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da Veiga GTS, Moriggi MR, Vettorazzi JF, Müller-Santos M, Albrecht L. Plasmodium vivax vaccine: What is the best way to go? Front Immunol 2023; 13:910236. [PMID: 36726991 PMCID: PMC9885200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most devastating human infectious diseases caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites. A search for an effective and safe vaccine is the main challenge for its eradication. Plasmodium vivax is the second most prevalent Plasmodium species and the most geographically distributed parasite and has been neglected for decades. This has a massive gap in knowledge and consequently in the development of vaccines. The most significant difficulties in obtaining a vaccine against P. vivax are the high genetic diversity and the extremely complex life cycle. Due to its complexity, studies have evaluated P. vivax antigens from different stages as potential targets for an effective vaccine. Therefore, the main vaccine candidates are grouped into preerythrocytic stage vaccines, blood-stage vaccines, and transmission-blocking vaccines. This review aims to support future investigations by presenting the main findings of vivax malaria vaccines to date. There are only a few P. vivax vaccines in clinical trials, and thus far, the best protective efficacy was a vaccine formulated with synthetic peptide from a circumsporozoite protein and Montanide ISA-51 as an adjuvant with 54.5% efficacy in a phase IIa study. In addition, the majority of P. vivax antigen candidates are polymorphic, induce strain-specific and heterogeneous immunity and provide only partial protection. Nevertheless, immunization with recombinant proteins and multiantigen vaccines have shown promising results and have emerged as excellent strategies. However, more studies are necessary to assess the ideal vaccine combination and test it in clinical trials. Developing a safe and effective vaccine against vivax malaria is essential for controlling and eliminating the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what is already known to propose and identify new candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele Tatiane Soares da Veiga
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Parasites Research, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil,Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo Müller-Santos
- Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Parasites Research, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil,*Correspondence: Letusa Albrecht,
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Arévalo-Herrera M, Gaitán X, Larmat-Delgado M, Caicedo MA, Herrera SM, Henao-Giraldo J, Castellanos A, Devaud JC, Pannatier A, Oñate J, Corradin G, Herrera S. Randomized clinical trial to assess the protective efficacy of a Plasmodium vivax CS synthetic vaccine. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1603. [PMID: 35338131 PMCID: PMC8956637 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29226-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A randomized, double-blind, controlled vaccine clinical trial was conducted to assess, as the primary outcome, the safety and protective efficacy of the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein in healthy malaria-naïve (phase IIa) and semi-immune (phase IIb) volunteers. Participants (n = 35) were randomly selected from a larger group (n = 121) and further divided into naïve (n = 17) and semi-immune (n = 18) groups and were immunized at months 0, 2, and 6 with PvCS formulated in Montanide ISA-51 adjuvant or placebo (adjuvant alone). Specific antibodies and IFN-γ responses to PvCS were determined as secondary outcome; all experimental volunteers developed specific IgG and IFN-γ. Three months after the last immunization, all participants were subjected to controlled human malaria infection. All naive controls became infected and drastic parasitemia reduction, including sterile protection, developed in several experimental volunteers in phase IIa (6/11) (54%, 95% CI 0.25-0.84) and phase IIb (7/11) (64%, 95% CI 0.35-0.92). However, no difference in parasitemia was observed between the phase IIb experimental and control subgroups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates significant protection in both naïve and semi-immune volunteers, encouraging further PvCS vaccine clinical development. Trial registration number NCT02083068. This trial was funded by Colciencias (grant 529-2009), NHLBI (grant RHL086488 A), and MVDC/CIV Foundation (grant 2014-1206).
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
| | - Xiomara Gaitán
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - André Pannatier
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Sócrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia.
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia.
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Kalkal M, Kalkal A, Dhanda SK, Das E, Pande V, Das J. A comprehensive study of epitopes and immune reactivity among Plasmodium species. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:74. [PMID: 35277125 PMCID: PMC8913861 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02480-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by protozoan parasite of genus Plasmodium. Various antigenic proteins of Plasmodium are considered as the major targets for the development of an effective vaccine. The aim of the current study was a comprehensive analysis of the experimentally validated epitopes of Plasmodium obtained from various immunoassays. Methods Plasmodium species epitopes were prefetched from Immune Epitope Database (IEDB). Species specific classification of available epitopes was done for both human and murine malaria parasites. Further, these T cell and B cell epitopes along with MHC I/II binders of different Plasmodium species were examined to find out their capability to induce IFN-γ and IL-10 using IFNepitope and IL-10 Pred, respectively. Results The species-specific classification of 6874 unique epitopes resulted in the selection of predominant human and murine Plasmodium species. Further, the attempt was made to analyse the immune reactivity of these epitopes for their ability to induce cytokines namely IFN-γ and IL-10. Total, 2775 epitopes were predicted to possess IFN-γ inducing ability, whereas 1275 epitopes were found to be involved in the induction of IL-10. Conclusions This study facilitates the assessment of Plasmodium epitopes and associated proteins as a potential approach to design and develop an epitope-based vaccine. Moreover, the results highlight the epitope-based immunization in malaria to induce a protective immune response. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02480-7.
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Temporal Changes in the Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 in Myanmar. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080916. [PMID: 34451379 PMCID: PMC8398579 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a significant decline in the incidence of malaria in Myanmar recently, malaria is still an important public health concern in the country. Although Plasmodium falciparum is associated with the highest incidence of malaria in Myanmar, the proportion of P. vivax cases has shown a gradual increase in recent years. The genetic diversity of P. vivax merozoite surface protein-1 block 5-6 (pvmsp-1 ICB 5-6) in the P. vivax population of Myanmar was analyzed to obtain a comprehensive insight into its genetic heterogeneity and evolutionary history. High levels of genetic diversity of pvmsp-1 ICB 5-6 were identified in the P. vivax isolates collected from Myanmar between 2013 and 2015. Thirty-nine distinct haplotypes of pvmsp-1 ICB 5-6 (13 for Sal I type, 20 for recombinant type, and 6 for Belem type) were found at the amino acid level. Comparative analyses of the genetic diversity of pvmsp-1 ICB 5-6 sequences in the recent (2013–2015) and the past (2004) P. vivax populations in Myanmar revealed genetic expansion of the pvmsp-1 ICB 5-6 in recent years, albeit with a declined incidence. The recent increase in the genetic heterogeneity of Myanmar pvmsp-1 ICB 5-6 is attributed to a combination of factors, including accumulated mutations and recombination. These results suggest that the size of the P. vivax population in Myanmar is sufficient to enable the generation and maintenance of genetic diversity, warranting continuous molecular surveillance of genetic variation in Myanmar P. vivax.
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Punnath K, Dayanand KK, Midya V, Chandrashekar VN, Achur RN, Kakkilaya SB, Ghosh SK, Kumari SN, Gowda DC. Acquired antibody responses against merozoite surface protein-1 19 antigen during Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax infections in South Indian city of Mangaluru. J Parasit Dis 2021; 45:176-190. [PMID: 33100734 PMCID: PMC7576553 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01288-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) of malaria parasites has been extensively studied as a malaria vaccine candidate and the antibody response to this protein is an important indicator of protective immunity to malaria. Mangaluru city and its surrounding areas in southwestern India are endemic to malaria with Plasmodium vivax being the most widespread and prevalent species although P. falciparum also frequently infects. However, no information is available on the level of protective immunity in this population. In this regard, a prospective hospital-based study was performed in malarial patients to assess antibody responses against the 19-kDa C-terminal portion of P. vivax and P. falciparum MSP-1 (MSP-119). Serum samples from 51 healthy endemic controls and 267 infected individuals were collected and anti-MSP-119 antibody levels were analyzed by ELISA. The possible association between the antibody responses and morbidity parameters such as malarial anemia and thrombocytopenia was investigated. Among the 267 infected cases, 144 had P. vivax and 123 had P. falciparum infections. Significant levels of anti-MSP-119 antibody were observed both in P. vivax (123/144; 85.4%) and P. falciparum (108/123; 87.9%) infected individuals. In both type of infections, the major antibody isotypes were IgG1 and IgG3. The IgG levels were found to be increased in patients with severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. The antibody levels were also higher in infected individuals who had several previous infections, although antibodies produced during previous infections were short lived. The predominance of cytophilic anti-MSP-119 IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies suggests the possibility of a dual role of Pv MSP-119 and Pf MSP-119 during malarial immunity and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishore Punnath
- Department of Biochemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga District, Karnataka India
- Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India
| | - Kiran K. Dayanand
- Department of Biochemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga District, Karnataka India
- Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India
| | - Vishal Midya
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA USA
| | - Valleesha N. Chandrashekar
- Department of Biochemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga District, Karnataka India
- Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India
| | - Rajeshwara N. Achur
- Department of Biochemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga District, Karnataka India
| | | | - Susanta K. Ghosh
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Poojanahalli, Bangalore, India
| | - Suchetha N. Kumari
- Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India
| | - D. Channe Gowda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA USA
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Ricaurte-Contreras LA, Lovera A, Moreno-Pérez DA, Bohórquez MD, Suárez CF, Gutiérrez-Vásquez E, Cuy-Chaparro L, Garzón-Ospina D, Patarroyo MA. Two 20-Residue-Long Peptides Derived from Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 10 EGF-Like Domains Are Involved in Binding to Human Reticulocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041609. [PMID: 33562650 PMCID: PMC7915351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites’ invasion of their target cells is a complex, multi-step process involving many protein-protein interactions. Little is known about how complex the interaction with target cells is in Plasmodium vivax and few surface molecules related to reticulocytes’ adhesion have been described to date. Natural selection, functional and structural analysis were carried out on the previously described vaccine candidate P. vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (PvMSP10) for evaluating its role during initial contact with target cells. It has been shown here that the recombinant carboxyl terminal region (rPvMSP10-C) bound to adult human reticulocytes but not to normocytes, as validated by two different protein-cell interaction assays. Particularly interesting was the fact that two 20-residue-long regions (388DKEECRCRANYMPDDSVDYF407 and 415KDCSKENGNCDVNAECSIDK434) were able to inhibit rPvMSP10-C binding to reticulocytes and rosette formation using enriched target cells. These peptides were derived from PvMSP10 epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains (precisely, from a well-defined electrostatic zone) and consisted of regions having the potential of being B- or T-cell epitopes. These findings provide evidence, for the first time, about the fragments governing PvMSP10 binding to its target cells, thus highlighting the importance of studying them for inclusion in a P. vivax antimalarial vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Alejandra Ricaurte-Contreras
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
- MSc Programme in Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Andrea Lovera
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Darwin Andrés Moreno-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Michel David Bohórquez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Carlos Fernando Suárez
- Biomathematics Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia;
| | - Elizabeth Gutiérrez-Vásquez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Laura Cuy-Chaparro
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (L.A.R.-C.); (A.L.); (D.A.M.-P.); (M.D.B.); (E.G.-V.); (L.C.-C.); (D.G.-O.)
- Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, Carrera 9#51-11, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Correspondence:
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Murhandarwati EEH, Herningtyas EH, Puspawati P, Mau F, Chen SB, Shen HM, Chen JH. Genetic diversity of Merozoite surface protein 1-42 (MSP1-42) fragment of Plasmodium vivax from Indonesian isolates: Rationale implementation of candidate MSP1 vaccine. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 85:104573. [PMID: 32987191 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Morbidity and mortality related to malaria in Indonesia are attributed to both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax parasites. In addition to vaccines for P. falciparum, vaccines against P. vivax are urgently needed for the prevention of the disease. An extensively studied antigen is the carboxyl-terminus of the 42 kDa region of P. vivax merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP1-42). The design of a vaccine based on this antigen requires an understanding of the extent of polymorphism. However, there is no information on the genetic diversity of the antigen in Indonesia. This study aimed to profile the diversity of PvMSP1-42 and its two subdomains (PvMSP1-33 and PvMSP1-19) among Indonesian P. vivax isolates. A total of 52 P. vivax-infected blood samples were collected from patients in two different endemic areas in Indonesia: Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) and Sumba Timur (Nusa Tenggara Timur). The polymorphic characteristics and natural selection of PvMSP1-42 were analyzed using the DnaSP, MEGA, and Structure software. Thirty distinct haplotypes of PvMSP1-42 were identified. They displayed amino acid changes compared to the reference PVP01 sequence. Most of the mutations were concentrated in the 33 kDa fragment. PvMSP1-42 of the Indonesian isolates appeared to be under positive selection. Recombination may also play a role in the resulting genetic diversity of PvMSP1. In conclusion, PvMSP1-42 of Indonesian isolates displayed allelic polymorphisms caused by mutation, recombination, and positive selection. These results will aid the understanding of the P. vivax population in Indonesia and to develop a PvMSP1 based vaccine against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Elsa Herdiana Murhandarwati
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - E Henny Herningtyas
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Fridolina Mau
- Institute of Research and Development Waikabubak, Sumba Barat, Indonesia
| | - Shen-Bo Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; The School of Global Health, Chinese Centre for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Mo Shen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; The School of Global Health, Chinese Centre for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Hu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; The School of Global Health, Chinese Centre for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
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Atique Ahmed M, Kang HJ, Quan FS. Low Levels of Polymorphisms and Negative Selection in Plasmodum knowlesi Merozoite Surface Protein 8 in Malaysian Isolates. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 57:445-450. [PMID: 31533414 PMCID: PMC6753297 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.4.445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Human infections due to the monkey malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is increasingly being reported from most Southeast Asian countries specifically Malaysia. The parasite causes severe and fatal malaria thus there is a need for urgent measures for its control. In this study, the level of polymorphisms, haplotypes and natural selection of full-length pkmsp8 in 37 clinical samples from Malaysian Borneo along with 6 lab-adapted strains were investigated. Low levels of polymorphism were observed across the full-length gene, the double epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains were mostly conserved, and non-synonymous substitutions were absent. Evidence of strong negative selection pressure in the non-EGF regions were found indicating functional constrains acting at different domains. Phylogenetic haplotype network analysis identified shared haplotypes and indicated geographical clustering of samples originating from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. This is the first study to genetically characterize the full-length msp8 gene from clinical isolates of P. knowlesi from Malaysia; however, further functional characterization would be useful for future rational vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Atique Ahmed
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea.,Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
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Dobaño C, Bardají A, Kochar S, Kochar SK, Padilla N, López M, Unger HW, Ome-Kaius M, Castellanos ME, Arévalo-Herrera M, Hans D, Martínez-Espinosa FE, Bôtto-Menezes C, Malheiros A, Desai M, Casellas A, Chitnis CE, Rogerson S, Mueller I, Menéndez C, Requena P. Blood cytokine, chemokine and growth factor profiling in a cohort of pregnant women from tropical countries. Cytokine 2019; 125:154818. [PMID: 31514106 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.154818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The immune status of women changes during and after pregnancy, differs between blood compartments at delivery and is affected by environmental factors particularly in tropical areas endemic for multiple infections. We quantified the plasma concentration of a set of thirty-one TH1, TH2, TH17 and regulatory cytokines, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and growth factors (altogether biomarkers), in a cohort of 540 pregnant women from five malaria-endemic tropical countries. Samples were collected at recruitment (first antenatal visit), delivery (periphery, cord and placenta) and postpartum, allowing a longitudinal analysis. We found the lowest concentration of biomarkers at recruitment and the highest at postpartum, with few exceptions. Among them, IL-6, HGF and TGF-β had the highest levels at delivery, and even higher concentrations in the placenta compared to peripheral blood. Placental concentrations were generally higher than peripheral, except for eotaxin that was lower. We also compared plasma biomarker concentrations between the tropical cohort and a control group from Spain at delivery, presenting overall higher biomarker levels the tropical cohort, particularly pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Only IL-6 presented lower levels in the tropical group. Moreover, a principal component analysis of biomarker concentrations at delivery showed that women from Spain grouped more homogenously, and that IL-6 and IL-8 clustered together in the tropical cohort but not in the Spanish one. Plasma cytokine concentrations correlated with Plasmodium antibody levels at postpartum but not during pregnancy. This basal profiling of immune mediators over gestation and in different compartments at delivery is important to subsequently understand response to infections and clinical outcomes in mothers and infants in tropical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer del Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Azucena Bardají
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer del Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Swati Kochar
- Medical College, PBM Hospital, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334001, India
| | - Sanjay K Kochar
- Medical College, PBM Hospital, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334001, India
| | - Norma Padilla
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11-95, Guatemala 01015, Guatemala
| | - Marta López
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS, CIBER-ER, Carrer del Rosselló, 149, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Holger W Unger
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 378, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea
| | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 378, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea
| | - Maria Eugenia Castellanos
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11-95, Guatemala 01015, Guatemala
| | | | - Dhiraj Hans
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India
| | - Flor E Martínez-Espinosa
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n - Dom Pedro, Manaus, AM 69040-000, Brazil; Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Rua Teresina, 476 - Adrianópolis, Manaus 69.057-070, Brazil
| | - Camila Bôtto-Menezes
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n - Dom Pedro, Manaus, AM 69040-000, Brazil; Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, 69850-000, R. Bloco Um e Três, 4-40 - Platô do Piquiá, Boca do Acre, AM 69850-000, Brazil
| | - Adriana Malheiros
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Jauary Marinho - Setor Sul - Coroado, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Meghna Desai
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Aina Casellas
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer del Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Chetan E Chitnis
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India; Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines Unit, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer del Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pilar Requena
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer del Rosselló, 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Departmento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Farmacia, Campus de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain.
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10
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Ahmed MA, Chu KB, Vythilingam I, Quan FS. Within-population genetic diversity and population structure of Plasmodium knowlesi merozoite surface protein 1 gene from geographically distinct regions of Malaysia and Thailand. Malar J 2018; 17:442. [PMID: 30497496 PMCID: PMC6267868 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2583-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The C-terminal 42 kDa domain of Plasmodium knowlesi merozoite surface protein 1 (PkMSP1) is a potential asexual blood-stage vaccine candidate, however, only a limited number of clinical isolates have been analysed from Malaysia and no inter-country comparative diversity study has been conducted. In the present study, nucleotide diversity, haplotypes and natural selection levels of pkmsp1 in clinical samples from geographically distinct regions of Malaysia and Thailand were investigated. The overall population structure of the parasite from the region was determined. METHODS Eleven full-length pkmsp1 sequences obtained from clinical isolates of Malaysia along with the H-strain were downloaded from the database for domain wise characterization of pkmsp1 gene. Additionally, 76 pkmsp-142 sequences from Thailand and Malaysia were downloaded from the database for intra and inter-population analysis. DnaSP 5.10 and MEGA 5.0 software were used to determine genetic diversity, polymorphism, haplotypes and natural selection. Genealogical relationships were determined using haplotype network tree in NETWORK software v5.0. Population genetic differentiation index (FST) of parasites were analysed using Arlequin v3.5. RESULTS Sequence analysis of 11 full-length pkmsp1 sequences along with the H-strain identified 477 (8.4%) polymorphic sites, of which 107 were singleton sites. The overall diversity observed in the full-length genes were high in comparison to its ortholog pvmsp1 and the 4 variable domains showed extensive size variations. The nucleotide diversity was low towards the pkmsp1-42 compared to the conserved domains. The 19 kDa domain was less diverse and completely conserved among isolates from Malaysian Borneo. The nucleotide diversity of isolates from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand were higher than Malaysian Borneo. Network analysis of pkmsp1-42 haplotypes showed geographical clustering of the isolates from Malaysian Borneo and grouping of isolates from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. Population differentiation analysis indicated high FST values between parasite populations originating from Malaysian Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand attributing to geographical distance. Moderate genetic differentiation was observed for parasite populations from Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. Evidence of population expansion and purifying selection were observed in all conserved domains with strongest selection within the pkmsp1-42 domain. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to report on inter country genetic diversity and population structure of P. knowlesi based on msp1. Strong evidence of negative selection was observed in the 42 kDa domain, indicating functional constrains. Geographical clustering of P. knowlesi and moderate to high genetic differentiation values between populations identified in this study highlights the importance of further evaluation using larger number of clinical samples from Southeast Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Atique Ahmed
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Indra Vythilingam
- Parasitology Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. .,Biomedical Science Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Evaluation of Plasmodium vivax isolates in Thailand using polymorphic markers Plasmodium merozoite surface protein (PvMSP) 1 and PvMSP3. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:3965-3978. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6106-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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12
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Ahmed MA, Fauzi M, Han ET. Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium knowlesi merozoite surface protein 1 paralog gene in Malaysia. Malar J 2018. [PMID: 29540177 PMCID: PMC5853062 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2256-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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13
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Changrob S, Han JH, Ha KS, Park WS, Hong SH, Chootong P, Han ET. Immunogenicity of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored micronemal antigen in natural Plasmodium vivax exposure. Malar J 2017; 16:348. [PMID: 28830553 PMCID: PMC5568145 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1967-9] [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: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread malaria species and codominates with Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of the malaria parasite. For the last few years, the number of vivax malaria cases has increased, but vivax malaria is still considered a neglected disease. During the blood stages of their life cycle, P. vivax parasites export several hundred proteins into host red blood cells. Some of these exported proteins have been discovered and studied for use as a blood-stage malaria vaccine. The P. vivax glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored micronemal antigen (PvGAMA) was identified in previous study, which plays an important role in parasite invasion. To support the hypothesis that PvGAMA can induce an immune response in natural exposure, the antibody responses and cellular immunity against this antigen was demonstrated during and post-infection. Methods The recombinant protein PvGAMA was expressed and purified by wheat germ cell-free (WGCF) system. The analysis of humoral and cellular immune responses to the PvGAMA antigen during infection and post-infection with the P. vivax parasite were done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Results During P. vivax infection, 95% of patients showed significant antibody responses to PvGAMA antigen. The cytophilic IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes were the major isotypes produced in response to PvGAMA. A cross-sectional study of anti-PvGAMA responses during and post-infection with P. vivax found that the majority of individuals, approximately 54% of patients, were shown to maintain a positive anti-PvGAMA titre at 3 months post-infection, and some patients had the ability to maintain an antibody response for up to 12 months post-infection. Moreover, PvGAMA had the ability to stimulate a cellular immune response that was characterized by the production of the cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-10. The levels of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10 were significantly increased in PvGAMA-stimulated lymphocyte cultures. Conclusions Taken together, PvGAMA had potential to induce an immune response both humoral and cellular immunity in naturally acquired P. vivax infection individuals during infection and post-infection. Therefore, PvGAMA could be as a vaccine candidate to stimulate immune response against P. vivax infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siriruk Changrob
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon-Soo Ha
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Ho Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Sáenz FE, Arévalo-Cortés A, Valenzuela G, Vallejo AF, Castellanos A, Poveda-Loayza AC, Gutierrez JB, Alvarez A, Yan YH, Benavides Y, Castro LE, Arévalo-Herrera M, Herrera S. Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections. Malar J 2017; 16:300. [PMID: 28747199 PMCID: PMC5530496 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1947-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The recent scale-up in malaria control measures in Latin America has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of reported cases in several countries including Ecuador, where it presented a low malaria incidence in recent years (558 reported cases in 2015) with occasional outbreaks of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in the coastal and Amazonian regions. This success in malaria control in recent years has led Ecuador to transition its malaria policy from control to elimination. Results This study evaluated the general knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) about malaria, as well as its prevalence in four communities of an endemic area in northwest Ecuador. A total of 258 interviews to assess KAP in the community indicated that most people in the study area have a basic knowledge about the disease but did not use to contribute to its control. Six hundred and forty-eight blood samples were collected and analysed by thick blood smear and real-time PCR. In addition, the distribution of the infections was mapped in the study communities. Although, no parasites were found by microscopy, by PCR the total malaria prevalence was 7.5% (6.9% P. vivax and 0.6% P. falciparum), much higher than expected and comparable to that reported in endemic areas of neighbouring countries with higher malaria transmission. Serology using ELISA and immunofluorescence indicated 27% respondents for P. vivax and 22% respondents for P. falciparum. Conclusions Results suggest that despite a great malaria reduction in Ecuador, transition from control to elimination would demand further improvement in malaria diagnostics, including active case detection to identify and treat parasite asymptomatic carriers, as well as community participation in its elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián E Sáenz
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Calle Pambacienda y San Pedro del Valle, Quito, Ecuador.
| | - Andrea Arévalo-Cortés
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Calle Pambacienda y San Pedro del Valle, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Gabriela Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Calle Pambacienda y San Pedro del Valle, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Andrea C Poveda-Loayza
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Calle Pambacienda y San Pedro del Valle, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Juan B Gutierrez
- Department of Mathematics, Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Alvaro Alvarez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center, Cali, Colombia
| | - Yi Heng Yan
- Department of Mathematics, Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia.,School of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
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15
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Fola AA, Harrison GLA, Hazairin MH, Barnadas C, Hetzel MW, Iga J, Siba PM, Mueller I, Barry AE. Higher Complexity of Infection and Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium vivax Than Plasmodium falciparum Across All Malaria Transmission Zones of Papua New Guinea. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 96:630-641. [PMID: 28070005 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax have varying transmission dynamics that are informed by molecular epidemiology. This study aimed to determine the complexity of infection and genetic diversity of P. vivax and P. falciparum throughout Papua New Guinea (PNG) to evaluate transmission dynamics across the country. In 2008-2009, a nationwide malaria indicator survey collected 8,936 samples from all 16 endemic provinces of PNG. Of these, 892 positive P. vivax samples were genotyped at PvMS16 and PvmspF3, and 758 positive P. falciparum samples were genotyped at Pfmsp2. The data were analyzed for multiplicity of infection (MOI) and genetic diversity. Overall, P. vivax had higher polyclonality (71%) and mean MOI (2.32) than P. falciparum (20%, 1.39). These measures were significantly associated with prevalence for P. falciparum but not for P. vivax. The genetic diversity of P. vivax (PvMS16: expected heterozygosity = 0.95, 0.85-0.98; PvMsp1F3: 0.78, 0.66-0.89) was higher and less variable than that of P. falciparum (Pfmsp2: 0.89, 0.65-0.97). Significant associations of MOI with allelic richness (rho = 0.69, P = 0.009) and expected heterozygosity (rho = 0.87, P < 0.001) were observed for P. falciparum. Conversely, genetic diversity was not correlated with polyclonality nor mean MOI for P. vivax. The results demonstrate higher complexity of infection and genetic diversity of P. vivax across the country. Although P. falciparum shows a strong association of these parameters with prevalence, a lack of association was observed for P. vivax and is consistent with higher potential for outcrossing of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abebe A Fola
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - G L Abby Harrison
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mita Hapsari Hazairin
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Céline Barnadas
- Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,European Public Health Microbiology (EUPHEM) Training Programme, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden.,Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Manuel W Hetzel
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonah Iga
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Peter M Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
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16
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Requena P, Arévalo-Herrera M, Menegon M, Martínez-Espinosa FE, Padilla N, Bôtto-Menezes C, Malheiro A, Hans D, Castellanos ME, Robinson L, Samol P, Kochar S, Kochar SK, Kochar DK, Desai M, Sanz S, Quintó L, Mayor A, Rogerson S, Mueller I, Severini C, Del Portillo HA, Bardají A, Chitnis CC, Menéndez C, Dobaño C. Naturally Acquired Binding-Inhibitory Antibodies to Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein in Pregnant Women Are Associated with Higher Birth Weight in a Multicenter Study. Front Immunol 2017; 8:163. [PMID: 28261219 PMCID: PMC5313505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A vaccine to eliminate malaria would need a multi-stage and multi-species composition to achieve robust protection, but the lack of knowledge about antigen targets and mechanisms of protection precludes the development of fully efficacious malaria vaccines, especially for Plasmodium vivax (Pv). Pregnant women constitute a risk population who would greatly benefit from a vaccine preventing the adverse events of Plasmodium infection during gestation. We hypothesized that functional immune responses against putative targets of naturally acquired immunity to malaria and vaccine candidates will be associated with protection against malaria infection and/or poor outcomes during pregnancy. We measured (i) IgG responses to a large panel of Pv and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antigens, (ii) the capacity of anti-Pv ligand Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) antibodies to inhibit binding to Duffy antigen, and (iii) cellular immune responses to two Pv antigens, in a subset of 1,056 pregnant women from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, India, and Papua New Guinea (PNG). There were significant intraspecies and interspecies correlations for most antibody responses (e.g., PfMSP119 versus PfAMA1, Spearman’s rho = 0.81). Women from PNG and Colombia had the highest levels of IgG overall. Submicroscopic infections seemed sufficient to boost antibody responses in Guatemala but not antigen-specific cellular responses in PNG. Brazil had the highest percentage of Duffy binding inhibition (p-values versus Colombia: 0.040; Guatemala: 0.047; India: 0.003, and PNG: 0.153) despite having low anti-PvDBP IgG levels. Almost all antibodies had a positive association with present infection, and coinfection with the other species increased this association. Anti-PvDBP, anti-PfMSP1, and anti-PfAMA1 IgG levels at recruitment were positively associated with infection at delivery (p-values: 0.010, 0.003, and 0.023, respectively), suggesting that they are markers of malaria exposure. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Pv-infected women presented fewer CD8+IFN-γ+ T cells and secreted more G-CSF and IL-4 independently of the stimulus used in vitro. Functional anti-PvDBP levels at recruitment had a positive association with birth weight (difference per doubling antibody levels: 45 g, p-value: 0.046). Thus, naturally acquired binding-inhibitory antibodies to PvDBP might confer protection against poor outcomes of Pv malaria in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Requena
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
| | | | | | - Flor E Martínez-Espinosa
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil; Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazonia), Amazonia, Brazil
| | - Norma Padilla
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala , Guatemala City , Guatemala
| | - Camila Bôtto-Menezes
- Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazonia), Amazonia, Brazil; Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Adriana Malheiro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Dhiraj Hans
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Delhi , India
| | | | - Leanne Robinson
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea; Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Paula Samol
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research , Madang , Papua New Guinea
| | - Swati Kochar
- Medical College Bikaner , Bikaner, Rajasthan , India
| | | | | | - Meghna Desai
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch , Atlanta, GA , USA
| | - Sergi Sanz
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
| | - Llorenç Quintó
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
| | | | - Ivo Mueller
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Hernando A Del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Azucena Bardají
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
| | - Chetan C Chitnis
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Delhi , India
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
| | - Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain
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17
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López C, Yepes-Pérez Y, Hincapié-Escobar N, Díaz-Arévalo D, Patarroyo MA. What Is Known about the Immune Response Induced by Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Candidates? Front Immunol 2017; 8:126. [PMID: 28243235 PMCID: PMC5304258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax continues being one of the most important infectious diseases around the world; P. vivax is the second most prevalent species and has the greatest geographic distribution. Developing an effective antimalarial vaccine is considered a relevant control strategy in the search for means of preventing the disease. Studying parasite-expressed proteins, which are essential in host cell invasion, has led to identifying the regions recognized by individuals who are naturally exposed to infection. Furthermore, immunogenicity studies have revealed that such regions can trigger a robust immune response that can inhibit sporozoite (hepatic stage) or merozoite (erythrocyte stage) invasion of a host cell and induce protection. This review provides a synthesis of the most important studies to date concerning the antigenicity and immunogenicity of both synthetic peptide and recombinant protein candidates for a vaccine against malaria produced by P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina López
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yoelis Yepes-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; MSc Programme in Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Natalia Hincapié-Escobar
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC) , Bogotá , Colombia
| | - Diana Díaz-Arévalo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (UDCA), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Immunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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18
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Arévalo-Herrera M, Vásquez-Jiménez JM, Lopez-Perez M, Vallejo AF, Amado-Garavito AB, Céspedes N, Castellanos A, Molina K, Trejos J, Oñate J, Epstein JE, Richie TL, Herrera S. Protective Efficacy of Plasmodium vivax Radiation-Attenuated Sporozoites in Colombian Volunteers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005070. [PMID: 27760143 PMCID: PMC5070852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immunizing human volunteers by mosquito bite with radiation-attenuated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (RAS) results in high-level protection against infection. Only two volunteers have been similarly immunized with P. vivax (Pv) RAS, and both were protected. A phase 2 controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the safety and protective efficacy of PvRAS immunization. Methodology/Principal Findings A randomized, single-blinded trial was conducted. Duffy positive (Fy+; Pv susceptible) individuals were enrolled: 14 received bites from irradiated (150 ± 10 cGy) Pv-infected Anopheles mosquitoes (RAS) and 7 from non-irradiated non-infected mosquitoes (Ctl). An additional group of seven Fy- (Pv refractory) volunteers was immunized with bites from non-irradiated Pv-infected mosquitoes. A total of seven immunizations were carried out at mean intervals of nine weeks. Eight weeks after last immunization, a controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) with non-irradiated Pv-infected mosquitoes was performed. Nineteen volunteers completed seven immunizations (12 RAS, 2 Ctl, and 5 Fy-) and received a CHMI. Five of 12 (42%) RAS volunteers were protected (receiving a median of 434 infective bites) compared with 0/2 Ctl. None of the Fy- volunteers developed infection by the seventh immunization or after CHMI. All non-protected volunteers developed symptoms 8–13 days after CHMI with a mean pre-patent period of 12.8 days. No serious adverse events related to the immunizations were observed. Specific IgG1 anti-PvCS response was associated with protection. Conclusion Immunization with PvRAS was safe, immunogenic, and induced sterile immunity in 42% of the Fy+ volunteers. Moreover, Fy- volunteers were refractory to Pv malaria. Trial registration Identifier: NCT01082341. Despite the advances in Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) vaccine development, progress in developing P. vivax (Pv) vaccines lags far behind. Immunization via mosquito bites with Pf radiation-attenuated sporozoites (RAS) has been the gold standard model for induction of sterile protection against malaria infection and has allowed the study of the complex mechanisms of immunity. The first trials using PfRAS were performed in the late 1960’s, and thereafter greatly contributed to the development of vaccines against Pf. However, PvRAS immunization in humans has only been carried out in two volunteers since 1974. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial using significant numbers of volunteers for PvRAS immunization. Our findings confirm that immunization with PvRAS is safe, immunogenic and induces sterile immunity in 42% of the volunteers. It demonstrates that it is possible to induce sterile protection with PvRAS as seen with PfRAS and confirms that immunity against the PvCS protein (IgG1 levels) correlates with protection. Research findings and reagents generated in this study are expected to yield insights on key immune determinants of sterile protection against Pv, which may guide the development of a cost-effective vaccine against this parasite species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Mary Lopez-Perez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | - Nora Céspedes
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Karen Molina
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | - Judith E. Epstein
- Naval Medical Research Center, Malaria Department, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Sócrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
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Requena P, Rui E, Padilla N, Martínez-Espinosa FE, Castellanos ME, Bôtto-Menezes C, Malheiro A, Arévalo-Herrera M, Kochar S, Kochar SK, Kochar DK, Umbers AJ, Ome-Kaius M, Wangnapi R, Hans D, Menegon M, Mateo F, Sanz S, Desai M, Mayor A, Chitnis CC, Bardají A, Mueller I, Rogerson S, Severini C, Fernández-Becerra C, Menéndez C, del Portillo H, Dobaño C. Plasmodium vivax VIR Proteins Are Targets of Naturally-Acquired Antibody and T Cell Immune Responses to Malaria in Pregnant Women. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005009. [PMID: 27711158 PMCID: PMC5053494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
P. vivax infection during pregnancy has been associated with poor outcomes such as anemia, low birth weight and congenital malaria, thus representing an important global health problem. However, no vaccine is currently available for its prevention. Vir genes were the first putative virulent factors associated with P. vivax infections, yet very few studies have examined their potential role as targets of immunity. We investigated the immunogenic properties of five VIR proteins and two long synthetic peptides containing conserved VIR sequences (PvLP1 and PvLP2) in the context of the PregVax cohort study including women from five malaria endemic countries: Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, India and Papua New Guinea (PNG) at different timepoints during and after pregnancy. Antibody responses against all antigens were detected in all populations, with PNG women presenting the highest levels overall. P. vivax infection at sample collection time was positively associated with antibody levels against PvLP1 (fold-increase: 1.60 at recruitment -first antenatal visit-) and PvLP2 (fold-increase: 1.63 at delivery), and P. falciparum co-infection was found to increase those responses (for PvLP1 at recruitment, fold-increase: 2.25). Levels of IgG against two VIR proteins at delivery were associated with higher birth weight (27 g increase per duplicating antibody levels, p<0.05). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from PNG uninfected pregnant women had significantly higher antigen-specific IFN-γ TH1 responses (p=0.006) and secreted less pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6 after PvLP2 stimulation than P. vivax-infected women (p<0.05). These data demonstrate that VIR antigens induce the natural acquisition of antibody and T cell memory responses that might be important in immunity to P. vivax during pregnancy in very diverse geographical settings. Naturally-acquired antibody responses to novel recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides based on sequences from P. vivax VIR antigens were evaluated in women from five distinct geographical regions endemic for malaria, during and after pregnancy. Levels of IgG to VIR antigens were indicative of cumulative malaria exposure and increased with current P. vivax infection and P. falciparum co-infection. Antibody data were consistent with levels of malaria endemicity and current prevalence in the diverse geographical areas studied. In addition, the magnitude of IgG response to two VIR antigens at delivery was associated with higher birth weight. Furthermore, T cell responses to VIR antigens were naturally induced and their magnitude varied according to P. vivax infectious status. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from uninfected pregnant women from a highly endemic area produced higher TH1 (IFN-γ) and lower pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF and IL-6) upon stimulation with a long synthetic peptide representing conserved globular domains of VIR antigens than P. vivax-infected women. Data suggest that further investigation on these antigens as potential targets of immunity in naturally-exposed individuals is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Requena
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Edmilson Rui
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Norma Padilla
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Flor E. Martínez-Espinosa
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazonia), Brazil
| | | | - Camila Bôtto-Menezes
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Adriana Malheiro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Swati Kochar
- Department of Medicine, Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sanjay K. Kochar
- Department of Medicine, Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
| | | | | | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Regina Wangnapi
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Dhiraj Hans
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Delhi, India
| | - Michela Menegon
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Mateo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Sanz
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meghna Desai
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Chetan C. Chitnis
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Delhi, India
| | - Azucena Bardají
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivo Mueller
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Stephen Rogerson
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Carlo Severini
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmen Fernández-Becerra
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Menéndez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hernando del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (HdP); (CD)
| | - Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (HdP); (CD)
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A chimeric protein-based malaria vaccine candidate induces robust T cell responses against Plasmodium vivax MSP1 19. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34527. [PMID: 27708348 PMCID: PMC5052570 DOI: 10.1038/srep34527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The most widespread Plasmodium species, Plasmodium vivax, poses a significant public health threat. An effective vaccine is needed to reduce global malaria burden. Of the erythrocytic stage vaccine candidates, the 19 kDa fragment of the P. vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (PvMSP119) is one of the most promising. Our group has previously defined several promiscuous T helper epitopes within the PvMSP1 protein, with features that allow them to bind multiple MHC class II alleles. We describe here a P. vivax recombinant modular chimera based on MSP1 (PvRMC-MSP1) that includes defined T cell epitopes genetically fused to PvMSP119. This vaccine candidate preserved structural elements of the native PvMSP119 and elicited cytophilic antibody responses, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells capable of recognizing PvMSP119. Although CD8+ T cells that recognize blood stage antigens have been reported to control blood infection, CD8+ T cell responses induced by P. falciparum or P. vivax vaccine candidates based on MSP119 have not been reported. To our knowledge, this is the first time a protein based subunit vaccine has been able to induce CD8+ T cell against PvMSP119. The PvRMC-MSP1 protein was also recognized by naturally acquired antibodies from individuals living in malaria endemic areas with an antibody profile associated with protection from infection. These features make PvRMC-MSP1 a promising vaccine candidate.
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Wang Q, Zhao Z, Zhang X, Li X, Zhu M, Li P, Yang Z, Wang Y, Yan G, Shang H, Cao Y, Fan Q, Cui L. Naturally Acquired Antibody Responses to Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (MSP1) C-Terminal 19 kDa Domains in an Area of Unstable Malaria Transmission in Southeast Asia. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151900. [PMID: 26999435 PMCID: PMC4801383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding naturally acquired immunity to infections caused by Plasmodia in different malaria endemicity settings is needed for better vaccine designs and for exploring antibody responses as a proxy marker of malaria transmission intensity. This study investigated the sero-epidemiology of malaria along the international border between China and Myanmar, where malaria elimination action plans are in place. This study recruited 233 P. vivax and 156 P. falciparum infected subjects with acute malaria at the malaria clinics and hospitals. In addition, 93 and 67 healthy individuals from the same endemic region or from non-endemic region, respectively, were used as controls. Acute malaria infections were identified by microscopy. Anti-recombinant PfMSP119 and PvMSP119 antibody levels were measured by ELISA. Antibody responses to respective MSP119 were detected in 50.9% and 78.2% patients with acute P. vivax and P. falciparum infections, respectively. There were cross-reacting antibodies in Plasmodium patients against these two recombinant proteins, though we could not exclude the possibility of submicroscopic mixed-species infections. IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 were the major subclasses. Interestingly, 43.2% of the healthy endemic population also had antibodies against PfMSP119, whereas only 3.9% of this population had antibodies against PvMSP119. Higher antibody levels were correlated with age and parasite density, but not with season, gender or malaria history. Both total IgG and individual IgG subclasses underwent substantial declines during the convalescent period in three months. This study demonstrated that individuals in a hypoendemic area with coexistence of P. vivax and P. falciparum can mount rapid antibody responses against both PfMSP119 and PvMSP119. The significantly higher proportion of responders to PfMSP119 in the healthy endemic population indicates higher prevalence of P. falciparum in the recent past. Specific antibodies against PvMSP119 could serve as a marker of recent exposure to P. vivax in epidemiological studies.
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MESH Headings
- Acute Disease
- Adolescent
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Antibody Formation/immunology
- Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Demography
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Infant
- Logistic Models
- Malaria, Falciparum/blood
- Malaria, Falciparum/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology
- Malaria, Falciparum/transmission
- Malaria, Vivax/blood
- Malaria, Vivax/immunology
- Malaria, Vivax/parasitology
- Malaria, Vivax/transmission
- Merozoite Surface Protein 1/chemistry
- Merozoite Surface Protein 1/immunology
- Molecular Weight
- Plasmodium falciparum/immunology
- Plasmodium vivax/immunology
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhenjun Zhao
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xuexing Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xuelian Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Min Zhu
- School of Humanities and Social Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Peipei Li
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhaoqing Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Hong Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- * E-mail: (YC); (QF); (LC)
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- * E-mail: (YC); (QF); (LC)
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA, 16802, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YC); (QF); (LC)
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Arévalo-Herrera M, Lopez-Perez M, Dotsey E, Jain A, Rubiano K, Felgner PL, Davies DH, Herrera S. Antibody Profiling in Naïve and Semi-immune Individuals Experimentally Challenged with Plasmodium vivax Sporozoites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004563. [PMID: 27014875 PMCID: PMC4807786 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquisition of malaria immunity in low transmission areas usually occurs after relatively few exposures to the parasite. A recent Plasmodium vivax experimental challenge trial in malaria naïve and semi-immune volunteers from Colombia showed that all naïve individuals developed malaria symptoms, whereas semi-immune subjects were asymptomatic or displayed attenuated symptoms. Sera from these individuals were analyzed by protein microarray to identify antibodies associated with clinical protection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Serum samples from naïve (n = 7) and semi-immune (n = 9) volunteers exposed to P. vivax sporozoite-infected mosquito bites were probed against a custom protein microarray displaying 515 P. vivax antigens. The array revealed higher serological responses in semi-immune individuals before the challenge, although malaria naïve individuals also had pre-existing antibodies, which were higher in Colombians than US adults (control group). In both experimental groups the response to the P. vivax challenge peaked at day 45 and returned to near baseline at day 145. Additional analysis indicated that semi-immune volunteers without fever displayed a lower response to the challenge, but recognized new antigens afterwards. CONCLUSION Clinical protection against experimental challenge in volunteers with previous P. vivax exposure was associated with elevated pre-existing antibodies, an attenuated serological response to the challenge and reactivity to new antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Mary Lopez-Perez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
| | - Emmanuel Dotsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Aarti Jain
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Kelly Rubiano
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Philip L. Felgner
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - D. Huw Davies
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Sócrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia
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Lopez-Perez M, Pacheco MA, Buriticá L, Escalante AA, Herrera S, Arévalo-Herrera M. Malaria in pregnancy: a passive surveillance study of pregnant women in low transmission areas of Colombia, Latin America. Malar J 2016; 15:66. [PMID: 26850108 PMCID: PMC4743125 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1125-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria causes a significant burden in highly endemic areas where children and pregnant women are more susceptible to severe disease and death, however, in low transmission settings malaria in pregnant women is less frequent. The aim of this study was to provide information of clinical profile, anti-parasite host immune responses and parasite genotyping of pregnant women with malaria in low endemic areas of Colombia. Methods This was a descriptive study conducted through passive surveillance in 1328 individuals from three endemic areas of Córdoba, Nariño and Chocó departments between 2011 and 2013. Trained physicians confirmed the pregnancy status and recorded clinical and epidemiological information. Haematological parameters, as well as hepatic and renal function, anti-malarial antibodies and parasite genotypes were evaluated. Results A total of 582 women presented with malaria infection, 34 of whom were pregnant (5.8 %), and most were infected by Plasmodium falciparum (n = 24). In 44 % (n = 15) of the women, the infection occurred during the first half of pregnancy. Although uncomplicated disease and parasitaemia ≤20,000 parasites/µL were common (n = 31), three women (8.8 %) infected by P. falciparum were classified as severe cases. Mild to moderate anaemia (68 %) and mild thrombocytopaenia (41 %) were the most frequent blood alterations and in four women acute renal failure was observed. Six women presented a second malaria episode during pregnancy mainly caused by P. vivax (n = 5), although no direct evidence of relapse was found by genotyping. Two out of the six women presenting a second malaria episode had severe malaria. A low prevalence of specific anti-parasite antibodies was found. Microsatellites indicated that all P. vivax infections involved multiple lineages whereas all but one P. falciparum infections harboured single genotypes. Conclusions Most malaria infected pregnant women displayed uncomplicated malaria, although a few of them with a second malaria episode presented an increased risk of severe malaria which appeared to be associated with malaria transmission intensity and not with levels of anti-parasite antibodies. The effects of severe malaria in both mother and fetus warrant future studies in low transmission settings. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1125-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Andreína Pacheco
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | | | - Ananias A Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | | | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center, Cali, Colombia. .,Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
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Pacheco MA, Lopez-Perez M, Vallejo AF, Herrera S, Arévalo-Herrera M, Escalante AA. Multiplicity of Infection and Disease Severity in Plasmodium vivax. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004355. [PMID: 26751811 PMCID: PMC4709143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiplicity of infection (MOI) refers to the average number of distinct parasite genotypes concurrently infecting a patient. Although several studies have reported on MOI and the frequency of multiclonal infections in Plasmodium falciparum, there is limited data on Plasmodium vivax. Here, MOI and the frequency of multiclonal infections were studied in areas from South America where P. vivax and P. falciparum can be compared. Methodology/Principal Findings As part of a passive surveillance study, 1,328 positive malaria patients were recruited between 2011 and 2013 in low transmission areas from Colombia. Of those, there were only 38 P. vivax and 24 P. falciparum clinically complicated cases scattered throughout the time of the study. Samples from uncomplicated cases were matched in time and location with the complicated cases in order to compare the circulating genotypes for these two categories. A total of 92 P. vivax and 57 P. falciparum uncomplicated cases were randomly subsampled. All samples were genotyped by using neutral microsatellites. Plasmodium vivax showed more multiclonal infections (47.7%) than P. falciparum (14.8%). Population genetics and haplotype network analyses did not detect differences in the circulating genotypes between complicated and uncomplicated cases in each parasite. However, a Fisher exact test yielded a significant association between having multiclonal P. vivax infections and complicated malaria. No association was found for P. falciparum infections. Conclusion The association between multiclonal infections and disease severity in P. vivax is consistent with previous observations made in rodent malaria. The contrasting pattern between P. vivax and P. falciparum could be explained, at least in part, by the fact that P. vivax infections have lineages that were more distantly related among them than in the case of the P. falciparum multiclonal infections. Future research should address the possible role that acquired immunity and exposure may have on multiclonal infections and their association with disease severity. Previous studies on rodent malarias and mathematical models have postulated a link between multiclonal infections and disease severity. This association has been tested in Plasmodium falciparum mostly in Africa with limited information on P. vivax. Furthermore, there is a paucity of information from areas with low transmission. Here, we used samples available from a passive surveillance carried out in Colombia, South America. We found an association between multiclonal infections and disease severity in P. vivax but not in P. falciparum. Although the number of complicated malaria cases is low, the contrasting pattern between these two species emphasizes their epidemiological differences. We discuss how this pattern could be the result of a higher divergence among the P. vivax lineages co-infecting a patient. We hypothesize that low levels of acquired immunity may play a role in the association between multiclonal infections and disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Andreína Pacheco
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mary Lopez-Perez
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center and Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center, Cali, Colombia
| | - Andrés F. Vallejo
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center and Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center, Cali, Colombia
| | - Sócrates Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center and Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center, Cali, Colombia
| | - Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center and Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center, Cali, Colombia
- Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Ananias A. Escalante
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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25
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Abstract
SUMMARYPlasmodium vivaxis the most geographically widespread of the malaria parasites causing human disease, yet it is comparatively understudied compared withPlasmodium falciparum.In this article we review what is known about naturally acquired immunity toP. vivax, and importantly, how this differs to that acquired againstP. falciparum.Immunity to clinicalP. vivaxinfection is acquired more quickly than toP. falciparum, and evidence suggests humans in endemic areas also have a greater capacity to mount a successful immunological memory response to this pathogen. Both of these factors give promise to the idea of a successfulP. vivaxvaccine. We review what is known about both the cellular and humoral immune response, including the role of cytokines, antibodies, immunoregulation, immune memory and immune dysfunction. Furthermore, we discuss where the future lies in terms of advancing our understanding of naturally acquired immunity toP. vivax, through the use of well-designed longitudinal epidemiological studies and modern tools available to immunologists.
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Hostetler JB, Sharma S, Bartholdson SJ, Wright GJ, Fairhurst RM, Rayner JC. A Library of Plasmodium vivax Recombinant Merozoite Proteins Reveals New Vaccine Candidates and Protein-Protein Interactions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004264. [PMID: 26701602 PMCID: PMC4689532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A vaccine targeting Plasmodium vivax will be an essential component of any comprehensive malaria elimination program, but major gaps in our understanding of P. vivax biology, including the protein-protein interactions that mediate merozoite invasion of reticulocytes, hinder the search for candidate antigens. Only one ligand-receptor interaction has been identified, that between P. vivax Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP) and the erythrocyte Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC), and strain-specific immune responses to PvDBP make it a complex vaccine target. To broaden the repertoire of potential P. vivax merozoite-stage vaccine targets, we exploited a recent breakthrough in expressing full-length ectodomains of Plasmodium proteins in a functionally-active form in mammalian cells and initiated a large-scale study of P. vivax merozoite proteins that are potentially involved in reticulocyte binding and invasion. Methodology/Principal Findings We selected 39 P. vivax proteins that are predicted to localize to the merozoite surface or invasive secretory organelles, some of which show homology to P. falciparum vaccine candidates. Of these, we were able to express 37 full-length protein ectodomains in a mammalian expression system, which has been previously used to express P. falciparum invasion ligands such as PfRH5. To establish whether the expressed proteins were correctly folded, we assessed whether they were recognized by antibodies from Cambodian patients with acute vivax malaria. IgG from these samples showed at least a two-fold change in reactivity over naïve controls in 27 of 34 antigens tested, and the majority showed heat-labile IgG immunoreactivity, suggesting the presence of conformation-sensitive epitopes and native tertiary protein structures. Using a method specifically designed to detect low-affinity, extracellular protein-protein interactions, we confirmed a predicted interaction between P. vivax 6-cysteine proteins P12 and P41, further suggesting that the proteins are natively folded and functional. This screen also identified two novel protein-protein interactions, between P12 and PVX_110945, and between MSP3.10 and MSP7.1, the latter of which was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance. Conclusions/Significance We produced a new library of recombinant full-length P. vivax ectodomains, established that the majority of them contain tertiary structure, and used them to identify predicted and novel protein-protein interactions. As well as identifying new interactions for further biological studies, this library will be useful in identifying P. vivax proteins with vaccine potential, and studying P. vivax malaria pathogenesis and immunity. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00663546 Plasmodium vivax causes malaria in millions of people each year, primarily in Southeast Asia and Central and South America. P. vivax has a dormant liver stage, which can lead to disease recurrence in infected individuals even in the absence of mosquito transmission. The development of vaccines that target blood-stage P. vivax parasites is therefore likely to be an essential component of any worldwide effort to eradicate malaria. Studying P. vivax is very difficult as this parasite grows poorly in the laboratory and invades only small numbers of young red blood cells in patients. Due to these and other challenges, only a handful of P. vivax proteins have been tested as potential vaccines. To generate more vaccine candidates, we expressed the entire ectodomains of 37 proteins that are predicted to be involved in P. vivax invasion of red blood cells. Antibodies from Cambodian patients with P. vivax malaria recognized heat-sensitive epitopes in the majority of these proteins, suggesting that they are natively folded. We also used the proteins to screen for both predicted and novel protein-protein interactions, confirming that the proteins are functional and further supporting their potential as vaccine candidates. As a new community resource, this P. vivax recombinant protein library will facilitate future studies of P. vivax pathogenesis and immunity, and greatly expands the list of candidate vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B. Hostetler
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sumana Sharma
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - S. Josefin Bartholdson
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin J. Wright
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rick M. Fairhurst
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RMF); (JCR)
| | - Julian C. Rayner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (RMF); (JCR)
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Changrob S, Leepiyasakulchai C, Tsuboi T, Cheng Y, Lim CS, Chootong P, Han ET. Naturally-acquired cellular immune response against Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 paralog antigen. Malar J 2015; 14:159. [PMID: 25889175 PMCID: PMC4403936 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0681-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 paralog (PvMSP1P) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein expressed on the merozoite surface. This molecule is a target of natural immunity, as high anti-MSP1P-19 antibody levels were detected during P. vivax infection and the antibody inhibited PvMSP1P-erythrocyte binding. Recombinant PvMSP1P antigen results in production of a significant Th1 cytokine response in immunized mice. The present study was performed to characterize natural cellular immunity against PvMSP1P-19 and PvDBP region II in acute and recovery P. vivax infection. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from acute and recovery P. vivax infection were obtained for lymphocyte proliferation assay upon PvMSP1P-19 and PvDBP region II antigen stimulation. The culture supernatant was examined for the presence of the cytokines IL-2, TNF, IFN-γ and IL-10 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To determine whether Th1 or Th2 have a memory response against PvMSP1P-19 and PvDBPII protein antigen, PBMCs from subjects who had recovered from P. vivax infection 8-10 weeks prior to the study were obtained for lymphocyte proliferation assay. Cytokine-producing cells were analysed by flow cytometry. RESULTS IL-2 was detected at high levels in lymphocyte cultures from acutely infected P. vivax patients upon PvMSP1P-19 stimulation. Analysis of the Th1 or Th2 memory response in PBMC cultures from subjects who had recovered from P. vivax infection showed significantly elevated levels of PvMSP1P-19 and PvDBPII-specific IFN-γ-producing cells (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the response of IFN-γ-producing cells in PvMSP1P stimulation was fourfold greater in recovered subjects than that in acute-infection patients. CD4(+) T cells were the major cell phenotype involved in the response to PvMSP1P-19 and PvDBPII antigen. CONCLUSIONS PvMSP1P-19 strongly induces a specific cellular immune response for protection against P. vivax compared with PvDBPII as the antigen induces activation of IFN-γ-producing effector cells following natural P. vivax exposure. Upon stimulation, PvMSP1P-19 has the potential to activate the recall response of Th1 effector memory cells that play a role in killing the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siriruk Changrob
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Chaniya Leepiyasakulchai
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan.
| | - Yang Cheng
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea. .,Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
| | - Chae Seung Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, 97 Guro Dong Gil, Guro Gu, Seoul, 152-703, Republic of Korea.
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea.
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Rahul CN, Shiva Krishna K, Meera M, Phadke S, Rajesh V. Plasmodium vivax: N-terminal diversity in the blood stage SERA genes from Indian isolates. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2015; 55:30-5. [PMID: 25976464 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2015.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide malaria risk due to Plasmodium vivax makes development of vaccine against P. vivax, a high priority. Serine Repeat Antigen of P. vivax (PvSERA) is a multigene family of blood stage proteins with 12 homologues. Sequence diversity studies are important for understanding them as potential vaccine candidates. No information on N-terminal diversity of these genes is available in literature. In this paper, we evaluate the genetic polymorphism of N-terminal regions of the highly expressed member PvSERA4 and PvSERA5 genes from Indian field isolates. Our results show that PvSERA4 has deletions and insertions in Glutamine rich tetrameric repeat units contributing to its diversity. PvSERA5 also exhibits high genetic diversity with non-synonymous substitutions leading to identification of novel haplotypes from India. Our first report helps in elucidating the allelic variants of PvSERA genes in this region and contributes to evaluating their efficacy as vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Rahul
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - K Shiva Krishna
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - M Meera
- Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Tropical and Communicable Diseases, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | | | - Vidya Rajesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Andhra Pradesh, India.
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Mo J, Li J. In silico analysis for structure, function and T-cell epitopes of a hypothetical conserved (HP-C) protein coded by PVX_092425 in Plasmodium vivax. Pathog Glob Health 2015; 109:61-7. [PMID: 25706099 DOI: 10.1179/2047773215y.0000000005] [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] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Plasmodium spp. merozoite glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) considered as protective immunogen in novel vaccines against malaria. To analyze the structure and function of a hypothetical conserved (HP-C) GPI-AP coded by gene PVX_092425 from Plasmodium vivax, and find its potential T-cell epitopes for further vivax malaria vaccine study. METHODS The structure, function and T-cell epitopes of the HP-C protein named Pvx_092425 were analyzed and predicted by online and offline bioinformatics software. RESULTS The bioinformatics data showed that the Pvx_092425 is an 830 amino acid (AA) long polypeptide encoded by five exons gene PVX_092425.It contains a pectin lyase-like superfamily, an AA repeats region, a cys-rich region and a transmembrane domain (TM) in C-terminal region. The alignment analysis drew it has a unique AA repeats region among Plasmodium spp. It was located in the cytoplasm, secretory system or cellular nucleus of P. vivax merozoite. For the sequence, the fragment of I823-V829 inserts in the interior side of the membrane, and M1--A812 belongs to the cytoplasmic tail. It has seven protein-protein binding sites. The peptides with the best predicted binding affinities were human leucocyte antigen (HLA) HLA-A*0203, HLA-DRB1*0101 and HLA- DRB1*0701.Among these predicted peptides, 582FLWDKALFD590 epitope interacted with HLA-DRB1*0101 allele showed best binding affinity compared to others. Structural analysis explained that the epitope fits well into the epitope-binding groove of HLA-DRB1*0101. CONCLUSIONS It proposes that the Pvx_092425 plays a key role during erythrocyte stage and generates information that is useful for development of blood-stage vaccine to block the merozoites invasion.
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Sheikh IH, Kaushal DC, Singh V, Kumar N, Chandra D, Kaushal NA. Cloning, overexpression and characterization of soluble 42kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium vivax. Protein Expr Purif 2014; 103:64-74. [PMID: 25195175 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2014.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax represents the second most prevalent malaria species of major public health importance and the global eradication of malaria requires the development of vaccines to prevent infection. The lack of in vitro culture and a suitable animal model for P. vivax malaria are the major problems for the delay in developing a functional vivax vaccine. A number of antigens have been identified for P. vivax as potential malaria vaccine candidates and among these 42kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-142) is one of most promising antigen of asexual blood stage. In most of the earlier studies, the MSP-142 of malaria parasites was expressed as insoluble protein in inclusion bodies and it is difficult to get purified protein in conformation form. In the present study, we have cloned, overexpressed and characterized the 42kDa fragment of P. vivax MSP-1 as soluble protein in Escherichiacoli. The 42kDa gene fragment of P. vivax MSP-1 was PCR amplified using specific primers, sequenced and subcloned into pTriEx-4 expression vector. The optimum expression of recombinant P. vivax protein was obtained in SOC growth medium by inducing with 0.2mM IPTG at 37°C for 4h. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed a fusion protein of 55kDa and about 80% was present in soluble form. The purified P. vivax MSP-142 was characterized and found to be correctly folded and in conformation form as evident by CD spectroscopy, presence of 1 free -SH group and the reactivity with reduction sensitive conformational monoclonals against P. vivax MSP-142.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inayat Hussain Sheikh
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Department of Biochemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow, India
| | - Deep C Kaushal
- Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226010, India
| | - Vandana Singh
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Niraj Kumar
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Deepak Chandra
- Department of Biochemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow, India
| | - Nuzhat A Kaushal
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India.
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Requena P, Campo JJ, Umbers AJ, Ome M, Wangnapi R, Barrios D, Robinson LJ, Samol P, Rosanas-Urgell A, Ubillos I, Mayor A, López M, de Lazzari E, Arévalo-Herrera M, Fernández-Becerra C, del Portillo H, Chitnis CE, Siba PM, Bardají A, Mueller I, Rogerson S, Menéndez C, Dobaño C. Pregnancy and Malaria Exposure Are Associated with Changes in the B Cell Pool and in Plasma Eotaxin Levels. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:2971-83. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Arévalo-Herrera M, Forero-Peña DA, Rubiano K, Gómez-Hincapie J, Martínez NL, Lopez-Perez M, Castellanos A, Céspedes N, Palacios R, Oñate JM, Herrera S. Plasmodium vivax sporozoite challenge in malaria-naïve and semi-immune Colombian volunteers. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99754. [PMID: 24963662 PMCID: PMC4070897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Significant progress has been recently achieved in the development of Plasmodium vivax challenge infections in humans, which are essential for vaccine and drug testing. With the goal of accelerating clinical development of malaria vaccines, the outcome of infections experimentally induced in naïve and semi-immune volunteers by infected mosquito bites was compared. Methods Seven malaria-naïve and nine semi-immune Colombian adults (n = 16) were subjected to the bites of 2–4 P. vivax sporozoite-infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Parasitemia levels, malaria clinical manifestations, and immune responses were assessed and compared. Results All volunteers developed infections as confirmed by microscopy and RT-qPCR. No significant difference in the pre-patent period (mean 12.5 and 12.8 days for malaria-naïve and malaria-exposed, respectively) was observed but naïve volunteers developed classical malaria signs and symptoms, while semi-immune volunteers displayed minor or no symptoms at the day of diagnosis. A malaria-naïve volunteer developed a transient low submicroscopic parasitemia that cured spontaneously. Infection induced an increase in specific antibody levels in both groups. Conclusion Sporozoite infectious challenge was safe and reproducible in semi-immune and naïve volunteers. This model will provide information for simultaneous comparison of the protective efficacy of P. vivax vaccines in naïve and semi-immune volunteers under controlled conditions and would accelerate P. vivax vaccine development. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT01585077
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Arévalo-Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- School of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | - David A. Forero-Peña
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Kelly Rubiano
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - José Gómez-Hincapie
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Nora L. Martínez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Mary Lopez-Perez
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Angélica Castellanos
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | - Nora Céspedes
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- School of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | - Sócrates Herrera
- Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Center (MVDC), Cali, Colombia
- Caucaseco Scientific Research Center (CSRC), Cali, Colombia
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Cheng Y, Wang B, Sattabongkot J, Lim CS, Tsuboi T, Han ET. Immunogenicity and antigenicity of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 10. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2559-68. [PMID: 24764159 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3907-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Among the proteins involved in the invasion by merozoite, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are suggested as potential vaccine candidates because of their localization to apical organelles and the surface; these candidates are predicted to play essential roles during invasion. As a GPI-AP, Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (PvMSP-10) induces high antibody titers. However, such high antibody titers have shown no protective efficacy for animals challenged with P. vivax parasites in a previous study. To adequately evaluate the immunogenicity and further characterize PvMSP-10 in order to understand its vaccine potential, we assessed its immunogenicity by immunizing BALB/c mice with cell-free expressed recombinant PvMSP-10 protein. The antigenicity of MSP-10 was analyzed, and we found 42% sensitivity and 95% specificity using serum samples from P. vivax-infected Korean patients. The IgG1 and IgG3 were the predominant immunoreactive antibodies against PvMSP-10 in vivax patient sera, and IgG1 and IgG3 and Th1-type cytokines were predominantly secreted in PvMSP-10-immunized mice. We conclude that the immunogenicity and antigenicity of MSP-10 may serve as a potential vaccine against vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cheng
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Hyoja2-dong, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-701, Republic of Korea
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Cheong FW, Fong MY, Lau YL, Mahmud R. Immunogenicity of bacterial-expressed recombinant Plasmodium knowlesi merozoite surface protein-142 (MSP-142). Malar J 2013; 12:454. [PMID: 24354660 PMCID: PMC3878241 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium knowlesi is the fifth Plasmodium species that can infect humans. The Plasmodium merozoite surface protein-142 (MSP-142) is a potential candidate for malaria vaccine. However, limited studies have focused on P. knowlesi MSP-142. Methods A ~42 kDa recombinant P. knowlesi MSP-142 (pkMSP-142) was expressed using an Escherichia coli system. The purified pkMSP-142 was evaluated with malaria and non-malaria human patient sera (n = 189) using Western blots and ELISA. The immunogenicity of pkMSP-142 was evaluated in mouse model. Results The purified pkMSP-142 had a sensitivity of 91.0% for detection of human malaria in both assays. Specificity was 97.5 and 92.6% in Western blots and ELISA, respectively. Levels of cytokine interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10 significantly increased in pkMSP-142-immunized mice as compared to the negative control mice. pkMSP-142-raised antibody had high endpoint titres, and the IgG isotype distribution was IgG1 > IgG2b > IgG3 > IgG2a. Conclusions pkMSP-142 was highly immunogenic and able to detect human malaria. Hence, pkMSP-142 would be a useful candidate for malaria vaccine development and seroprevalence studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Capobianco MP, Cassiano GC, Furini AAC, Storti-Melo LM, Pavarino EC, Galbiatti ALS, Fraga VD, Conceicao LM, Couto VSC, Couto AARA, Machado RLD. No evidence for association of the CD40, CD40L and BLYS polymorphisms, B-cell co-stimulatory molecules, with Brazilian endemic Plasmodium vivax malaria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2013; 107:377-83. [DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trt031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Mueller I, Galinski MR, Tsuboi T, Arevalo-Herrera M, Collins WE, King CL. Natural acquisition of immunity to Plasmodium vivax: epidemiological observations and potential targets. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2013; 81:77-131. [PMID: 23384622 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407826-0.00003-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Population studies show that individuals acquire immunity to Plasmodium vivax more quickly than Plasmodium falciparum irrespective of overall transmission intensity, resulting in the peak burden of P. vivax malaria in younger age groups. Similarly, actively induced P. vivax infections in malaria therapy patients resulted in faster and generally more strain-transcending acquisition of immunity than P. falciparum infections. The mechanisms behind the more rapid acquisition of immunity to P. vivax are poorly understood. Natural acquired immune responses to P. vivax target both pre-erythrocytic and blood-stage antigens and include humoral and cellular components. To date, only a few studies have investigated the association of these immune responses with protection, with most studies focussing on a few merozoite antigens (such as the Pv Duffy binding protein (PvDBP), the Pv reticulocyte binding proteins (PvRBPs), or the Pv merozoite surface proteins (PvMSP1, 3 & 9)) or the circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP). Naturally acquired transmission-blocking (TB) immunity (TBI) was also found in several populations. Although limited, these data support the premise that developing a multi-stage P. vivax vaccine may be feasible and is worth pursuing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Mueller
- Walter + Eliza Hall Institute, Infection & Immunity Division, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Cheong FW, Lau YL, Fong MY, Mahmud R. Evaluation of recombinant Plasmodium knowlesi merozoite surface protein-1(33) for detection of human malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 88:835-40. [PMID: 23509118 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi is now known as the fifth Plasmodium species that can cause human malaria. The Plasmodium merozoite surface protein (MSP) has been reported to be potential target for vaccination and diagnosis of malaria. MSP-1(33) has been shown to be immunogenic and its T cell epitopes could mediate cellular immune protection. However, limited studies have focused on P. knowlesi MSP-133. In this study, an approximately 28-kDa recombinant P. knowlesi MSP-1(33) (pkMSP-1(33)) was expressed by using an Escherichia coli system. The purified pkMSP-1(33) reacted with serum samples of patients infected with P. knowlesi (31 of 31, 100%) and non-P. knowlesi malaria (27 of 28, 96.43%) by Western blotting. The pkMSP-1(33) also reacted with P. knowlesi (25 of 31, 80.65%) and non-P. knowlesi malaria sera (20 of 28, 71.43%) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Most of the non-malarial infection (49 of 52 in by Western blotting and 46 of 52 in the ELISA) and healthy donor serum samples (65 of 65 by Western blotting and ELISA) did not react with recombinant pkMSP-1(33).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wen Cheong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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The Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog is a novel erythrocyte-binding ligand of P. vivax. Infect Immun 2013; 81:1585-95. [PMID: 23460511 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01117-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Merozoite surface protein 1 of Plasmodium vivax (PvMSP1), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein (GPI-AP), is a malaria vaccine candidate for P. vivax. The paralog of PvMSP1, named P. vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (PvMSP1P; PlasmoDB PVX_099975), was recently identified and predicted as a GPI-AP. The similarities in genetic structural characteristics between PvMSP1 and PvMSP1P (e.g., size of open reading frames, two epidermal growth factor-like domains, and GPI anchor motif in the C terminus) led us to study this protein. In the present study, different regions of the PvMSP1P protein, demarcated based on the processed forms of PvMSP1, were expressed successfully as recombinant proteins [i.e., 83 (A, B, and C), 30, 38, 42, 33, and 19 fragments]. We studied the naturally acquired immune response against each fragment of recombinant PvMSP1P and the potential ability of each fragment to bind erythrocytes. The N-terminal fragment (83A) and two C-terminal fragments (33 and 19) reacted strongly with sera from P. vivax-infected patients, with 50 to 68% sensitivity and 95 to 96% specificity, respectively. Due to colocalization of PvMSP1P with PvMSP1, we supposed that PvMSP1P plays a similar role as PvMSP1 during erythrocyte invasion. An in vitro cytoadherence assay showed that PvMSP1P, especially the 19-kDa C-terminal region, could bind to erythrocytes. We also found that human sera from populations naturally exposed to vivax malaria and antisera obtained by immunization using the recombinant molecule PvMSP1P-19 inhibited in vitro binding of human erythrocytes to PvMSP1P-19. These results provide further evidence that the PvMSP1P might be an essential parasite adhesion molecule in the P. vivax merozoite and is a potential vaccine candidate against P. vivax.
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Antigenicity and immunogenicity of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-3. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56061. [PMID: 23457498 PMCID: PMC3573074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent clinical trial in African children demonstrated the potential utility of merozoite surface protein (MSP)-3 as a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The present study evaluated the use of Plasmodium vivax MSP-3 (PvMSP-3) as a target antigen in vaccine formulations against malaria caused by P. vivax. Recombinant proteins representing MSP-3α and MSP-3β of P. vivax were expressed as soluble histidine-tagged bacterial fusions. Antigenicity during natural infection was evaluated by detecting specific antibodies using sera from individuals living in endemic areas of Brazil. A large proportion of infected individuals presented IgG antibodies to PvMSP-3α (68.2%) and at least 1 recombinant protein representing PvMSP-3β (79.1%). In spite of the large responder frequency, reactivity to both antigens was significantly lower than was observed for the immunodominant epitope present on the 19-kDa C-terminal region of PvMSP-1. Immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins was studied in mice in the absence or presence of different adjuvant formulations. PvMSP-3β, but not PvMSP-3α, induced a TLR4-independent humoral immune response in the absence of any adjuvant formulation. The immunogenicity of the recombinant antigens were also tested in formulations containing different adjuvants (Alum, Salmonella enterica flagellin, CpG, Quil A,TiterMax® and incomplete Freunds adjuvant) and combinations of two adjuvants (Alum plus flagellin, and CpG plus flagellin). Recombinant PvMSP-3α and PvMSP-3β elicited higher antibody titers capable of recognizing P. vivax-infected erythrocytes harvested from malaria patients. Our results confirm that P. vivax MSP-3 antigens are immunogenic during natural infection, and the corresponding recombinant proteins may be useful in elucidating their vaccine potential.
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de Carvalho GB, de Carvalho GB. Duffy Blood Group System and the malaria adaptation process in humans. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter 2013; 33:55-64. [PMID: 23284245 PMCID: PMC3521437 DOI: 10.5581/1516-8484.20110016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Accepted: 02/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is an acute infectious disease caused by the protozoa of the genus
Plasmodium. The antigens of the Duffy Blood Group System, in addition to
incompatibilities in transfusions and hemolytic disease of the newborn, are of great
interest in medicine due to their association with the invasion of red blood cells by
the parasite Plasmodium vivax. For invasions to occur an interaction between the
parasites and antigens of the Duffy Blood Group System is necessary. In Caucasians
six antigens are produced by the Duffy locus (Fya, Fyb, F3, F4, F5 and F6). It has
been observed that Fy(a-b-) individuals are resistant to Plasmodium knowlesi and P.
vivax infection, because the invasion requires at least one of these antigens. The P.
vivax Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP) is functionally important in the invasion process
of these parasites in Duffy / DARC positive humans. The proteins or fractions may be
considered, therefore, an important and potential inoculum to be used in immunization
against malaria.
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Pv12, a 6-Cys antigen of Plasmodium vivax, is localized to the merozoite rhoptry. Parasitol Int 2012; 61:443-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2012] [Revised: 02/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Storti-Melo LM, da Costa DR, Souza-Neiras WC, Cassiano GC, Couto VSCD, Póvoa MM, Soares IDS, de Carvalho LH, Arevalo-Herrera M, Herrera S, Rossit ARB, Cordeiro JA, de Mattos LC, Machado RLD. Influence of HLA-DRB-1 alleles on the production of antibody against CSP, MSP-1, AMA-1, and DBP in Brazilian individuals naturally infected with Plasmodium vivax. Acta Trop 2012; 121:152-5. [PMID: 22107686 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2011.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2010] [Revised: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the influence of allelic frequency of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) -DRB1 on the acquisition of antibody response against malaria sporozoite and merozoite peptides in patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria acquired in endemic areas of Brazil. IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against four peptides of circumsporozoite protein (CSP) (amino, carboxyl, and VK210 and VK247 repeats) and peptides of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1), apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1), and Duffy-binding protein (DBP). We found an association between HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR5 alleles and lack of antibody response to CSP amino terminal, as well as an association between HLA-DR3 and the highest antibody response to MSP1 (Pv200L). In conclusion, we suggest a potential regulatory role of the HLA-DRB1 alleles in the production of antibodies to a conserved region of P. vivax CSP and MSP1 in Brazilian population exposed to malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciane Moreno Storti-Melo
- Departamento de Biociências, Campus Universitário Prof. Alberto Carvalho, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil.
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Valencia SH, Rodríguez DC, Acero DL, Ocampo V, Arévalo-Herrera M. Platform for Plasmodium vivax vaccine discovery and development. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106 Suppl 1:179-92. [PMID: 21881773 PMCID: PMC4832982 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000900023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the American continent. It generates a global burden of 80-100 million cases annually and represents a tremendous public health problem, particularly in the American and Asian continents. A malaria vaccine would be considered the most cost-effective measure against this vector-borne disease and it would contribute to a reduction in malaria cases and to eventual eradication. Although significant progress has been achieved in the search for Plasmodium falciparum antigens that could be used in a vaccine, limited progress has been made in the search for P. vivax components that might be eligible for vaccine development. This is primarily due to the lack of in vitro cultures to serve as an antigen source and to inadequate funding. While the most advanced P. falciparum vaccine candidate is currently being tested in Phase III trials in Africa, the most advanced P. vivax candidates have only advanced to Phase I trials. Herein, we describe the overall strategy and progress in P. vivax vaccine research, from antigen discovery to preclinical and clinical development and we discuss the regional potential of Latin America to develop a comprehensive platform for vaccine development.
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Valderrama-Aguirre A, Zúñiga-Soto E, Mariño-Ramírez L, Moreno LÁ, Escalante AA, Arévalo-Herrera M, Herrera S. Polymorphism of the Pv200L fragment of merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium vivax in clinical isolates from the Pacific coast of Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:64-70. [PMID: 21292880 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.09-0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) is a polymorphic malaria protein with functional domains involved in parasite erythrocyte interaction. Plasmodium vivax MSP-1 has a fragment (Pv200L) that has been identified as a potential subunit vaccine because it is highly immunogenic and induces partial protection against infectious parasite challenge in vaccinated monkeys. To determine the extent of genetic polymorphism and its effect on the translated protein, we sequenced the Pv200L coding region from isolates of 26 P. vivax-infected patients in a malaria-endemic area of Colombia. The extent of nucleotide diversity (π) in these isolates (0.061 ± 0.004) was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.001) than that observed in Thai and Brazilian isolates; 0.083 ± 0.006 and 0.090 ± 0.006, respectively. We found two new alleles and several previously unidentified dimorphic substitutions and significant size polymorphism. The presence of highly conserved blocks in this fragment has important implications for the development of Pv200L as a subunit vaccine candidate.
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Storti-Melo LM, Souza-Neiras WC, Cassiano GC, Taveira LC, Cordeiro AJ, Couto VSCA, Póvoa MM, Cunha MG, Echeverry DM, Rossit ARB, Arévalo-Herrera M, Herrera S, Machado RLD. Evaluation of the naturally acquired antibody immune response to the Pv200L N-terminal fragment of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 in four areas of the Amazon Region of Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:58-63. [PMID: 21292879 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequency and levels of IgG antibodies to an N-terminal fragment of the Plasmodium vivax MSP-1 (Pv200L) protein, in individuals naturally exposed to malaria in four endemic areas of Brazil, were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma samples of 261 P. vivax-infected individuals from communities of Macapá, Novo Repartimento, Porto Velho, and Plácido de Castro in the Amazonian region with different malaria transmission intensities. A high mean number of studied individuals (89.3%) presented with antibodies to the Pv200L that correlated with the number of previous malaria infections; there were significant differences in the frequency of the responders (71.9-98.7) and in the antibody levels (1:200-1:51,200) among the four study areas. Results of this study provide evidence that Pv200L is a naturally immunogenic fragment of the PvMSP-1 and is associated with the degree of exposure to parasites. The fine specificity of antibodies to Pv200L is currently being assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciane M Storti-Melo
- University of São Paulo State Júlio Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil.
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Herrera S, Fernández OL, Vera O, Cárdenas W, Ramírez O, Palacios R, Chen-Mok M, Corradin G, Arévalo-Herrera M. Phase I safety and immunogenicity trial of Plasmodium vivax CS derived long synthetic peptides adjuvanted with montanide ISA 720 or montanide ISA 51. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:12-20. [PMID: 21292873 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.09-0516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We assessed the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a mixture of three synthetic peptides derived from the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein formulated in Montanide ISA 720 or Montanide ISA 51. Forty healthy malaria-naive volunteers were allocated to five experimental groups (A-E): four groups (A-D) were immunized intramuscularly with 50 and 100 μg/dose injections of a mixture of N, R, and C peptides formulated in the two different adjuvants at 0, 2, and 4 months and one group was administered placebo. Vaccines were immunogenic, safe, well tolerated, and no serious adverse events related to the vaccine occurred. Seroconversion occurred in > 90% of the vaccines and antibodies recognized the sporozoite protein on immunofluorescent antibody test. Vaccines in Montanide ISA 51 showed a higher sporozoite protein recognition and interferon production. Results encourage further testing of the vaccine protective efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sócrates Herrera
- Instituto de Inmunología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
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Parekh FK, Moorthy VS. Plasmodium vivax vaccine research: insights from Colombian studies. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:1-3. [PMID: 21292871 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.09-0781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Maestre A, Muskus C, Duque V, Agudelo O, Liu P, Takagi A, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Sim KL, Hoffman SL, Corradin G, Velez ID, Wang R. Acquired antibody responses against Plasmodium vivax infection vary with host genotype for duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC). PLoS One 2010; 5:e11437. [PMID: 20664684 PMCID: PMC2896388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2009] [Accepted: 04/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Polymorphism of the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) is associated with susceptibility to and the severity of Plasmodium vivax malaria in humans. P. vivax uses DARC to invade erythrocytes. Individuals lacking DARC are ‘resistant’ to P. vivax erythrocytic infection. However, susceptibility to P. vivax in DARC+ individuals is reported to vary between specific DARC genotypes. We hypothesized that the natural acquisition of antibodies to P. vivax blood stages may vary with the host genotype and the level of DARC expression. Furthermore, high parasitemia has been reported to effect the acquisition of immunity against pre-erythrocytic parasites. We investigated the correlation between host DARC genotypes and the frequency and magnitude of antibodies against P. vivax erythrocytic stage antigens. Methodology/Findings We assessed the frequencies and magnitudes of antibody responses against P. vivax and P. falciparum sporozoite and erythrocytic antigens in Colombian donors from malaria-endemic regions. The frequency and level of naturally-acquired antibodies against the P. vivax erythrocytic antigens merozoite surface protein 1 (PvMSP1) and Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) varied with the host DARC genotypes. Donors with one negative allele (FY*B/FY*Bnull and FY*A/FY*Bnull) were more likely to have anti-PvMSP1 and anti-PvDBP antibodies than those with two positive alleles (FY*B/FY*B and FY*A/FY*B). The lower IgG3 and IgG1 components of the total IgG response may account for the decreased responses to P. vivax erythrocytic antigens with FY*A/FY*B and FY*B/FY*B genotypes. No such association was detected with P. falciparum erythrocytic antigens, which does not use DARC for erythrocyte invasion. Conclusion/Significance Individuals with higher DARC expression, which is associated with higher susceptibility to P. vivax infection, exhibited low frequencies and magnitudes of P. vivax blood-stage specific antibody responses. This may indicate that one of the primary mechanisms by which P. vivax evades host immunity is through DARC indirectly down-regulating humoral responses against erythrocytic invasion and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Maestre
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Muskus
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Victoria Duque
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Olga Agudelo
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Pu Liu
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Akihide Takagi
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - John H. Adams
- University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kim Lee Sim
- Protein Potential LLC., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | - Ivan D. Velez
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ruobing Wang
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Souza-Neiras WC, Storti-Melo LM, Cassiano GC, Couto VSCA, Couto AARA, Soares IS, Carvalho LH, Cunha MG, Póvoa MM, Herrera S, Herrera MA, Rossit ARM, Carareto CMA, Machado RLD. Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite genotypes: a limited variation or new subspecies with major biological consequences? Malar J 2010; 9:178. [PMID: 20573199 PMCID: PMC2908638 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 06/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite variants have been identified in several geographical areas. The real implication of the genetic variation in this region of the P. vivax genome has been questioned for a long time. Although previous studies have observed significant association between VK210 and the Duffy blood group, we present here that evidences of this variation are limited to the CSP central portion. Methods The phylogenetic analyses were accomplished starting from the amplification of conserved domains of 18 SSU RNAr and Cyt B. The antibodies responses against the CSP peptides, MSP-1, AMA-1 and DBP were detected by ELISA, in plasma samples of individuals infected with two P. vivax CS genotypes: VK210 and P. vivax-like. Results These analyses of the two markers demonstrate high similarity among the P. vivax CS genotypes and surprisingly showed diversity equal to zero between VK210 and P. vivax-like, positioning these CS genotypes in the same clade. A high frequency IgG antibody against the N- and C-terminal regions of the P. vivax CSP was found as compared to the immune response to the R- and V- repetitive regions (p = 0.0005, Fisher's Exact test). This difference was more pronounced when the P. vivax-like variant was present in the infection (p = 0.003, Fisher's Exact test). A high frequency of antibody response against MSP-1 and AMA-1 peptides was observed for all P. vivax CS genotypes in comparison to the same frequency for DBP. Conclusions This results target that the differences among the P. vivax CS variants are restrict to the central repeated region of the protein, mostly nucleotide variation with important serological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanessa C Souza-Neiras
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil.
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Sawai H, Otani H, Arisue N, Palacpac N, de Oliveira Martins L, Pathirana S, Handunnetti S, Kawai S, Kishino H, Horii T, Tanabe K. Lineage-specific positive selection at the merozoite surface protein 1 (msp1) locus of Plasmodium vivax and related simian malaria parasites. BMC Evol Biol 2010; 10:52. [PMID: 20167126 PMCID: PMC2832629 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-10-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2009] [Accepted: 02/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The 200 kDa merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) of malaria parasites, a strong vaccine candidate, plays a key role during erythrocyte invasion and is a target of host protective immune response. Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread human malaria parasite, is closely related to parasites that infect Asian Old World monkeys, and has been considered to have become a parasite of man by host switch from a macaque malaria parasite. Several Asian monkey parasites have a range of natural hosts. The same parasite species shows different disease manifestations among host species. This suggests that host immune responses to P. vivax-related malaria parasites greatly differ among host species (albeit other factors). It is thus tempting to invoke that a major immune target parasite protein such as MSP-1 underwent unique evolution, depending on parasite species that exhibit difference in host range and host specificity. Results We performed comparative phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of the gene encoding MSP-1 (msp1) from P. vivax and nine P. vivax-related simian malaria parasites. The inferred phylogenetic tree of msp1 significantly differed from that of the mitochondrial genome, with a striking displacement of P. vivax from a position close to P. cynomolgi in the mitochondrial genome tree to an outlier of Asian monkey parasites. Importantly, positive selection was inferred for two ancestral branches, one leading to P. inui and P. hylobati and the other leading to P. vivax, P. fieldi and P. cynomolgi. This ancestral positive selection was estimated to have occurred three to six million years ago, coinciding with the period of radiation of Asian macaques. Comparisons of msp1 polymorphisms between P. vivax, P. inui and P. cynomolgi revealed that while some positively selected amino acid sites or regions are shared by these parasites, amino acid changes greatly differ, suggesting that diversifying selection is acting species-specifically on msp1. Conclusions The present results indicate that the msp1 locus of P. vivax and related parasite species has lineage-specific unique evolutionary history with positive selection. P. vivax and related simian malaria parasites offer an interesting system toward understanding host species-dependent adaptive evolution of immune-target surface antigen genes such as msp1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromi Sawai
- Laboratory of Malariology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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