Needle-free, spirulina-produced Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite vaccination provides sterile protection against pre-erythrocytic malaria in mice.

ABSTRACT: Antibodies against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) can block hepatocyte infection by sporozoites and protect against malaria. Needle-free vaccination strategies are desirable, yet most PfCSP-targeted vaccines like RTS,S require needle-based administration. Here, we evaluated the edible algae, Arthrospira platensis (commonly called 'spirulina') as a malaria vaccine platform. Spirulina were genetically engineered to express virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the woodchuck hepatitis B core capsid protein (WHcAg) displaying a (NANP)₁₅ PfCSP antigen on its surface. PfCSP-spirulina administered to mice intranasally followed by oral PfCSP-spirulina boosters resulted in a strong, systemic anti-PfCSP immune response that was protective against subcutaneo

SUBMITTER: Saveria T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9532447 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature