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Thomson-Luque R, Stabler TC, Fürle K, Silva JC, Daubenberger C. Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 as asexual blood stage malaria vaccine candidate. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:160-173. [PMID: 38100310 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2295430] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria represents a public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions, and currently deployed control strategies are likely insufficient to drive elimination of malaria. Development and improvement of malaria vaccines might be key to reduce disease burden. Vaccines targeting asexual blood stages of the parasite have shown limited efficacy when studied in human trials conducted over the past decades. AREAS COVERED Vaccine candidates based on the merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) were initially envisioned as one of the most promising approaches to provide immune protection against asexual blood-stage malaria. Successful immunization studies in monkey involved the use of the full-length MSP1 (MSP1FL) as vaccine construct. Vaccines using MSP1FL for immunization have the potential benefit of including numerous conserved B-cell and T-cell epitopes. This could result in improved parasite strain-transcending, protective immunity in the field. We review outcomes of clinical trials that utilized a variety of MSP1 constructs and formulations, including MSP1FL, either alone or in combination with other antigens, in both animal models and humans. EXPERT OPINION Novel approaches to analyze breadth and magnitude of effector functions of MSP1-targeting antibodies in volunteers undergoing experimental vaccination and controlled human malaria infection will help to define correlates of protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Thomson-Luque
- Centre for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Sumaya-Biotech GmbH & Co. KG Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas C Stabler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- University of Basel Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Fürle
- Centre for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (GHTM IHMT, UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Claudia Daubenberger
- University of Basel Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Allschwil, Switzerland
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Rosenkranz M, Fürle K, Hibbert J, Ulmer A, Ali A, Giese T, Blank A, Haefeli WE, Böhnlein E, Lanzer M, Thomson-Luque R. Multifunctional IgG/IgM antibodies and cellular cytotoxicity are elicited by the full-length MSP1 SumayaVac-1 malaria vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:112. [PMID: 37558673 PMCID: PMC10412566 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00701-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Radical control of malaria likely requires a vaccine that targets both the asymptomatic liver stages and the disease-causing blood stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. While substantial progress has been made towards liver stage vaccines, the development of a blood stage vaccine is lagging behind. We have recently conducted a first-in-human clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the recombinant, full-length merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1FL) formulated with GLA-SE as adjuvant. Here, we show that the vaccine, termed SumayaVac-1, elicited both a humoral and cellular immune response as well as a recall T cell memory. The induced IgG and IgM antibodies were able to stimulate various Fc-mediated effector mechanisms associated with protection against malaria, including phagocytosis, release of reactive oxygen species, production of IFN-γ as well as complement activation and fixation. The multifunctional activity of the humoral immune response remained for at least 6 months after vaccination and was comparable to that of naturally acquired anti-MSP1 antibodies from semi-immune adults from Kenya. We further present evidence of SumayaVac-1 eliciting a recallable cellular cytotoxicity by IFN-γ producing CD8+ T cells. Our study revitalizes MSP1FL as a relevant blood stage vaccine candidate and warrants further evaluation of SumayaVac-1 in a phase II efficacy trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micha Rosenkranz
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristin Fürle
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Hibbert
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Ulmer
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arin Ali
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Giese
- Institute for Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antje Blank
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Walter E Haefeli
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Michael Lanzer
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Thomson-Luque
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Sumaya-Biotech GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Suau R, Vidal M, Aguilar R, Ruiz-Olalla G, Vázquez-Santiago M, Jairoce C, Nhabomba AJ, Gyan B, Dosoo D, Asante KP, Owusu-Agyei S, Campo JJ, Izquierdo L, Cavanagh D, Coppel RL, Chauhan V, Angov E, Dutta S, Gaur D, Beeson JG, Moncunill G, Dobaño C. RTS,S/AS01 E malaria vaccine induces IgA responses against CSP and vaccine-unrelated antigens in African children in the phase 3 trial. Vaccine 2020; 39:687-698. [PMID: 33358704 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evaluation of immune responses to RTS,S/AS01 has traditionally focused on immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies that are only moderately associated with protection. The role of other antibody isotypes that could also contribute to vaccine efficacy remains unclear. Here we investigated whether RTS,S/AS01E elicits antigen-specific serum IgA antibodies to the vaccine and other malaria antigens, and we explored their association with protection. METHODS Ninety-five children (age 5-17 months old at first vaccination) from the RTS,S/AS01E phase 3 clinical trial who received 3 doses of RTS,S/AS01E or a comparator vaccine were selected for IgA quantification 1 month post primary immunization. Two sites with different malaria transmission intensities (MTI) and clinical malaria cases and controls, were included. Measurements of IgA against different constructs of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) vaccine antigen and 16 vaccine-unrelated Plasmodium falciparum antigens were performed using a quantitative suspension array assay. RESULTS RTS,S vaccination induced a 1.2 to 2-fold increase in levels of serum/plasma IgA antibodies to all CSP constructs, which was not observed upon immunization with a comparator vaccine. The IgA response against 13 out of 16 vaccine-unrelated P. falciparum antigens also increased after vaccination, and levels were higher in recipients of RTS,S than in comparators. IgA levels to malaria antigens before vaccination were more elevated in the high MTI than the low MTI site. No statistically significant association of IgA with protection was found in exploratory analyses. CONCLUSIONS RTS,S/AS01E induces IgA responses in peripheral blood against CSP vaccine antigens and other P. falciparum vaccine-unrelated antigens, similar to what we previously showed for IgG responses. Collectively, data warrant further investigation of the potential contribution of vaccine-induced IgA responses to efficacy and any possible interplay, either synergistic or antagonistic, with protective IgG, as identifying mediators of protection by RTS,S/AS01E immunization is necessary for the design of improved second-generation vaccines. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT008666191.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Suau
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Marta Vidal
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Ruth Aguilar
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Gemma Ruiz-Olalla
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Miquel Vázquez-Santiago
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Chenjerai Jairoce
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Rua 12, Cambeve, Vila de Manhiça, CP 1929 Maputo, Mozambique.
| | - Augusto J Nhabomba
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Rua 12, Cambeve, Vila de Manhiça, CP 1929 Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ben Gyan
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Ghana.
| | - David Dosoo
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana.
| | | | - Seth Owusu-Agyei
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana; Disease Control Department. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joseph J Campo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - David Cavanagh
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection & Evolution, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Ross L Coppel
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Virander Chauhan
- Malaria Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
| | - Evelina Angov
- U.S. Military Malaria Vaccine Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- U.S. Military Malaria Vaccine Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Deepak Gaur
- Malaria Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India; Laboratory of Malaria and Vaccine Research, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Central Clinical School, Monash University, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Gemma Moncunill
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Rua 12, Cambeve, Vila de Manhiça, CP 1929 Maputo, Mozambique.
| | - Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Rosselló 153 CEK Building, E-08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Rua 12, Cambeve, Vila de Manhiça, CP 1929 Maputo, Mozambique.
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Ndure J, Noho-Konteh F, Adetifa JU, Cox M, Barker F, Le MT, Sanyang LC, Drammeh A, Whittle HC, Clarke E, Plebanski M, Rowland-Jones SL, Flanagan KL. Negative Correlation between Circulating CD4 +FOXP3 +CD127 - Regulatory T Cells and Subsequent Antibody Responses to Infant Measles Vaccine but Not Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine Implies a Regulatory Role. Front Immunol 2017; 8:921. [PMID: 28855899 PMCID: PMC5557771 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key homeostatic role by suppressing immune responses. They have been targeted in mouse and human cancer studies to improve vaccine immunogenicity and tumor clearance. A number of commercially available drugs and experimental vaccine adjuvants have been shown to target Tregs. Infants have high numbers of Tregs and often have poor responses to vaccination, yet the role Tregs play in controlling vaccine immunogenicity has not been explored in this age group. Herein, we explore the role of CD4+FOXP3+CD127- Tregs in controlling immunity in infant males and females to vaccination with diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis (DTP) and/or measles vaccine (MV). We find correlative evidence that circulating Tregs at the time of vaccination suppress antibody responses to MV but not DTP; and Tregs 4 weeks after DTP vaccination may suppress vaccine-specific cellular immunity. This opens the exciting possibility that Tregs may provide a future target for improved vaccine responses in early life, including reducing the number of doses of vaccine required. Such an approach would need to be safe and the benefits outweigh the risks, thus further research in this area is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorjoh Ndure
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Fatou Noho-Konteh
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Jane U Adetifa
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Momodou Cox
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Francis Barker
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - My Thanh Le
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Lady C Sanyang
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Adboulie Drammeh
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Hilton C Whittle
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia.,Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ed Clarke
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Magdalena Plebanski
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Prahran, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Katie L Flanagan
- Infant Immunology Group, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit, Fajara, Gambia.,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Prahran, VIC, Australia
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5
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Decrease in circulating CD25 hi Foxp3 + regulatory T cells following vaccination with the candidate malaria vaccine RTS,S. Vaccine 2016; 34:4618-4625. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Dunachie S, Berthoud T, Hill AVS, Fletcher HA. Transcriptional changes induced by candidate malaria vaccines and correlation with protection against malaria in a human challenge model. Vaccine 2015; 33:5321-31. [PMID: 26256523 PMCID: PMC4582771 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.07.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the world's major killers. Partially effective vaccines against malaria are in development. We profiled global gene expression after two candidate vaccine regimens. Key pathways of vaccine response include interferon induced genes and the proteasome. Global immune profiling approaches are necessary to improve candidate malaria vaccines.
Introduction The complexity of immunity to malaria is well known, and clear correlates of protection against malaria have not been established. A better understanding of immune markers induced by candidate malaria vaccines would greatly enhance vaccine development, immunogenicity monitoring and estimation of vaccine efficacy in the field. We have previously reported complete or partial efficacy against experimental sporozoite challenge by several vaccine regimens in healthy malaria-naïve subjects in Oxford. These include a prime-boost regimen with RTS,S/AS02A and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the CSP antigen, and a DNA-prime, MVA-boost regimen expressing the ME TRAP antigens. Using samples from these trials we performed transcriptional profiling, allowing a global assessment of responses to vaccination. Methods We used Human RefSeq8 Bead Chips from Illumina to examine gene expression using PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from 16 human volunteers. To focus on antigen-specific changes, comparisons were made between PBMC stimulated with CSP or TRAP peptide pools and unstimulated PBMC post vaccination. We then correlated gene expression with protection against malaria in a human Plasmodium falciparum malaria challenge model. Results Differentially expressed genes induced by both vaccine regimens were predominantly in the IFN-γ pathway. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed antigen-specific effects on genes associated with IFN induction and proteasome modules after vaccination. Genes associated with IFN induction and antigen presentation modules were positively enriched in subjects with complete protection from malaria challenge, while genes associated with haemopoietic stem cells, regulatory monocytes and the myeloid lineage modules were negatively enriched in protected subjects. Conclusions These results represent novel insights into the immune repertoires involved in malaria vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Dunachie
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, 3rd Floor, 60th Anniversary Chalermprakiat Building, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.
| | - Tamara Berthoud
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Adrian V S Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Helen A Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London W1CE 7HT, UK; The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK
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Sánchez-Sampedro L, Perdiguero B, Mejías-Pérez E, García-Arriaza J, Di Pilato M, Esteban M. The evolution of poxvirus vaccines. Viruses 2015; 7:1726-803. [PMID: 25853483 PMCID: PMC4411676 DOI: 10.3390/v7041726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
After Edward Jenner established human vaccination over 200 years ago, attenuated poxviruses became key players to contain the deadliest virus of its own family: Variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox. Cowpox virus (CPXV) and horsepox virus (HSPV) were extensively used to this end, passaged in cattle and humans until the appearance of vaccinia virus (VACV), which was used in the final campaigns aimed to eradicate the disease, an endeavor that was accomplished by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980. Ever since, naturally evolved strains used for vaccination were introduced into research laboratories where VACV and other poxviruses with improved safety profiles were generated. Recombinant DNA technology along with the DNA genome features of this virus family allowed the generation of vaccines against heterologous diseases, and the specific insertion and deletion of poxvirus genes generated an even broader spectrum of modified viruses with new properties that increase their immunogenicity and safety profile as vaccine vectors. In this review, we highlight the evolution of poxvirus vaccines, from first generation to the current status, pointing out how different vaccines have emerged and approaches that are being followed up in the development of more rational vaccines against a wide range of diseases.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- History, 18th Century
- History, 19th Century
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- Humans
- Poxviridae/immunology
- Poxviridae/isolation & purification
- Smallpox/prevention & control
- Smallpox Vaccine/history
- Smallpox Vaccine/immunology
- Smallpox Vaccine/isolation & purification
- Vaccines, Attenuated/history
- Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology
- Vaccines, Attenuated/isolation & purification
- Vaccines, Synthetic/history
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/isolation & purification
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Sánchez-Sampedro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Perdiguero
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain.
| | - Ernesto Mejías-Pérez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain
| | - Juan García-Arriaza
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain
| | - Mauro Di Pilato
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain.
| | - Mariano Esteban
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain.
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Immunization with apical membrane antigen 1 confers sterile infection-blocking immunity against Plasmodium sporozoite challenge in a rodent model. Infect Immun 2013; 81:3586-99. [PMID: 23836827 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00544-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) is a leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate. Consistent with a key role in erythrocytic invasion, AMA-1-specific antibodies have been implicated in AMA-1-induced protective immunity. AMA-1 is also expressed in sporozoites and in mature liver schizonts where it may be a target of protective cell-mediated immunity. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that immunization with AMA-1 can induce sterile infection-blocking immunity against Plasmodium sporozoite challenge in 80% of immunized mice. Significantly higher levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)/interleukin-2 (IL-2)/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) multifunctional T cells were noted in immunized mice than in control mice. We also report the first identification of minimal CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell epitopes on Plasmodium yoelii AMA-1. These data establish AMA-1 as a target of both preerythrocytic- and erythrocytic-stage protective immune responses and validate vaccine approaches designed to induce both cellular and humoral immunity.
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Price I, Ermentrout B, Zamora R, Wang B, Azhar N, Mi Q, Constantine G, Faeder JR, Luckhart S, Vodovotz Y. In vivo, in vitro, and in silico studies suggest a conserved immune module that regulates malaria parasite transmission from mammals to mosquitoes. J Theor Biol 2013; 334:173-86. [PMID: 23764028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human malaria can be caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum that is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. "Immunological crosstalk" between the mammalian and anopheline hosts for Plasmodium functions to control parasite numbers. Key to this process is the mammalian cytokine transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). In mammals, TGF-β1 regulates inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) both positively and negatively. In some settings, high levels of NO activate latent TGF-β1, which in turn suppresses iNOS expression. In the mosquito, ingested TGF-β1 induces A. stephensi NOS (AsNOS), which limits parasite development and which in turn is suppressed by activation of the mosquito homolog of the mitogen-activated protein kinases MEK and ERK. Computational models linking TGF-β1, AsNOS, and MEK/ERK were developed to provide insights into this complex biology. An initial Boolean model suggested that, as occurs in mammalian cells, MEK/ERK and AsNOS would oscillate upon ingestion of TGF-β1. An ordinary differential equation (ODE) model further supported the hypothesis of TGF-β1-induced multiphasic behavior of MEK/ERK and AsNOS. To achieve this multiphasic behavior, the ODE model was predicated on the presence of constant levels of TGF-β1 in the mosquito midgut. Ingested TGF-β1, however, did not exhibit this behavior. Accordingly, we hypothesized and experimentally verified that ingested TGF-β1 induces the expression of the endogenous mosquito TGF-β superfamily ligand As60A. Computational simulation of these complex, cross-species interactions suggested that TGF-β1 and NO-mediated induction of As60A expression together may act to maintain multiphasic AsNOS expression via MEK/ERK-dependent signaling. We hypothesize that multiphasic behavior as represented in this model allows the mosquito to balance the conflicting demands of parasite killing and metabolic homeostasis in the face of damaging inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Price
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Mendonça VRR, Queiroz ATL, Lopes FM, Andrade BB, Barral-Netto M. Networking the host immune response in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Malar J 2013; 12:69. [PMID: 23433077 PMCID: PMC3598348 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax malaria clinical outcomes are a consequence of the interaction of multiple parasite, environmental and host factors. The host molecular and genetic determinants driving susceptibility to disease severity in this infection are largely unknown. Here, a network analysis of large-scale data from a significant number of individuals with different clinical presentations of P. vivax malaria was performed in an attempt to identify patterns of association between various candidate biomarkers and the clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective analysis of 530 individuals from the Brazilian Amazon, including P. vivax-infected individuals who developed different clinical outcomes (148 asymptomatic malaria, 187 symptomatic malaria, 13 severe non-lethal malaria, and six severe lethal malaria) as well as 176 non-infected controls, was performed. Plasma levels of liver transaminases, bilirubins, creatinine, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, haem oxygenase (HO)-1 and a panel composed by multiple cytokines and chemokines were measured and compared between the different clinical groups using network analysis. Results Non-infected individuals displayed several statistically significant interactions in the networks, including associations between the levels of IL-10 and IL-4 with the chemokine CXCL9. Individuals with asymptomatic malaria displayed multiple significant interactions involving IL-4. Subjects with mild or severe non-lethal malaria displayed substantial loss of interactions in the networks and TNF had significant associations more frequently with other parameters. Cases of lethal P. vivax malaria infection were associated with significant interactions between TNF ALT, HO-1 and SOD-1. Conclusions The findings imply that clinical immunity to P. vivax malaria is associated with multiple significant interactions in the network, mostly involving IL-4, while lethality is linked to a systematic reduction of complexity of these interactions and to an increase in connections between markers linked to haemolysis-induced damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor R R Mendonça
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
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The ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes in peripheral blood correlates with increased susceptibility to clinical malaria in Kenyan children. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57320. [PMID: 23437368 PMCID: PMC3577721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major cause of illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa. Young children bear the brunt of the disease and though older children and adults suffer relatively fewer clinical attacks, they remain susceptible to asymptomatic P. falciparum infection. A better understanding of the host factors associated with immunity to clinical malaria and the ability to sustain asymptomatic P. falciparum infection will aid the development of improved strategies for disease prevention. Methods and Findings Here we investigate whether full differential blood counts can predict susceptibility to clinical malaria among Kenyan children sampled at five annual cross-sectional surveys. We find that the ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes, measured in peripheral blood at the time of survey, directly correlates with risk of clinical malaria during follow-up. This association is evident among children with asymptomatic P. falciparum infection at the time the cell counts are measured (Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.7 (95% CI 1.42, 5.01, P = 0.002) but not in those without detectable parasitaemia (HR = 1.0 (95% CI 0.74, 1.42, P = 0.9). Conclusions We propose that the monocyte to lymphocyte ratio, which is easily derived from routine full differential blood counts, reflects an individual's capacity to mount an effective immune response to P. falciparum infection.
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Immune markers and correlates of protection for vaccine induced immune responses. Vaccine 2012; 30:4907-20. [PMID: 22658928 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2012] [Accepted: 05/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines have been a major innovation in the history of mankind and still have the potential to address the challenges posed by chronic intracellular infections including tuberculosis, HIV and malaria which are leading causes of high morbidity and mortality across the world. Markers of an appropriate humoral response currently remain the best validated correlates of protective immunity after vaccination. Despite advancements in the field of immunology over the past few decades currently there are, however, no sufficiently validated immune correlates of vaccine induced protection against chronic infections in neither human nor veterinary medicine. Technological and conceptual advancements within cell-mediated immunology have led to a number of new immunological read-outs with the potential to emerge as correlates of vaccine induced protection. For T(H)1 type responses, antigen-specific production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) has been promoted as a quantitative marker of protective cell-mediated immune responses over the past couple of decades. More recently, however, evidence from several infections has pointed towards the quality of the immune response, measured through increased levels of antigen-specific polyfunctional T cells capable of producing a triad of relevant cytokines, as a better correlate of sustained protective immunity against this type of infections. Also the possibilities to measure antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) during infection or in response to vaccination, through recombinant major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I tetramers loaded with relevant peptides, has opened a new vista to include CTL responses in the evaluation of protective immune responses. Here, we review different immune markers and new candidates for correlates of a protective vaccine induced immune response against chronic infections and how successful they have been in defining the protective immunity in human and veterinary medicine.
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Kasprowicz VO, Halliday JS, Mitchell J, Klenerman P. MIGRAs: are they the new IGRAs? Development of monokine-amplified IFN-γ release assays. Biomark Med 2012; 6:177-86. [DOI: 10.2217/bmm.12.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
IFN-γ release by antigen-specific T cells can be used to track immune responses to infections and vaccines. In recent years, there have been substantial advances in the techniques available to measure IFN-γ release and a generation of such assays are now available for clinical use, as well as in a research setting. Interferon release leads to subsequent release of interferon-responsive chemokines such as MIG and IP-10, thus amplifying the original signal. A number of investigators have assessed whether measurement of these chemokines might provide a sensitive platform for detection of infection and antigen-specific T-cell responses. In this article, we assess the potential of these new approaches. We have termed the new antigen-specific T-cell assays monokine-amplified IFN-γ release assays (MIGRAs). Overall, it seems likely that improvements in the detection threshold could be made by analysis of antigen-triggered chemokines and potentially of other molecules in the future, although whether MIGRAs will provide additional clinical utility still remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria O Kasprowicz
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT & Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Kwazulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis & HIV (K-RITH), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa
| | - John S Halliday
- Oxford Biomedical Research Centre & James Martin School for 21st Century, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building, South Parks Rd, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Jessica Mitchell
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT & Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Oxford Biomedical Research Centre & James Martin School for 21st Century, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building, South Parks Rd, University of Oxford, UK
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Chakera A, Lucas A, Lucas M. Surrogate markers of infection: interrogation of the immune system. Biomark Med 2011; 5:131-48. [PMID: 21473717 DOI: 10.2217/bmm.11.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases remain the greatest causes of morbidity and mortality in global terms. As much of the burden occurs in the developing world, limited access to diagnostic testing has hampered the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, while, in the developed world, the cost of managing infectious diseases remains considerable. Despite the size of the problem there remains an ongoing need for tests that improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, provide more rapid diagnoses, are available for point-of-care testing in remote regions, and can help inform therapeutic decision-making by identifying resistance patterns or patient outcomes. This article discusses the background to biomarker development for infectious diseases, some current assays that are providing useful information regarding the host's response to infection (using examples such as Cytomegalovirus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis), as well as likely future technologies and their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron Chakera
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Old Road Campus, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Headington OX3 7BN, Oxford, UK
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Kasprowicz VO, Mitchell JE, Chetty S, Govender P, Huang KHG, Fletcher HA, Webster DP, Brown S, Kasmar A, Millington K, Day CL, Mkhwanazi N, McClurg C, Chonco F, Lalvani A, Walker BD, Ndung'u T, Klenerman P. A molecular assay for sensitive detection of pathogen-specific T-cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20606. [PMID: 21853018 PMCID: PMC3154901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we describe the development and validation of a highly sensitive assay of antigen-specific IFN-γ production using real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for two reporters - monokine-induced by IFN-γ (MIG) and the IFN-γ inducible protein-10 (IP10). We developed and validated the assay and applied it to the detection of CMV, HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific responses, in a cohort of HIV co-infected patients. We compared the sensitivity of this assay to that of the ex vivo RD1 (ESAT-6 and CFP-10)-specific IFN-γ Elispot assay. We observed a clear quantitative correlation between the two assays (P<0.001). Our assay proved to be a sensitive assay for the detection of MTB-specific T cells, could be performed on whole blood samples of fingerprick (50 uL) volumes, and was not affected by HIV-mediated immunosuppression. This assay platform is potentially of utility in diagnosis of infection in this and other clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria O Kasprowicz
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
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