells were induced at high frequencies by all prime-boost regimens in BALB/c mice but not in CD-1 mice; in CD-1 mice, they were only marginally increased after boosting with MVA. Despite the induction of anti-PvCelTOS antibodies and PvCelTOS-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, only low levels of protective efficacy against challenge with Pb-PvCelTOS sporozoites were obtained using any immunization strategy. In BALB/c mice, no immunization regimens provided significant protection against a Pb-PvCelTOS chimeric sporozoite challenge. In CD-1 mice, modest protective efficacy against challenge with chimeric P. berghei sporozoites expressing either PvCelTOS or P. falciparum CelTOS was observed using the Ad-protein vaccination regimen.
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Phares TW, May AD, Genito CJ, Hoyt NA, Khan FA, Porter MD, DeBot M, Waters NC, Saudan P, Dutta S. Rhesus macaque and mouse models for down-selecting circumsporozoite protein based malaria vaccines differ significantly in immunogenicity and functional outcomes. Malar J 2017; 16:115. [PMID: 28288639 PMCID: PMC5347822 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1766-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-human primates, such as the rhesus macaques, are the preferred model for down-selecting human malaria vaccine formulations, but the rhesus model is expensive and does not allow for direct efficacy testing of human malaria vaccines. Transgenic rodent parasites expressing genes of human Plasmodium are now routinely used for efficacy studies of human malaria vaccines. Mice have however rarely predicted success in human malaria trials and there is scepticism whether mouse studies alone are sufficient to move a vaccine candidate into the clinic. METHODS A comparison of immunogenicity, fine-specificity and functional activity of two Alum-adjuvanted Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based vaccines was conducted in mouse and rhesus models. One vaccine was a soluble recombinant protein (CSP) and the other was the same CSP covalently conjugated to the Qβ phage particle (Qβ-CSP). RESULTS Mice showed different kinetics of antibody responses and different sensitivity to the NANP-repeat and N-terminal epitopes as compared to rhesus. While mice failed to discern differences between the protective efficacy of CSP versus Qβ-CSP vaccine following direct challenge with transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasites, rhesus serum from the Qβ-CSP-vaccinated animals induced higher in vivo sporozoite neutralization activity. CONCLUSIONS Despite some immunologic parallels between models, these data demonstrate that differences between the immune responses induced in the two models risk conflicting decisions regarding potential vaccine utility in humans. In combination with historical observations, the data presented here suggest that although murine models may be useful for some purposes, non-human primate models may be more likely to predict the human response to investigational vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy W Phares
- Structural Vaccinology Laboratory, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Anthony D May
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Christopher J Genito
- Structural Vaccinology Laboratory, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Nathan A Hoyt
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Farhat A Khan
- Structural Vaccinology Laboratory, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Michael D Porter
- Structural Vaccinology Laboratory, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Margot DeBot
- Structural Vaccinology Laboratory, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Norman C Waters
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Philippe Saudan
- Cytos Biotechnology, Wagistrasse 25, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- Structural Vaccinology Laboratory, Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.
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Pisciotta JM, Scholl PF, Shuman JL, Shualev V, Sullivan DJ. Quantitative characterization of hemozoin in Plasmodium berghei and vivax. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2017; 7:110-119. [PMID: 28279945 PMCID: PMC5342986 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The incidence and global distribution of chloroquine resistant (CR) Plasmodium vivax infection has increased since emerging in 1989. The mechanism of resistance in CR P. vivax has not been defined. The resistance likely relates to the formation and disposition of hemozoin as chloroquine's primary mechanism of action involves disruption of hemozoin formation. CR P. berghei strains, like CR P. vivax strains, are confined to reticulocyte host cells and reportedly they do not accumulate appreciable intraerythrocytic hemozoin. Reports comparing hemozoin production between P. vivax strains and CR to chloroquine sensitive (CS) P. berghei are absent. Here we compare in vivo patterns of hemozoin formation and distribution in blood, spleen and liver tissue of male Swiss mice infected with CS or CR P. berghei not treated with chloroquine and CR P. berghei also treated with chloroquine. Light microscopy, laser desorption mass spectrometry and a colorimetric hemozoin assay detect trace hemozoin in the blood of CR P. berghei infected mice but significant hemozoin accumulation in liver and spleen tissue. Field emission in lens scanning electron microscopy reveals CR P. berghei hemozoin crystals are morphologically smaller but similar to those formed by CS parasites. CR P. berghei produces approximately five-fold less total hemozoin than CS strain. Lipid analysis of CS and CR P. berghei sucrose gradient purified bloodstage hemozoin indicates a similar lipid environment around the isolated hemozoin, predominately monopalmitic glycerol and monostearic glycerol. In contrast to CR and CS P. berghei, colorimetric hemozoin analysis of P. vivax strains indicates similar amounts of hemozoin are produced despite differing chloroquine sensitivities. These results suggest CR P. berghei forms significant hemozoin which accumulates in liver and spleen tissues and that the P. vivax chloroquine resistance mechanism differs from P. berghei. Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium berghei release measurable hemozoin into tissues with blood hemozoin 100 times less per parasite while total in all tissues is only 5 times less than chloroquine sensitive. Chloroquine resistant P. bergheihemozoin crystals are morphologically smaller but similar to those formed by chloroquine sensitive parasites. Chloroquine resistance in P. vivax is distinct from P. berghei even though both infect reticulocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Pisciotta
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
| | - Peter F Scholl
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2103, USA
| | - Joel L Shuman
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Vladimir Shualev
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - David J Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA.
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Espinosa DA, Radtke AJ, Zavala F. Development and Assessment of Transgenic Rodent Parasites for the Preclinical Evaluation of Malaria Vaccines. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1403:583-601. [PMID: 27076155 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3387-7_33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Rodent transgenic parasites are useful tools for the preclinical evaluation of malaria vaccines. Over the last decade, several studies have reported the development of transgenic rodent parasites expressing P. falciparum antigens for the assessment of vaccine-induced immune responses, which traditionally have been limited to in vitro assays. However, the genetic manipulation of rodent Plasmodium species can have detrimental effects on the parasite's infectivity and development. In this chapter, we present a few guidelines for designing transfection plasmids, which should improve transfection efficiency and facilitate the generation of functional transgenic parasite strains. In addition, we provide a transfection protocol for the development of transgenic P. berghei parasites as well as practical methods to assess the viability and infectivity of these newly generated strains throughout different stages of their life cycle. These techniques should allow researchers to develop novel rodent malaria parasites expressing antigens from human malaria species and to determine whether these transgenic strains are fully infectious and thus represent stringent platforms for the in vivo evaluation of malaria vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Espinosa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea J Radtke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Systems Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Development of a Plasmodium berghei transgenic parasite expressing the full-length Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite VK247 protein for testing vaccine efficacy in a murine model. Malar J 2016; 15:251. [PMID: 27129682 PMCID: PMC4851775 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1297-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The approach of using transgenic rodent malaria parasites to assess the immune system’s response to antigenic targets from a human malaria parasite has been shown to be useful for preclinical evaluation of new vaccine formulations. The transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasite line [PvCSP(VK210)/Pb] generated previously expresses the full-length circumsporozoite protein (CSP) VK210 from Plasmodium vivax. The transgenic parasite expresses one of the two most common alleles of CSP, defined by nine amino acids at the central repeat region of this protein. In the present study, a transgenic P. berghei parasite line [PvCSP(VK247)/Pb] expressing the full-length PvCSP(VK247), which is the alternative common allele, was generated and characterized. Methods The P. berghei expressing full-length PvCSP(VK247) was generated and examined its applicability to CSP-based vaccine research by examining its biological characteristics in mosquitoes and mice. Results Similar to PvCSP(VK210)/Pb, PvCSP(VK247)/Pb developed normally in mosquitoes and produced infectious sporozoites equipped to generate patent infections in mice. Invasion of HepG2 cells by PvCSP(VK247)/Pb sporozoites was inhibited by an anti-PvCSP(VK247) repeat monoclonal antibody (mAb), but not by an anti-PvCSP(VK210) repeat mAb. Conclusions These two transgenic parasites thus far can be used to evaluate the potential efficacy of PvCSP-based vaccine candidates encompassing the two major genetic variants in preclinical trials.
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Longley RJ, Hill AVS, Spencer AJ. Malaria vaccines: identifying Plasmodium falciparum liver-stage targets. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:965. [PMID: 26441899 PMCID: PMC4569888 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of a highly efficacious and durable vaccine for malaria remains a top priority for global health researchers. Despite the huge rise in recognition of malaria as a global health problem and the concurrent rise in funding over the past 10–15 years, malaria continues to remain a widespread burden. The evidence of increasing resistance to anti-malarial drugs and insecticides is a growing concern. Hence, an efficacious and durable preventative vaccine for malaria is urgently needed. Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective tools and have successfully been used in the prevention and control of many diseases, however, the development of a vaccine for the Plasmodium parasite has proved difficult. Given the early success of whole sporozoite mosquito-bite delivered vaccination strategies, we know that a vaccine for malaria is an achievable goal, with sub-unit vaccines holding great promise as they are simple and cheap to both manufacture and deploy. However a major difficulty in development of sub-unit vaccines lies within choosing the appropriate antigenic target from the 5000 or so genes expressed by the parasite. Given the liver-stage of malaria represents a bottle-neck in the parasite’s life cycle, there is widespread agreement that a multi-component sub-unit malaria vaccine should preferably contain a liver-stage target. In this article we review progress in identifying and screening Plasmodium falciparum liver-stage targets for use in a malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea J Longley
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
| | - Adrian V S Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
| | - Alexandra J Spencer
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
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Whitacre DC, Espinosa DA, Peters CJ, Jones JE, Tucker AE, Peterson DL, Zavala FP, Milich DR. P. falciparum and P. vivax Epitope-Focused VLPs Elicit Sterile Immunity to Blood Stage Infections. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124856. [PMID: 25933001 PMCID: PMC4416889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to design P. falciparum preerythrocytic vaccine candidates, a library of circumsporozoite (CS) T and B cell epitopes displayed on the woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen (WHcAg) VLP platform was produced. To test the protective efficacy of the WHcAg-CS VLPs, hybrid CS P. berghei/P. falciparum (Pb/Pf) sporozoites were used to challenge immunized mice. VLPs carrying 1 or 2 different CS repeat B cell epitopes and 3 VLPs carrying different CS non-repeat B cell epitopes elicited high levels of anti-insert antibodies (Abs). Whereas, VLPs carrying CS repeat B cell epitopes conferred 98% protection of the liver against a 10,000 Pb/Pf sporozoite challenge, VLPs carrying the CS non-repeat B cell eptiopes were minimally-to-non-protective. One-to-three CS-specific CD4/CD8 T cell sites were also fused to VLPs, which primed CS-specific as well as WHcAg-specific T cells. However, a VLP carrying only the 3 T cell domains failed to protect against a sporozoite challenge, indicating a requirement for anti-CS repeat Abs. A VLP carrying 2 CS repeat B cell epitopes and 3 CS T cell sites in alum adjuvant elicited high titer anti-CS Abs (endpoint dilution titer >1x106) and provided 80–100% protection against blood stage malaria. Using a similar strategy, VLPs were constructed carrying P. vivax CS repeat B cell epitopes (WHc-Pv-78), which elicited high levels of anti-CS Abs and conferred 99% protection of the liver against a 10,000 Pb/Pv sporozoite challenge and elicited sterile immunity to blood stage infection. These results indicate that immunization with epitope-focused VLPs carrying selected B and T cell epitopes from the P. falciparum and P. vivax CS proteins can elicit sterile immunity against blood stage malaria. Hybrid WHcAg-CS VLPs could provide the basis for a bivalent P. falciparum/P. vivax malaria vaccine.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck/immunology
- Immunity
- Immunization
- Life Cycle Stages
- Malaria, Falciparum/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology
- Malaria, Falciparum/prevention & control
- Malaria, Vivax/immunology
- Malaria, Vivax/parasitology
- Malaria, Vivax/prevention & control
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Plasmodium falciparum/immunology
- Plasmodium vivax/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Rabbits
- Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid
- Reproducibility of Results
- Virion/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Whitacre
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Diego A. Espinosa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cory J. Peters
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Joyce E. Jones
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Amy E. Tucker
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Darrell L. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Fidel P. Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David R. Milich
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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36
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Espinosa DA, Gutierrez GM, Rojas-López M, Noe AR, Shi L, Tse SW, Sinnis P, Zavala F. Proteolytic Cleavage of the Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein Is a Target of Protective Antibodies. J Infect Dis 2015; 212:1111-9. [PMID: 25762791 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in animals and human volunteers demonstrate that antibodies against the repeat-region of the Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (CSP) abrogate sporozoite infection. However, the realization that the N- and C- terminal regions flanking the repeats play essential roles in parasite infectivity raised the possibility that they could be targeted by protective antibodies. We characterized a monoclonal antibody (mAb5D5) specific for the N-terminus of the P. falciparum CSP, which inhibits the proteolytic cleavage of the CSP, a key requirement for parasite infection of hepatocytes. Adoptive transfer of mAb5D5 strongly inhibits the in vivo infection of sporozoites expressing the N-terminus of P. falciparum CSP, and this protection is greatly enhanced when combined with antirepeat antibodies. Our results show that antibodies interfering with molecular processes required for parasite infectivity can exert a strong in vivo protective activity and indicate that pre-erythrocytic vaccines against Plasmodium should include the CSP N-terminal region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Espinosa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
| | | | - Maricarmen Rojas-López
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
| | | | - Lirong Shi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
| | - Sze-Wah Tse
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
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37
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Salman AM, Mogollon CM, Lin JW, van Pul FJA, Janse CJ, Khan SM. Generation of Transgenic Rodent Malaria Parasites Expressing Human Malaria Parasite Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1325:257-286. [PMID: 26450395 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2815-6_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We describe methods for the rapid generation of transgenic rodent Plasmodium berghei (Pb) parasites that express human malaria parasite (HMP) proteins, using the recently developed GIMO-based transfection methodology. Three different genetic modifications are described resulting in three types of transgenic parasites. (1) Additional Gene (AG) mutants. In these mutants the HMP gene is introduced as an "additional gene" into a silent/neutral locus of the Pb genome under the control of either a constitutive or stage-specific Pb promoter. This method uses the GIMO-transfection protocol and AG mutants are generated by replacing the positive-negative selection marker (SM) hdhfr::yfcu cassette in a neutral locus of a standard GIMO mother line with the HMP gene expression cassette, resulting in SM free transgenic parasites. (2) Double-step Replacement (DsR) mutants. In these mutants the coding sequence (CDS) of the Pb gene is replaced with the CDS of the HMP ortholog in a two-step GIMO-transfection procedure. This process involves first the replacement of the Pb CDS with the hdhfr::yfcu SM, followed by insertion of the HMP ortholog at the same locus thereby replacing hdhfr::yfcu with the HMP CDS. These steps use the GIMO-transfection protocol, which exploits both positive selection for Pb orthologous gene-deletion and negative selection for HMP gene-insertion, resulting in SM free transgenic parasites. (3) Double-step Insertion (DsI) mutants. When a Pb gene is essential for blood stage development the DsR strategy is not possible. In these mutants the HMP expression cassette is first introduced into the neutral locus in a standard GIMO mother line as described for AG mutants but under the control elements of the Pb orthologous gene; subsequently, the Pb ortholog CDS is targeted for deletion through replacement of the Pb CDS with the hdhfr::yfcu SM, resulting in transgenic parasites with a new GIMO locus permissive for additional gene-insertion modifications.The different types of transgenic parasites can be exploited to examine interactions of drugs/inhibitors or immune factors with HMP molecules in vivo. Mice either immunized with HMP-vaccines or treated with specific drugs can be infected/challenged with these transgenic mutants to evaluate drug or vaccine efficacy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Salman
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Jing-Wen Lin
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK
| | - Fiona J A van Pul
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shahid M Khan
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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38
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Ferguson DJP, Balaban AE, Patzewitz EM, Wall RJ, Hopp CS, Poulin B, Mohmmed A, Malhotra P, Coppi A, Sinnis P, Tewari R. The repeat region of the circumsporozoite protein is critical for sporozoite formation and maturation in Plasmodium. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113923. [PMID: 25438048 PMCID: PMC4250072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the major surface protein of the sporozoite stage of malaria parasites and has multiple functions as the parasite develops and then migrates from the mosquito midgut to the mammalian liver. The overall structure of CSP is conserved among Plasmodium species, consisting of a species-specific central tandem repeat region flanked by two conserved domains: the NH2-terminus and the thrombospondin repeat (TSR) at the COOH-terminus. Although the central repeat region is an immunodominant B-cell epitope and the basis of the only candidate malaria vaccine in Phase III clinical trials, little is known about its functional role(s). We used the rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei to investigate the role of the CSP tandem repeat region during sporozoite development. Here we describe two mutant parasite lines, one lacking the tandem repeat region (ΔRep) and the other lacking the NH2-terminus as well as the repeat region (ΔNΔRep). We show that in both mutant lines oocyst formation is unaffected but sporozoite development is defective.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. P. Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda E. Balaban
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Eva-Maria Patzewitz
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG2 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Wall
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG2 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Christine S. Hopp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Benoit Poulin
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG2 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Asif Mohmmed
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Pawan Malhotra
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Alida Coppi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RT); (PS)
| | - Rita Tewari
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG2 7UH, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (RT); (PS)
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39
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Baculovirus-vectored multistage Plasmodium vivax vaccine induces both protective and transmission-blocking immunities against transgenic rodent malaria parasites. Infect Immun 2014; 82:4348-57. [PMID: 25092912 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02040-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A multistage malaria vaccine targeting the pre-erythrocytic and sexual stages of Plasmodium could effectively protect individuals against infection from mosquito bites and provide transmission-blocking (TB) activity against the sexual stages of the parasite, respectively. This strategy could help prevent malaria infections in individuals and, on a larger scale, prevent malaria transmission in communities of endemicity. Here, we describe the development of a multistage Plasmodium vivax vaccine which simultaneously expresses P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP) and P25 (Pvs25) protein of this species as a fusion protein, thereby acting as a pre-erythrocytic vaccine and a TB vaccine, respectively. A new-concept vaccine platform based on the baculovirus dual-expression system (BDES) was evaluated. The BDES-Pvs25-PvCSP vaccine displayed correct folding of the Pvs25-PvCSP fusion protein on the viral envelope and was highly expressed upon transduction of mammalian cells in vitro. This vaccine induced high levels of antibodies to Pvs25 and PvCSP and elicited protective (43%) and TB (82%) efficacies against transgenic P. berghei parasites expressing the corresponding P. vivax antigens in mice. Our data indicate that our BDES, which functions as both a subunit and DNA vaccine, can offer a promising multistage vaccine capable of delivering a potent antimalarial pre-erythrocytic and TB response via a single immunization regimen.
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40
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Almeida APMM, Dias MO, Vieira CDAF, Chávez-Olórtegui C, Gazzineli RT, Rodrigues MM, Fujiwara RT, Bruna-Romero O. Long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responses elicited by immunization with recombinant chimeras of the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein. Vaccine 2014; 32:2181-7. [PMID: 24582631 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Revised: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the most abundant surface antigen of sporozoites, has been extensively studied in different expression platforms as a vaccine candidate. Clinical trials have shown the necessity of broad and highly avid humoral immune responses together with high numbers of CSP-specific TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells, especially those producing IFN-γ, to induce protection. To this aim, we designed two distinct recombinant immunogens based on previously-described antigenic fragments of Plasmodium vivax CSP (PvCSP) to be used as vaccine candidates. The first one is a virus-like particle (VLP) comprising the repeat region of PvCSP (B and TCD4+ epitopes) within the loop of the hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAgPvCSP). The second one is a PvCSP multi-epitope polypeptide, rPvCSP-ME, designed based on antigenic regions of PvCSP recognized by lymphocytes of individuals from endemic areas. Mice immunized with 2 doses of these proteins, administered individually or combined and formulated in Montanide ISA 720 adjuvant, were able to induce strong effector and memory humoral responses with IgG titers ranging from 10(4) to 10(5) and avidity indexes toward full-length PvCSP reaching up to 66%, even 3 months after the last immunization. Furthermore, balanced Th1/Th2 responses were generated, as determined by titers of IgG subclasses and further confirmed by ELISPOT analyses, which detected that these vaccination protocols were able to elicit long-term IFN-γ and IL-2-secreting memory T-cells. Overall, these results show that our vaccine candidates generate, in mice, immune responses against regions within PvCSP that have been associated with protection against malaria in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Oscar Bruna-Romero
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, CCB, UFSC, Brazil.
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Efficacy of a Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine using ChAd63 and modified vaccinia Ankara expressing thrombospondin-related anonymous protein as assessed with transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasites. Infect Immun 2013; 82:1277-86. [PMID: 24379295 PMCID: PMC3957994 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01187-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the world's most widely distributed malaria parasite and a potential cause of morbidity and mortality for approximately 2.85 billion people living mainly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Despite this dramatic burden, very few vaccines have been assessed in humans. The clinically relevant vectors modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and the chimpanzee adenovirus ChAd63 are promising delivery systems for malaria vaccines due to their safety profiles and proven ability to induce protective immune responses against Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) in clinical trials. Here, we describe the development of new recombinant ChAd63 and MVA vectors expressing P. vivax TRAP (PvTRAP) and show their ability to induce high antibody titers and T cell responses in mice. In addition, we report a novel way of assessing the efficacy of new candidate vaccines against P. vivax using a fully infectious transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasite expressing P. vivax TRAP to allow studies of vaccine efficacy and protective mechanisms in rodents. Using this model, we found that both CD8+ T cells and antibodies mediated protection against malaria using virus-vectored vaccines. Our data indicate that ChAd63 and MVA expressing PvTRAP are good preerythrocytic-stage vaccine candidates with potential for future clinical application.
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Immunogenicity of a prime-boost vaccine containing the circumsporozoite proteins of Plasmodium vivax in rodents. Infect Immun 2013; 82:793-807. [PMID: 24478093 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01410-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread and the second most prevalent malaria-causing species in the world. Current measures used to control the transmission of this disease would benefit from the development of an efficacious vaccine. In the case of the deadly parasite P. falciparum, the recombinant RTS,S vaccine containing the circumsporozoite antigen (CSP) consistently protects 30 to 50% of human volunteers against infection and is undergoing phase III clinical trials in Africa with similar efficacy. These findings encouraged us to develop a P. vivax vaccine containing the three circulating allelic forms of P. vivax CSP. Toward this goal, we generated three recombinant bacterial proteins representing the CSP alleles, as well as a hybrid polypeptide called PvCSP-All-CSP-epitopes. This hybrid contains the conserved N and C termini of P. vivax CSP and the three variant repeat domains in tandem. We also generated simian and human recombinant replication-defective adenovirus vectors expressing PvCSP-All-CSP-epitopes. Mice immunized with the mixture of recombinant proteins in a formulation containing the adjuvant poly(I·C) developed high and long-lasting serum IgG titers comparable to those elicited by proteins emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Antibody titers were similar in mice immunized with homologous (protein-protein) and heterologous (adenovirus-protein) vaccine regimens. The antibodies recognized the three allelic forms of CSP, reacted to the repeated and nonrepeated regions of CSP, and recognized sporozoites expressing the alleles VK210 and VK247. The vaccine formulations described in this work should be useful for the further development of an anti-P. vivax vaccine.
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