Leveraging Immunofocusing and Virus-like Particle Display to Enhance Antibody Responses to the Malaria Blood-Stage Invasion Complex Antigen PfCyRPA.

ABSTRACT: A vaccine protecting against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is urgently needed. The blood-stage invasion complex PCRCR consists of the five malarial proteins PfPTRAMP, PfCSS, PfRipr, PfCyRPA, and PfRH5. As each subcomponent represents an essential and highly conserved antigen, PCRCR is considered a promising vaccine target. Furthermore, antibodies targeting the complex can block red blood cell invasion by the malaria parasite. However, extremely high titers of neutralizing antibodies are needed for this invasion-blocking effect, and a vaccine based on soluble PfRH5 protein has proven insufficient in inducing a protective response in a clinical trial. Here, we present the results of two approaches to increase the neutralizing antibody titers: (A) immunofocusing and (B) incre

SUBMITTER: Bjornsson KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11359962 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature