Restricted valency (NPNA)_n repeats and junctional epitope-based circumsporozoite protein vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: The Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum contains an N-terminal region, a conserved Region I (RI), a junctional region, 25-42 copies of major (NPNA) and minor repeats followed by a C-terminal domain. The recently approved malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 contains NPNAx19 and the C-terminal region of CSP. The efficacy of RTS,S against natural infection is low and short-lived, and mapping epitopes of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies may allow for rational improvement of CSP vaccines. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) was used here to display the junctional epitope (mAb CIS43), Region I (mAb 5D5), NPNAx5, and NPNAx20 epitope of CSP (mAbs 317 and 580). Protection studies in mice revealed that Region I did not elicit protective antibodies, and polyclonal antibodies against the junctional

SUBMITTER: Langowski MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8795123 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature