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Ntumngia FB, Kolli SK, Annamalai Subramani P, Barnes SJ, Nicholas J, Ogbondah MM, Barnes BB, Salinas ND, Thawornpan P, Tolia NH, Chootong P, Adams JH. Naturally acquired antibodies against Plasmodium vivax pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine antigens inhibit sporozoite invasion of human hepatocytes in vitro. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1260. [PMID: 38218737 PMCID: PMC10787766 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In Plasmodium vivax, the most studied vaccine antigens are aimed at blocking merozoite invasion of erythrocytes and disease development. Very few studies have evaluated pre-erythrocytic (PE) stage antigens. The P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP), is considered the leading PE vaccine candidate, but immunity to CSP is short-lived and variant specific. Thus, there is a need to identify other potential candidates to partner with CSP in a multivalent vaccine to protect against infection and disease. We hypothesize that sporozoite antigens important for host cell infection are considered potential targets. In this study, we evaluated the magnitude and quality of naturally acquired antibody responses to four P. vivax PE antigens: sporozoite surface protein 3 (SSP3), sporozoite protein essential for traversal 1 (SPECT1), cell traversal protein of ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS) and CSP in plasma of P. vivax infected patients from Thailand. Naturally acquired antibodies to these antigens were prevalent in the study subjects, but with significant differences in magnitude of IgG antibody responses. About 80% of study participants had antibodies to all four antigens and only 2% did not have antibodies to any of the antigens. Most importantly, these antibodies inhibited sporozoite infection of hepatocytes in vitro. Significant variations in magnitude of antigen-specific inhibitory antibody responses were observed with individual samples. The highest inhibitory responses were observed with anti-CelTOS antibodies, followed by anti-SPECT1, SSP3 and CSP antibodies respectively. These data highlight the vaccine potential of these antigens in protecting against hepatocyte infection and the need for a multi-valent pre-erythrocytic vaccine to prevent liver stage development of P. vivax sporozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Babila Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Surendra Kumar Kolli
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Samantha J Barnes
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Justin Nicholas
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Madison M Ogbondah
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Brian B Barnes
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Nichole D Salinas
- Host Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pongsakorn Thawornpan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Host Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Thawornpan P, Nicholas J, Malee C, Kochayoo P, Wangriatisak K, Tianpothong P, Ntumngia FB, J. Barnes S, H. Adams J, Chootong P. Longitudinal analysis of antibody responses to Plasmodium vivax sporozoite antigens following natural infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011907. [PMID: 38277340 PMCID: PMC10817200 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND P. vivax malaria is a major global health burden hindering social and economic development throughout many tropical and sub-tropical countries. Pre-erythrocytic (PE) vaccines emerge as an attractive approach for the control and elimination of malaria infection. Therefore, evaluating the magnitude, longevity and prevalence of naturally acquired IgG antibody responses against PE candidate antigens is useful for vaccine design. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The antigenicity of five recombinant PE antigens (PvCSP-VK210, PvSSP3, PvM2-MAEBL, PvCelTOS and PvSPECT1) was evaluated in plasma samples from individuals residing in low transmission areas in Thailand (Ranong and Chumphon Provinces). The samples were collected at the time of acute vivax malaria and 90, 270 and 360 days later. The prevalence, magnitude and longevity of total IgG and IgG subclasses were determined for each antigen using the longitudinal data. Our results showed that seropositivity of all tested PE antigens was detected during infection in at least some subjects; anti-PvCSP-VK210 and anti-PvCelTOS antibodies were the most frequent. Titers of these antibodies declined during the year of follow up, but notably seropositivity persisted. Among seropositive subjects at post-infection, high number of subjects possessed antibodies against PvCSP-VK210. Anti-PvSSP3 antibody responses had the longest half-life. IgG subclass profiling showed that the predominant subclasses were IgG1 and IgG3 (cytophilic antibodies), tending to remain detectable for at least 360 days after infection. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The present study demonstrated the magnitude and longevity of serological responses to multiple PE antigens of P. vivax after natural infection. This knowledge could contribute to the design of an effective P. vivax vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pongsakorn Thawornpan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Justin Nicholas
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Chayapat Malee
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Piyawan Kochayoo
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kittikorn Wangriatisak
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pachara Tianpothong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Francis Babila Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Samantha J. Barnes
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Editorial: Special Issue on the "Molecular Biology of Disease Vectors". Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032881. [PMID: 36769203 PMCID: PMC9918107 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod disease vectors not only transmit malaria but many other serious diseases, many of which are, to a greater or lesser degree, neglected [...].
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