Probing novel epitopes on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein for vaccine development.

ABSTRACT: RTS,S and R21 are the only vaccines recommended by the WHO to protect children from Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) clinical malaria. Both vaccines target the Pf sporozoite surface protein circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Recent studies showed that human antibodies neutralize Pf sporozoites most efficiently when simultaneously binding to the PfCSP NANP repeat and the NPDP junction domain. However, neither RTS,S nor R21 targets this junction domain. To test the potential of the NPDP junction domain and other sites of PfCSP as innovative vaccine targets, we developed multiple vaccine candidates based on cucumber mosaic virus-like particles (CuMV_TT-VLPs). These candidates vary in several aspects: the number of targeted NANP repeats, the presence or absence of the junction domain, the cle

SUBMITTER: Krenger PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11574195 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature