1
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Shrikondawar AN, Chennoju K, Ghosh DK, Ranjan A. Identification and characterization of nuclear localization signals in the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:801-817. [PMID: 38369616 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Secretory proteins of Plasmodium exhibit differential spatial and functional activity within the host cell nucleus. However, the nuclear localization signals (NLSs) for these proteins remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we have identified and characterized two NLSs in the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf-CSP). Both NLSs in the Pf-CSP contain clusters of lysine and arginine residues essential for specific interactions with the conserved tryptophan and asparagine residues of importin-α, facilitating nuclear translocation of Pf-CSP. While the two NLSs of Pf-CSP function independently and are both crucial for nuclear localization, a single NLS of Pf-CSP leads to weak nuclear localization. These findings shed light on the mechanism of nuclear penetrability of secretory proteins of Plasmodium proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshaykumar Nanaji Shrikondawar
- Computational and Functional Genomics Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Kiranmai Chennoju
- Computational and Functional Genomics Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | | | - Akash Ranjan
- Computational and Functional Genomics Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
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2
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Stump WH, Klingenberg HJ, Ott AC, Gonzales DM, Burns JM. Design and Evaluation of Chimeric Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein-Based Malaria Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:351. [PMID: 38675734 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficacy data on two malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, targeting Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), are encouraging. Efficacy may be improved by induction of additional antibodies to neutralizing epitopes outside of the central immunodominant repeat domain of PfCSP. We designed four rPfCSP-based vaccines in an effort to improve the diversity of the antibody response. We also evaluated P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 8 (PfMSP8) as a malaria-specific carrier protein as an alternative to hepatitis B surface antigen. We measured the magnitude, specificity, subclass, avidity, durability, and efficacy of vaccine-induced antibodies in outbred CD1 mice. In comparison to N-terminal- or C-terminal-focused constructs, immunization with near full-length vaccines, rPfCSP (#1) or the chimeric rPfCSP/8 (#2), markedly increased the breadth of B cell epitopes recognized covering the N-terminal domain, junctional region, and central repeat. Both rPfCSP (#1) and rPfCSP/8 (#2) also elicited a high proportion of antibodies to conformation-dependent epitopes in the C-terminus of PfCSP. Fusion of PfCSP to PfMSP8 shifted the specificity of the T cell response away from PfCSP toward PfMSP8 epitopes. Challenge studies with transgenic Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites expressing PfCSP demonstrated high and consistent sterile protection following rPfCSP/8 (#2) immunization. Of note, antibodies to conformational C-terminal epitopes were not required for protection. These results indicate that inclusion of the N-terminal domain of PfCSP can drive responses to protective, repeat, and non-repeat B cell epitopes and that PfMSP8 is an effective carrier for induction of high-titer, durable anti-PfCSP antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Stump
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Hayley J Klingenberg
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Amy C Ott
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Donna M Gonzales
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - James M Burns
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
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3
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Thieleke-Matos C, Walz K, Frischknecht F, Singer M. Overcoming the egress block of Plasmodium sporozoites expressing fluorescently tagged circumsporozoite protein. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:565-577. [PMID: 38396332 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites are the highly motile and invasive forms of the malaria parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Sporozoites form within oocysts at the midgut wall of the mosquito, egress from oocysts and enter salivary glands prior to transmission. The GPI-anchored major surface protein, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is important for Plasmodium sporozoite formation, egress, migration and invasion. To visualize CSP, we previously generated full-length versions of CSP internally tagged with the green fluorescent protein, GFP. However, while these allowed for imaging of sporogony in oocysts, sporozoites failed to egress. Here, we explore different strategies to overcome this block in egress and obtain salivary gland resident sporozoites that express CSP-GFP. Replacing the N-terminal and repeat region with GFP did not allow sporozoite formation. Lowering expression of CSP-GFP at the endogenous locus allowed sporozoite formation but did not overcome egress block. Crossing of CSP-GFP expressing parasites that are blocked in egress with wild-type parasites yielded a small fraction of parasites that entered salivary glands and expressed various levels of CSP-GFP. Expressing CSP-GFP constructs from a silent chromosome region from promoters that are active only post salivary gland invasion yielded normal numbers of fluorescent salivary gland sporozoites, albeit with low levels of fluorescence. We also show that lowering CSP expression by 50% allowed egress from oocysts but not salivary gland entry. In conclusion, Plasmodium berghei parasites with normal CSP expression tolerate a certain level of CSP-GFP without disruption of oocyst egress and salivary gland invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Thieleke-Matos
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kevin Walz
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mirko Singer
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
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4
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Friedman-Klabanoff DJ, Berry AA, Travassos MA, Shriver M, Cox C, Butts J, Lundeen JS, Strauss KA, Joshi S, Shrestha B, Mo AX, Nomicos EYH, Deye GA, Regules JA, Bergmann-Leitner ES, Pasetti MF, Laurens MB. Recombinant full-length Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based vaccine adjuvanted with GLA-LSQ: Results of Phase 1 testing with malaria challenge. J Infect Dis 2024:jiae062. [PMID: 38330357 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria is preventable yet causes >600,000 deaths annually. RTS, S, the first marketed malaria vaccine, has modest efficacy, but improvements are needed for eradication. METHODS We conducted an open-label, dose escalation Phase 1 study of a recombinant, full-length circumsporozoite protein vaccine (rCSP) administered with adjuvant GLA-LSQ on days 1, 29, and 85 or 1 and 490 to healthy, malaria-naïve adults. Primary endpoints were safety and reactogenicity. Secondary endpoints were antibody responses and Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia after homologous controlled human malaria infection (CHMI). RESULTS Participants were enrolled into four groups receiving rCSP/GLA-LSQ: 10 µg x 3 (n = 20), 30 µg x 3 (n = 10), 60 µg x 3 (n = 10) or 60 µg x 2 (n = 9); ten participants received 30 µg rCSP alone x 3; and six infectivity controls. Participants experienced no serious adverse events. Rates of solicited and unsolicited adverse events were similar among groups. All 26 participants who underwent CHMI 28 days after final vaccinations developed malaria. Increasing vaccine doses induced higher IgG titers, but did not achieve previously established RTS, S benchmarks. CONCLUSIONS rCSP/GLA-LSQ had favorable safety results. However, tested regimens did not induce protective immunity. Further investigation could assess if adjuvant or schedule adjustments improve efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03589794.
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Affiliation(s)
- DeAnna J Friedman-Klabanoff
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea A Berry
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark A Travassos
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mallory Shriver
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kathleen A Strauss
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sudhaunshu Joshi
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Biraj Shrestha
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Annie X Mo
- Parasitology and International Programs Branch, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Effie Y H Nomicos
- Parasitology and International Programs Branch, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory A Deye
- Parasitology and International Programs Branch, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason A Regules
- Biologics Research & Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Elke S Bergmann-Leitner
- Biologics Research & Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Marcela F Pasetti
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew B Laurens
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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5
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Hammershaimb EA, Berry AA. Pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines: RTS,S, R21, and beyond. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:49-52. [PMID: 38095048 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2292204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Adrianne Hammershaimb
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea A Berry
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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6
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Geens R, Stanisich J, Beyens O, D'Hondt S, Thiberge J, Ryckebosch A, De Groot A, Magez S, Vertommen D, Amino R, De Winter H, Volkov AN, Tompa P, Sterckx YG. Biophysical characterization of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein's N-terminal domain. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4852. [PMID: 38059674 PMCID: PMC10749493 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the main surface antigen of the Plasmodium sporozoite (SPZ) and forms the basis of the currently only licensed anti-malarial vaccine (RTS,S/AS01). CSP uniformly coats the SPZ and plays a pivotal role in its immunobiology, in both the insect and the vertebrate hosts. Although CSP's N-terminal domain (CSPN ) has been reported to play an important role in multiple CSP functions, a thorough biophysical and structural characterization of CSPN is currently lacking. Here, we present an alternative method for the recombinant production and purification of CSPN from Plasmodium falciparum (PfCSPN ), which provides pure, high-quality protein preparations with high yields. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining in-solution experimental methods and in silico analyses, we provide strong evidence that PfCSPN is an intrinsically disordered region displaying some degree of compaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob Geens
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
- Structural Biology BrusselsVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Jessica Stanisich
- Cellular and Molecular ImmunologyVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Olivier Beyens
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Stijn D'Hondt
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | | | - Amber Ryckebosch
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Anke De Groot
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Stefan Magez
- Cellular and Molecular ImmunologyVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Ghent University Global CampusIncheonSouth Korea
| | - Didier Vertommen
- de Duve Institute and MASSPROT Platform, UCLouvainBrusselsBelgium
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection & ImmunityInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Hans De Winter
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Alexander N. Volkov
- Structural Biology BrusselsVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- VIB‐VUB Center for Structural BiologyVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB)BrusselsBelgium
- Jean Jeener NMR CentreVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Peter Tompa
- Structural Biology BrusselsVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- VIB‐VUB Center for Structural BiologyVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB)BrusselsBelgium
- Institute of Enzymology, Biological Research CenterHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Yann G.‐J. Sterckx
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
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7
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Bolton JS, MacGill RS, Locke E, Regules JA, Bergmann-Leitner ES. Novel antibody competition binding assay identifies distinct serological profiles associated with protection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1303446. [PMID: 38152401 PMCID: PMC10752609 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1303446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines hold the promise of inducing sterile protection thereby preventing the morbidity and mortality associated with Plasmodium infection. The main surface antigen of P. falciparum sporozoites, i.e., the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), has been extensively explored as a target of such vaccines with significant success in recent years. Systematic adjuvant selection, refinements of the immunization regimen, and physical properties of the antigen may all contribute to the potential of increasing the efficacy of CSP-based vaccines. Protection appears to be dependent in large part on CSP antibodies. However due to a knowledge gap related to the exact correlates of immunity, there is a critical need to improve our ability to down select candidates preclinically before entering clinical trials including with controlled human malaria infections (CHMI). Methods We developed a novel multiplex competition assay based on well-characterized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target crucial epitopes across the CSP molecule. This new tool assesses both, quality and epitope-specific concentrations of vaccine-induced antibodies by measuring their equivalency with a panel of well-characterized, CSP-epitope-specific mAbs. Results Applying this method to RTS,S-immune sera from a CHMI trial demonstrated a quantitative epitope-specificity profile of antibody responses that can differentiate between protected vs. nonprotected individuals. Aligning vaccine efficacy with quantitation of the epitope fine specificity results of this equivalency assay reveals the importance of epitope specificity. Discussion The newly developed serological equivalence assay will inform future vaccine design and possibly even adjuvant selection. This methodology can be adapted to other antigens and disease models, when a panel of relevant mAbs exists, and could offer a unique tool for comparing and down-selecting vaccine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S. Bolton
- Biologics Research & Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Randall S. MacGill
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Emily Locke
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jason A. Regules
- Biologics Research & Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Elke S. Bergmann-Leitner
- Biologics Research & Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, United States
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8
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Thai E, Murugan R, Binter Š, Burn Aschner C, Prieto K, Kassardjian A, Obraztsova AS, Kang RW, Flores-Garcia Y, Mathis-Torres S, Li K, Horn GQ, Huntwork RHC, Bolscher JM, de Bruijni MHC, Sauerwein R, Dennison SM, Tomaras GD, Zavala F, Kellam P, Wardemann H, Julien JP. Molecular determinants of cross-reactivity and potency by VH3-33 antibodies against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113330. [PMID: 38007690 PMCID: PMC10720262 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IGHV3-33-encoded antibodies are prevalent in the human humoral response against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). Among VH3-33 antibodies, cross-reactivity between PfCSP major repeat (NANP), minor (NVDP), and junctional (NPDP) motifs is associated with high affinity and potent parasite inhibition. However, the molecular basis of antibody cross-reactivity and the relationship with efficacy remain unresolved. Here, we perform an extensive structure-function characterization of 12 VH3-33 anti-PfCSP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with varying degrees of cross-reactivity induced by immunization of mice expressing a human immunoglobulin gene repertoire. We identify residues in the antibody paratope that mediate cross-reactive binding and delineate four distinct epitope conformations induced by antibody binding, with one consistently associated with high protective efficacy and another that confers comparably potent inhibition of parasite liver invasion. Our data show a link between molecular features of cross-reactive VH3-33 mAb binding to PfCSP and mAb potency, relevant for the development of antibody-based interventions against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Thai
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Murugan
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Špela Binter
- Kymab Ltd./Sanofi, The Bennet Building (B930), Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; RQ Biotechnology Limited, 7th Floor Lynton House, 7-12 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LT, UK
| | - Clare Burn Aschner
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Katherine Prieto
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Audrey Kassardjian
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Anna S Obraztsova
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Biosciences Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ryu Won Kang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shamika Mathis-Torres
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kan Li
- Departments of Surgery, Integrative Immunobiology, Molecular Genetics, and Microbiology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Gillian Q Horn
- Departments of Surgery, Integrative Immunobiology, Molecular Genetics, and Microbiology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Richard H C Huntwork
- Departments of Surgery, Integrative Immunobiology, Molecular Genetics, and Microbiology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | | | | | - S Moses Dennison
- Departments of Surgery, Integrative Immunobiology, Molecular Genetics, and Microbiology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Georgia D Tomaras
- Departments of Surgery, Integrative Immunobiology, Molecular Genetics, and Microbiology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Paul Kellam
- Kymab Ltd./Sanofi, The Bennet Building (B930), Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; RQ Biotechnology Limited, 7th Floor Lynton House, 7-12 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LT, UK; Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Hedda Wardemann
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Jean-Philippe Julien
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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9
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Xia M, Huang P, Vago F, Jiang W, Tan M. Pseudovirus Nanoparticles Displaying Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Proteins Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite-Binding Antibody. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1650. [PMID: 38005982 PMCID: PMC10674615 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites remains a public health threat. The circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs) of Plasmodium sporozoite play a key role in Plasmodium infection, serving as an excellent vaccine target. METHODS using a self-assembled S60 nanoparticle platform, we generated pseudovirus nanoparticles (PVNPs) displaying CSPs, named S-CSPs, for enhanced immunogenicity. RESULTS purified Hisx6-tagged or tag-free S-CSPs self-assembled into PVNPs that consist of a norovirus S60 inner shell and multiple surface-displayed CSPs. The majority of the PVNPs measured ~27 nm with some size variations, and their three-dimensional structure was modeled. The PVNP-displayed CSPs retained their glycan receptor-binding function. A mouse immunization study showed that PVNPs induced a high antibody response against CSP antigens and the PVNP-immunized mouse sera stained the CSPs of Plasmodium sporozoites at high titer. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION the PVNP-displayed CSPs retain their authentic antigenic feature and receptor-binding function. The CSP-specific antibody elicited by the S-CSP PVNPs binds original CSPs and potentially inhibits the attachment of Plasmodium sporozoites to their host cells, a key step for liver invasion by the sporozoites. Thus, S-CSP PVNPs may be an excellent vaccine candidate against malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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10
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Plaza DF, Zerebinski J, Broumou I, Lautenbach MJ, Ngasala B, Sundling C, Färnert A. A genomic platform for surveillance and antigen discovery in Plasmodium spp. using long-read amplicon sequencing. Cell Rep Methods 2023; 3:100574. [PMID: 37751696 PMCID: PMC10545912 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Many vaccine candidate proteins in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are under strong immunological pressure and confer antigenic diversity. We present a sequencing and data analysis platform for the genomic surveillance of the insertion or deletion (indel)-rich antigens merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), MSP2, glutamate-rich protein (GLURP), and CSP from P. falciparum using long-read circular consensus sequencing (CCS) in multiclonal malaria isolates. Our platform uses 40 PCR primers per gene to asymmetrically barcode and identify multiclonal infections in pools of up to 384 samples. With msp2, we validated the method using 235 mock infections combining 10 synthetic variants at different concentrations and infection complexities. We applied this strategy to P. falciparum isolates from a longitudinal cohort in Tanzania. Finally, we constructed an analysis pipeline that streamlines the processing and interpretation of epidemiological and antigenic diversity data from demultiplexed FASTQ files. This platform can be easily adapted to other polymorphic antigens of interest in Plasmodium or any other human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fernando Plaza
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Julia Zerebinski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ioanna Broumou
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maximilian Julius Lautenbach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Billy Ngasala
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam 57RF+V8, Tanzania
| | - Christopher Sundling
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Färnert
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Tripathi P, Bender MF, Lei H, Da Silva Pereira L, Shen CH, Bonilla B, Dillon M, Ou L, Pancera M, Wang LT, Zhang B, Batista FD, Idris AH, Seder RA, Kwong PD. Cryo-EM structures of anti-malarial antibody L9 with circumsporozoite protein reveal trimeric L9 association and complete 27-residue epitope. Structure 2023; 31:480-491.e4. [PMID: 36931276 PMCID: PMC10237622 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody L9 recognizes the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) and is highly protective following controlled human malaria challenge. To gain insight into its function, we determined cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of L9 in complex with full-length PfCSP and assessed how this recognition influenced protection by wild-type and mutant L9s. Cryo-EM reconstructions at 3.6- and 3.7-Å resolution revealed L9 to recognize PfCSP as an atypical trimer. Each of the three L9s in the trimer directly recognized an Asn-Pro-Asn-Val (NPNV) tetrapeptide on PfCSP and interacted homotypically to facilitate L9-trimer assembly. We analyzed peptides containing different repeat tetrapeptides for binding to wild-type and mutant L9s to delineate epitope and homotypic components of L9 recognition; we found both components necessary for potent malaria protection. Last, we found the 27-residue stretch recognized by L9 to be highly conserved in P. falciparum isolates, suggesting the newly revealed complete L9 epitope to be an attractive vaccine target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhanshu Tripathi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael F Bender
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Haotian Lei
- Research Technology Branch Electron Microscopy Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lais Da Silva Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chen-Hsiang Shen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian Bonilla
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Li Ou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marie Pancera
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lawrence T Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Facundo D Batista
- Departments of Immunology and Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, USA
| | - Azza H Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter D Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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12
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Jelínková L, Roberts B, Ajayi DT, Peabody DS, Chackerian B. The Immunogenicity of a VLP-based Malaria Vaccine Targeting CSP in Pregnant and Neonatal Mice. Biomolecules 2023; 13:202. [PMID: 36830571 PMCID: PMC9953288 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal antibodies are passively transferred to the fetus via the placenta during gestation and can play an important role in protecting the newborn from infection. For example, in malaria-endemic regions, maternal antibodies likely provide substantial protection against Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the first 6 months of life. However, circulating maternal antibodies can also interfere with vaccine efficacy. Here, we used a mouse maternal transfer model to evaluate whether maternal antibodies interfere with the responsiveness to a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine targeting the CIS43 epitope of the malaria circumsporozoite protein (CSP). We found immunized dams passively transfer to pups high levels of anti-CSP IgG antibodies that steadily decline as the animals age. We also found that the neonatal offspring of immunized mice do not respond to de novo immunization with the CIS43-targeted VLP vaccine until maternal antibody titers decline below an inhibitory threshold. These findings may have important implications for delineating the delicate balance between protection conferred by maternal antibodies and the offspring's ability to respond to immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bryce Chackerian
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
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13
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Khattab A, Rezola M, Barroso M, Kyrklund M, Pihlajamaa T, Freitag TL, van Gemert GJ, Bousema T, Permi P, Turunen O, Sauerwein R, Luty AJF, Meri S. Hijacking the human complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein by the sporozoite stage of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1051161. [PMID: 36479121 PMCID: PMC9720182 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1051161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is considered the first line of defense against pathogens. Hijacking complement regulators from blood is a common evasion tactic of pathogens to inhibit complement activation on their surfaces. Here, we report hijacking of the complement C4b-binding protein (C4bp), the regulator of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation, by the sporozoite (SPZ) stage of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. This was shown by direct binding of radiolabeled purified C4bp to live SPZs as well as by binding of C4bp from human serum to SPZs in indirect immunofluorescence assays. Using a membrane-bound peptide array, peptides from the N-terminal domain (NTD) of P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) were found to bind C4bp. Soluble biotinylated peptide covering the same region on the NTD and a recombinantly expressed NTD also bound C4bp in a dose-dependent manner. NTD-binding site on C4bp was mapped to the CCP1-2 of the C4bp α-chain, a common binding site for many pathogens. Native CSP was also co-immunoprecipitated with C4bp from human serum. Preventing C4bp binding to the SPZ surface negatively affected the SPZs gliding motility in the presence of functional complement and malaria hyperimmune IgG confirming the protective role of C4bp in controlling complement activation through the classical pathway on the SPZ surface. Incorporating the CSP-C4bp binding region into a CSP-based vaccine formulation could induce vaccine-mediated immunity that neutralizes this immune evasion region and increases the vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Khattab
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Nucleic Acid Research, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt,*Correspondence: Ayman Khattab,
| | - Mikel Rezola
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marta Barroso
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikael Kyrklund
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Tero Pihlajamaa
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tobias L. Freitag
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Perttu Permi
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ossi Turunen
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland,School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | | | | | - Seppo Meri
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,HUSLAB Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
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14
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Zheng H, Lu X, Li K, Zhu F, Zhao C, Liu T, Ding Y, Fu Y, Zhang K, Zhou T, Dai J, Wu Y, Xu W. ATG Ubiquitination Is Required for Circumsporozoite Protein to Subvert Host Innate Immunity Against Rodent Malaria Liver Stage. Front Immunol 2022; 13:815936. [PMID: 35222391 PMCID: PMC8864237 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.815936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although exo-erythrocytic forms (EEFs) of liver stage malaria parasite in the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) are encountered with robust host innate immunity, EEFs can still survive and successfully complete the infection of hepatocytes, and the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Here, we showed that sporozoite circumsporozoite protein (CSP) translocated from the parasitophorous vacuole into the hepatocyte cytoplasm significantly mediated the resistance to the killing of EEFs by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Attenuation of IFN-γ-mediated killing of EEFs by CSP was dependent on its ability to reduce the levels of autophagy-related genes (ATGs) in hepatocytes. The ATGs downregulation occurred through its enhanced ubiquitination mediated by E3 ligase NEDD4, an enzyme that was upregulated by CSP when it translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus of hepatocytes via its nuclear localization signal (NLS) domain. Thus, we have revealed an unrecognized role of CSP in subverting host innate immunity and shed new light for a prophylaxis strategy against liver-stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,The Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenhao Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yong Fu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taoli Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jigang Dai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuzhang Wu
- The Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
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15
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Lee J, Jin K, Ahn SK, Lee SK, Kwon HW, Na BK, Kim TS. Seroprevalence of Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Antibody in High-Risk Malaria Areas in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2021; 59:415-419. [PMID: 34470094 PMCID: PMC8413862 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.4.415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium spp. is a diagnostic antigen and useful biomarker for monitoring short-term/seasonal changes to malaria transmission. Using P. vivax CSP antibody ELISA, epidemiological characteristics were analyzed in the residents of Ganghwa, Cheorwon, Paju, and Goseong from 2017 to 2018. In Ganghwa and Cheorwon, 1.6% and 1.2% of residents, respectively, were PvCSP-antibody-positive in 2018, which indicates a decrease of 0.4% in the positive rate compared to 2017. The annual parasite incidence (API) in Ganghwa and Cheorwon was 24.9 and 10.5 in 2017 and 20.3 and 10.7 in 2018, respectively. Although the changes were not significant, the API in Ganghwa decreased slightly by 4.5 in 2018 compared to the previous year. In Paju and Goseong, 3.9% and 2.0% of residents were positive for the PvCSP antibody. The API in Paju was 13.1 in 2017 and 16.0 in 2018, although no malaria patients were reported for the 2 years. Therefore, the results suggest that PvCSP is a useful antigen for confirming initial malaria infection. Additionally, considering that the antibody is relatively transient, it can be employed for sero-epidemiological studies to determine the extent of malaria transmission in the current year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine & Global Resource Bank of Parasitic Protozoa Pathogens, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Kyoung Jin
- Korea Health Evaluation Institute, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Infectious Diseases Investigation Division, Jeonnam Institute of Public Health and Environment, Muan 58568, Korea
| | - Sung-Keun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, 22212, Korea
| | - Hyung Wook Kwon
- Department of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea.,Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
| | - Byoung-Kuk Na
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Department of Convergence Medical Science, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine & Global Resource Bank of Parasitic Protozoa Pathogens, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea.,Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
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16
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Vijayan K, Visweswaran GRR, Chandrasekaran R, Trakhimets O, Brown SL, Watson A, Zuck M, Dambrauskas N, Raappana A, Carbonetti S, Kelnhofer-Millevolte L, Glennon EKK, Postiglione R, Sather DN, Kaushansky A. Antibody interference by a non-neutralizing antibody abrogates humoral protection against Plasmodium yoelii liver stage. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109489. [PMID: 34348141 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Both subunit and attenuated whole-sporozoite vaccination strategies against Plasmodium infection have shown promising initial results in malaria-naive westerners but less efficacy in malaria-exposed individuals in endemic areas. Here, we demonstrate proof of concept by using a rodent malaria model in which non-neutralizing antibodies (nNAbs) can directly interfere with protective anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) humoral responses. We characterize a monoclonal antibody, RAM1, against Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite major surface antigen CSP. Unlike the canonical PyCSP repeat domain binding and neutralizing antibody (NAb) 2F6, RAM1 does not inhibit sporozoite traversal or entry of hepatocytes in vitro or infection in vivo. Although 2F6 and RAM1 bind non-overlapping regions of the CSP-repeat domain, pre-treatment with RAM1 abrogates the capacity of NAb to block sporozoite traversal and invasion in vitro. Importantly, RAM1 reduces the efficacy of the polyclonal humoral response against PyCSP in vivo. Collectively, our data provide a proof of concept that nNAbs can alter the efficacy of malaria vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Meghan Zuck
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - D Noah Sather
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Brotman Baty Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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17
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Singer M, Frischknecht F. Fluorescent tagging of Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein allows imaging of sporozoite formation but blocks egress from oocysts. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13321. [PMID: 33600048 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein, CSP, is the major surface protein of Plasmodium sporozoites, the form of malaria parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. CSP is involved in sporozoite formation within and egress from oocysts, entry into mosquito salivary glands and mammalian liver as well as migration in the skin. Yet, how CSP facilitates sporozoite formation, oocyst egress and hepatocyte specific invasion is still not fully understood. Here, we aimed at generating a series of parasites expressing full-length versions of CSP with internally inserted green fluorescent protein between known domains at the endogenous csp locus. This enabled the investigation of sporozoite formation in living oocysts. GFP insertion after the signal peptide leads to cleavage of GFP before the fusion protein reached the plasma membrane while insertion of GFP before or after the TSR domain prevented sporozoite egress and liver invasion. These data suggest different strategies for obtaining mature salivary gland sporozoites that express GFP-CSP fusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Singer
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Experimental Parasitology, Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Schäfer C, Dambrauskas N, Reynolds LM, Trakhimets O, Raappana A, Flannery EL, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Mikolajczak SA, Kappe SHI, Sather DN. Partial protection against P. vivax infection diminishes hypnozoite burden and blood-stage relapses. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:752-756.e4. [PMID: 33857426 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Latent forms of Plasmodium vivax, called hypnozoites, cause malaria relapses from the liver into the bloodstream and are a major obstacle to malaria eradication. To experimentally assess the impact of a partially protective pre-erythrocytic vaccine on reducing Plasmodium vivax relapses, we developed a liver-humanized mouse model that allows monitoring of relapses directly in the blood. We passively infused these mice with a suboptimal dose of an antibody that targets the circumsporozoite protein prior to challenge with P. vivax sporozoites. Although this regimen did not completely prevent primary infection, antibody-treated mice experienced 62% fewer relapses. The data constitute unprecedented direct experimental evidence that suboptimal efficacy of infection-blocking antibodies, while not completely preventing primary infection, has a pronounced benefit in reducing the number of relapses. These findings suggest that a partially efficacious pre-erythrocytic Plasmodium vivax vaccine can have a disproportionately high impact in positive public health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Schäfer
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nicholas Dambrauskas
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Laura M Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Olesya Trakhimets
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Andrew Raappana
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Erika L Flannery
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Wanlapa Roobsoong
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sebastian A Mikolajczak
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
| | - D Noah Sather
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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19
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Chatterjee D, Lewis FJ, Sutton HJ, Kaczmarski JA, Gao X, Cai Y, McNamara HA, Jackson CJ, Cockburn IA. Avid binding by B cells to the Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein repeat suppresses responses to protective subdominant epitopes. Cell Rep 2021; 35:108996. [PMID: 33852850 PMCID: PMC8052187 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies targeting the NANP/NVDP repeat domain of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSPRepeat) can protect against malaria. However, it has also been suggested that the CSPRepeat is a decoy that prevents the immune system from mounting responses against other domains of CSP. Here, we show that, following parasite immunization, B cell responses to the CSPRepeat are immunodominant over responses to other CSP domains despite the presence of similar numbers of naive B cells able to bind these regions. We find that this immunodominance is driven by avid binding of the CSPRepeat to cognate B cells that are able to expand at the expense of B cells with other specificities. We further show that mice immunized with repeat-truncated CSP molecules develop responses to subdominant epitopes and are protected against malaria. These data demonstrate that the CSPRepeat functions as a decoy, but truncated CSP molecules may be an approach for malaria vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepyan Chatterjee
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Fiona J Lewis
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Henry J Sutton
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Joe A Kaczmarski
- Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Xin Gao
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Yeping Cai
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Hayley A McNamara
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Ian A Cockburn
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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20
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION A safe and effective vaccine will likely be necessary for the control or eradication of malaria which kills 400,000 annually. Our most advanced vaccine candidate to date is RTS,S which is based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) of the malaria parasite. However, protection by RTS,S is incomplete and short-lived. AREAS COVERED Here we summarize results from recent clinical trials of RTS,S and critically evaluate recent studies that aim to understand the correlates of protective immunity and why vaccine-induced protection is short-lived. In particular, recent systems serology studies have highlighted a key role for the necessity of inducing functional antibodies. In-depth analyses of immune responses to CSP in both mouse models and vaccinated humans have also highlighted difficulties in generating the maintaining high-quality antibody responses. Finally, in recent years biophysical and structural studies of antibody binding to PfCSP have led to a better understanding of how highly potent antibodies can block infection, which can inform vaccine design. EXPERT OPINION We highlight how both structure-guided vaccine design and a better understanding of the immune response to PfCSP can inform a second generation of PfCSP-based vaccines stimulating a broader range of protective targets within PfCSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepyan Chatterjee
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ian Andrew Cockburn
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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21
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Capobianco MP, Cassiano GC, Storti-Melo LM, Pimenta TS, Rodrigues APD, Arruda JEG, Pinto MR, Baptista ARDS, Pratt-Riccio LR, Bonini-Domingos CR, de Oliveira-Ferreira J, Machado RLD. Polymorphism in the IL-1β promoter is associated with IgG antibody response to circumsporozoite protein repeats of Plasmodium vivax. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2020; 114:858-865. [PMID: 32766886 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well established that infection by Plasmodium vivax is a result of host-parasite interactions. In the present study, association with the IL1/IL2 cytokine profiles, anticircumsporozoite protein antibody levels and parasitic loads was evaluated in individuals naturally infected with P. vivax in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS Molecular diagnosis of P. vivax and variants was performed using the PCR-RFLP method and IL1B -511C>T, IL2 -330T>G and IL2+114T>G polymorphisms were identified using PCR-RFLP and allele-specific PCR. IL-1β and IL-2 cytokine levels were detected by flow cytometry and circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibodies were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Three variants of P. vivax CSP were identified and VK247 was found to be the most frequent. However, the prevalence and magnitude of IgG antibodies were higher for the VK210 variant. Furthermore, the antibody response to the CSP variants was not associated with the presence of the variant in the infection. Significant differences were observed between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -511T>C in the IL1B gene and levels of antibodies to the VK247 and P. vivax-like variants, but there were no associations between SNPs in IL1 and IL2 genes and their plasma products. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with the rs16944 CC genotype in the IL1β gene have higher antibody levels to the CSP of P. vivax of VK247 and P. vivax-like variants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gustavo Capatti Cassiano
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Institut, Lisboa University, Portugal
| | | | - Tamirys Simão Pimenta
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunogenetics, Evandro Chagas Institute/Health Ministry, Pará, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Drummond Rodrigues
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Evandro Chagas Institute/Health Ministry, University Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Gomes Arruda
- Center of Microorganisms Investigation, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcia Ribeiro Pinto
- Center of Microorganisms Investigation, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Ricardo Luiz Dantas Machado
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, São Paulo State University, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Center of Microorganisms Investigation, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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22
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Friedman-Klabanoff DJ, Travassos MA, Ifeonu OO, Agrawal S, Ouattara A, Pike A, Bailey JA, Adams M, Coulibaly D, Lyke KE, Laurens MB, Takala-Harrison S, Kouriba B, Kone AK, Doumbo OK, Patel JJ, Thera MA, Felgner PL, Tan JC, Plowe CV, Berry AA. Epitope-Specific Antibody Responses to a Plasmodium falciparum Subunit Vaccine Target in a Malaria-Endemic Population. J Infect Dis 2020; 223:1943-1947. [PMID: 32992328 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) coats the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface and is a major malaria subunit vaccine target. We measured epitope-specific reactivity to field-derived CSP haplotypes in serum samples from Malian adults and children on a custom peptide microarray. Compared to children, adults showed greater antibody responses and responses to more variants in regions proximal to and within the central repeat region. Children acquired short-lived immunity to an epitope proximal to the central repeat region but not to the central repeat region itself. This approach has the potential to differentiate immunodominant from protective epitope-specific responses when combined with longitudinal infection data.
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Affiliation(s)
- DeAnna J Friedman-Klabanoff
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark A Travassos
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Olukemi O Ifeonu
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sonia Agrawal
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Pike
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason A Bailey
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew Adams
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Drissa Coulibaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Kirsten E Lyke
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew B Laurens
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shannon Takala-Harrison
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Bourema Kouriba
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdoulaye K Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Ogobara K Doumbo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Mahamadou A Thera
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Philip L Felgner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - John C Tan
- Roche Sequencing Solutions, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christopher V Plowe
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea A Berry
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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23
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Wang LT, Pereira LS, Flores-Garcia Y, O'Connor J, Flynn BJ, Schön A, Hurlburt NK, Dillon M, Yang ASP, Fabra-García A, Idris AH, Mayer BT, Gerber MW, Gottardo R, Mason RD, Cavett N, Ballard RB, Kisalu NK, Molina-Cruz A, Nelson J, Vistein R, Barillas-Mury C, Amino R, Baker D, King NP, Sauerwein RW, Pancera M, Cockburn IA, Zavala F, Francica JR, Seder RA. A Potent Anti-Malarial Human Monoclonal Antibody Targets Circumsporozoite Protein Minor Repeats and Neutralizes Sporozoites in the Liver. Immunity 2020; 53:733-744.e8. [PMID: 32946741 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Discovering potent human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) on sporozoites (SPZ) and elucidating their mechanisms of neutralization will facilitate translation for passive prophylaxis and aid next-generation vaccine development. Here, we isolated a neutralizing human mAb, L9 that preferentially bound NVDP minor repeats of PfCSP with high affinity while cross-reacting with NANP major repeats. L9 was more potent than six published neutralizing human PfCSP mAbs at mediating protection against mosquito bite challenge in mice. Isothermal titration calorimetry and multiphoton microscopy showed that L9 and the other most protective mAbs bound PfCSP with two binding events and mediated protection by killing SPZ in the liver and by preventing their egress from sinusoids and traversal of hepatocytes. This study defines the subdominant PfCSP minor repeats as neutralizing epitopes, identifies an in vitro biophysical correlate of SPZ neutralization, and demonstrates that the liver is an important site for antibodies to prevent malaria.
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24
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Lima LC, Marques RF, Gimenez AM, Françoso KS, Aliprandini E, Camargo TM, Aguiar ACC, Pereira DB, Renia L, Amino R, Soares IS. A Multistage Formulation Based on Full-Length CSP and AMA-1 Ectodomain of Plasmodium vivax Induces High Antibody Titers and T-cells and Partially Protects Mice Challenged with a Transgenic Plasmodium berghei Parasite. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E916. [PMID: 32560380 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with Plasmodium vivax are predominant in the Americas, representing 75% of malaria cases. Previously perceived as benign, malaria vivax is, in fact, a highly debilitating and economically important disease. Considering the high complexity of the malaria parasite life cycle, it has been hypothesized that an effective vaccine formulation against Plasmodium should contain multiple antigens expressed in different parasite stages. Based on that, we analyzed a recombinant P. vivax vaccine formulation mixing the apical membrane antigen 1 ectodomain (PvAMA-1) and a full-length circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP-AllFL) previously studied by our group, which elicits a potent antibody response in mice. Genetically distinct strains of mice (C57BL/6 and BALB/c) were immunized with the proteins, alone or in combination, in the presence of poly(I:C) adjuvant, a TLR3 agonist. In C57BL/6, high-antibody titers were induced against PvAMA-1 and the three PvCSP variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like). Meanwhile, mixing PvAMA-1 with PvCSP-AllFL had no impact on total IgG antibody titers, which were long-lasting. Moreover, antibodies from immunized mice recognized VK210 sporozoites and blood-stage parasites by immunofluorescence assay. However, in the BALB/c model, the antibody response against PvCSP-AllFL was relatively low. PvAMA-1-specific CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T-cell responses were observed in C57BL/6 mice, and the cellular response was impaired by PvCSP-AllFL combination. More relevant, the multistage vaccine formulation provided partial protection in mice challenged with a transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoite expressing the homologous PvCSP protein.
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25
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Leitner WW, Haraway M, Pierson T, Bergmann-Leitner ES. Role of Opsonophagocytosis in Immune Protection against Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E264. [PMID: 32486320 PMCID: PMC7350021 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The quest for immune correlates of protection continues to slow vaccine development. To date, only vaccine-induced antibodies have been confirmed as direct immune correlates of protection against a plethora of pathogens. Vaccine immunologists, however, have learned through extensive characterizations of humoral responses that the quantitative assessment of antibody responses alone often fails to correlate with protective immunity or vaccine efficacy. Despite these limitations, the simple measurement of post-vaccination antibody titers remains the most widely used approaches for vaccine evaluation. Developing and performing functional assays to assess the biological activity of pathogen-specific responses continues to gain momentum; integrating serological assessments with functional data will ultimately result in the identification of mechanisms that contribute to protective immunity and will guide vaccine development. One of these functional readouts is phagocytosis of antigenic material tagged by immune molecules such as antibodies and/or complement components. This review summarizes our current understanding of how phagocytosis contributes to immune defense against pathogens, the pathways involved, and defense mechanisms that pathogens have evolved to deal with the threat of phagocytic removal and destruction of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang W. Leitner
- Basic Immunology Branch, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA;
| | - Megan Haraway
- Immunology Core/Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (M.H.); (T.P.)
| | - Tony Pierson
- Immunology Core/Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (M.H.); (T.P.)
| | - Elke S. Bergmann-Leitner
- Immunology Core/Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (M.H.); (T.P.)
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26
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Marques RF, Gimenez AM, Aliprandini E, Novais JT, Cury DP, Watanabe IS, Dominguez MR, Silveira ELV, Amino R, Soares IS. Protective Malaria Vaccine in Mice Based on the Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Fused with the Mumps Nucleocapsid Protein. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020190. [PMID: 32325874 PMCID: PMC7348950 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most common species of human malaria parasite found outside Africa, with high endemicity in Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania. Although Plasmodium falciparum causes the majority of deaths, P. vivax can lead to severe malaria and result in significant morbidity and mortality. The development of a protective vaccine will be a major step toward malaria elimination. Recently, a formulation containing the three allelic variants of the P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP—All epitopes) showed partial protection in mice after a challenge with the hybrid Plasmodium berghei (Pb) sporozoite, in which the PbCSP central repeats were replaced by the VK210 PvCSP repeats (Pb/Pv sporozoite). In the present study, the chimeric PvCSP allelic variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like) were fused with the mumps virus nucleocapsid protein in the absence (NLP-CSPR) or presence of the conserved C-terminal (CT) domain of PvCSP (NLP-CSPCT). To elicit stronger humoral and cellular responses, Pichia pastoris yeast was used to assemble them as nucleocapsid-like particles (NLPs). Mice were immunized with each recombinant protein adjuvanted with Poly (I:C) and presented a high frequency of antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) on days 5 and 30, respectively, in the spleen and bone marrow. Moreover, high IgG titers against all PvCSP variants were detected in the sera. Later, these immunized mice with NLP-CSPCT were challenged with Pb/Pv sporozoites. Sterile protection was observed in 30% of the challenged mice. Therefore, this vaccine formulation use has the potential to be a good candidate for the development of a universal vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo F. Marques
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Alba Marina Gimenez
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-010 SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Aliprandini
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; (E.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Janaina T. Novais
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Diego P. Cury
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (D.P.C.); (I.-S.W.)
| | - Ii-Sei Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (D.P.C.); (I.-S.W.)
| | - Mariana R. Dominguez
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Eduardo L. V. Silveira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; (E.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Irene S. Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000 SP, Brazil; (R.F.M.); (A.M.G.); (J.T.N.); (M.R.D.); (E.L.V.S.)
- Correspondence:
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27
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Singh SK, Plieskatt J, Chourasia BK, Singh V, Bolscher JM, Dechering KJ, Adu B, López-Méndez B, Kaviraj S, Locke E, King CR, Theisen M. The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein produced in Lactococcus lactis is pure and stable. J Biol Chem 2019; 295:403-414. [PMID: 31792057 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) is a sporozoite surface protein whose role in sporozoite motility and cell invasion has made it the leading candidate for a pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine. However, production of high yields of soluble recombinant PfCSP, including its extensive NANP and NVDP repeats, has proven problematic. Here, we report on the development and characterization of a secreted, soluble, and stable full-length PfCSP (containing 4 NVDP and 38 NANP repeats) produced in the Lactococcus lactis expression system. The recombinant full-length PfCSP, denoted PfCSP4/38, was produced initially with a histidine tag and purified by a simple two-step procedure. Importantly, the recombinant PfCSP4/38 retained a conformational epitope for antibodies as confirmed by both in vivo and in vitro characterizations. We characterized this complex protein by HPLC, light scattering, MS analysis, differential scanning fluorimetry, CD, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting with conformation-dependent and -independent mAbs, which confirmed it to be both pure and soluble. Moreover, we found that the recombinant protein is stable at both frozen and elevated-temperature storage conditions. When we used L. lactis-derived PfCSP4/38 to immunize mice, it elicited high levels of functional antibodies that had the capacity to modify sporozoite motility in vitro We concluded that the reported yield, purity, results of biophysical analyses, and stability of PfCSP4/38 warrant further consideration of using the L. lactis system for the production of circumsporozoite proteins for preclinical and clinical applications in malaria vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susheel K Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Bishwanath Kumar Chourasia
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vandana Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Blanca López-Méndez
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Emily Locke
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, D. C. 20001
| | - C Richter King
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, D. C. 20001
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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28
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Vanderberg JP. Further Mechanisms and Locations in Which Antisporozoite Antibodies Neutralize Malaria Sporozoites. mBio 2019; 10:e01588-19. [PMID: 31506308 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01588-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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29
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Pattinson DJ, Apte SH, Wibowo N, Chuan YP, Rivera-Hernandez T, Groves PL, Lua LH, Middelberg APJ, Doolan DL. Chimeric Murine Polyomavirus Virus-Like Particles Induce Plasmodium Antigen-Specific CD8 + T Cell and Antibody Responses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:215. [PMID: 31275867 PMCID: PMC6593135 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective vaccine against the Plasmodium parasite is likely to require the induction of robust antibody and T cell responses. Chimeric virus-like particles are an effective vaccine platform for induction of antibody responses, but their capacity to induce robust cellular responses and cell-mediated protection against pathogen challenge has not been established. To evaluate this, we produced chimeric constructs using the murine polyomavirus structural protein with surface-exposed CD8+ or CD4+ T cell or B cell repeat epitopes derived from the Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite protein, and assessed immunogenicity and protective capacity in a murine model. Robust CD8+ T cell responses were induced by immunization with the chimeric CD8+ T cell epitope virus-like particles, however CD4+ T cell responses were very low. The B cell chimeric construct induced robust antibody responses but there was no apparent synergy when T cell and B cell constructs were administered as a pool. A heterologous prime/boost regimen using plasmid DNA priming followed by a VLP boost was more effective than homologous VLP immunization for cellular immunity and protection. These data show that chimeric murine polyomavirus virus-like particles are a good platform for induction of CD8+ T cell responses as well as antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Pattinson
- Infectious Diseases Programme, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon H Apte
- Infectious Diseases Programme, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nani Wibowo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yap P Chuan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Tania Rivera-Hernandez
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Penny L Groves
- Infectious Diseases Programme, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Linda H Lua
- Protein Expression Facility, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Anton P J Middelberg
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Denise L Doolan
- Infectious Diseases Programme, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
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Kisalu NK, Idris AH, Weidle C, Flores-Garcia Y, Flynn BJ, Sack BK, Murphy S, Schön A, Freire E, Francica JR, Miller AB, Gregory J, March S, Liao HX, Haynes BF, Wiehe K, Trama AM, Saunders KO, Gladden MA, Monroe A, Bonsignori M, Kanekiyo M, Wheatley AK, McDermott AB, Farney SK, Chuang GY, Zhang B, Kc N, Chakravarty S, Kwong PD, Sinnis P, Bhatia SN, Kappe SHI, Sim BKL, Hoffman SL, Zavala F, Pancera M, Seder RA. A human monoclonal antibody prevents malaria infection by targeting a new site of vulnerability on the parasite. Nat Med 2018; 24:408-16. [PMID: 29554083 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Development of a highly effective vaccine or antibodies for the prevention and ultimately elimination of malaria is urgently needed. Here we report the isolation of a number of human monoclonal antibodies directed against the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) from several subjects immunized with an attenuated Pf whole-sporozoite (SPZ) vaccine (Sanaria PfSPZ Vaccine). Passive transfer of one of these antibodies, monoclonal antibody CIS43, conferred high-level, sterile protection in two different mouse models of malaria infection. The affinity and stoichiometry of CIS43 binding to PfCSP indicate that there are two sequential multivalent binding events encompassing the repeat domain. The first binding event is to a unique 'junctional' epitope positioned between the N terminus and the central repeat domain of PfCSP. Moreover, CIS43 prevented proteolytic cleavage of PfCSP on PfSPZ. Analysis of crystal structures of the CIS43 antigen-binding fragment in complex with the junctional epitope determined the molecular interactions of binding, revealed the epitope's conformational flexibility and defined Asn-Pro-Asn (NPN) as the structural repeat motif. The demonstration that CIS43 is highly effective for passive prevention of malaria has potential application for use in travelers, military personnel and elimination campaigns and identifies a new and conserved site of vulnerability on PfCSP for next-generation rational vaccine design.
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Deng XF, Zhou D, Liu QX, Zheng H, Ding Y, Xu WY, Min JX, Dai JG. Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein suppresses the growth of A549 cells via inhibiting nuclear transcription factor κB. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:6585-6591. [PMID: 29616122 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a promising strategy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP), a key component of the sporozoite stage of the malaria parasite, was previously reported to block NF-κB activation in hepatocytes. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of CSP on the growth of the human lung cancer cell line, A549, was investigated. It was demonstrated that transfection with a recombinant plasmid expressing CSP was able to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induce the apoptosis of A549 cells. A NF-κB gene reporter assay indicated that CSP and its nuclear localization signal (NLS) motif were able to equally suppress the activation of NF-κB following stimulation with human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in A549 cells. Furthermore, western blot analysis indicated that NLS did not affect the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB, but was able to markedly inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in TNF-α stimulated A549 cells. Therefore, the data suggest that CSP may be investigated as a potential novel NF-κB inhibitor for the treatment of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Feng Deng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Zunyi, Guiyang, Guizhou 563000, P.R. China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Quan-Xing Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Hong Zheng
- Institute of Immunology of PLA, College of Basic Medical Sciences, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Yue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Xin Min
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Ji-Gang Dai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
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32
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Tamura T, Kawabata C, Matsushita S, Sakaguchi M, Yoshida S. Malaria sporozoite protein expression enhances baculovirus-mediated gene transfer to hepatocytes. J Gene Med 2018; 18:75-85. [PMID: 27007512 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Baculovirus vector (BV) is able to transduce foreign genes into mammalian cells efficiently and safely by incorporating a mammalian promoter. In the present study, we tailored the surface proteins expressed by malaria sporozoites to enhance hepatocyte transduction. Sporozoites infect hepatocytes within minutes of initial entry into the blood circulation. Infectivity and hepatocyte-specific selectivity are mediated by the interplay between hepatocytes and sporozoite surface proteins. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and the thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) bind to the heparan sulfate proteoglycan on the hepatocyte surface and contribute to sporozoite infection and hepatocyte selectivity. METHODS BVs displaying an ectodomain consisting of three different CSP variants (full-length, N-terminal and C-terminal) or TRAP on the virus envelope were constructed, and the resulting in vitro hepatocyte transduction efficiency was evaluated. RESULTS We demonstrated improved hepatocyte transduction efficiency in BVs expressing CSP or TRAP ectodomains compared to BVs without malaria surface proteins. In addition, gene transduction efficiencies for BVs displaying CSP or TRAP are higher than those expressing the preS1 antigen of the hepatitis B virus. CONCLUSIONS BVs expressing CSP or TRAP in the ectodomain could represent a promising hepatocyte-specific gene delivery methodology. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiko Tamura
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Chiaki Kawabata
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Matsushita
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Miako Sakaguchi
- Electron Microscope Room, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shigeto Yoshida
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
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Triller G, Scally SW, Costa G, Pissarev M, Kreschel C, Bosch A, Marois E, Sack BK, Murugan R, Salman AM, Janse CJ, Khan SM, Kappe SHI, Adegnika AA, Mordmüller B, Levashina EA, Julien JP, Wardemann H. Natural Parasite Exposure Induces Protective Human Anti-Malarial Antibodies. Immunity 2017; 47:1197-1209.e10. [PMID: 29195810 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies against the NANP repeat of circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the major surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites, can protect from malaria in animal models but protective humoral immunity is difficult to induce in humans. Here we cloned and characterized rare affinity-matured human NANP-reactive memory B cell antibodies elicited by natural Pf exposure that potently inhibited parasite transmission and development in vivo. We unveiled the molecular details of antibody binding to two distinct protective epitopes within the NANP repeat. NANP repeat recognition was largely mediated by germline encoded and immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy-chain complementarity determining region 3 (HCDR3) residues, whereas affinity maturation contributed predominantly to stabilizing the antigen-binding site conformation. Combined, our findings illustrate the power of exploring human anti-CSP antibody responses to develop tools for malaria control in the mammalian and the mosquito vector and provide a molecular basis for the structure-based design of next-generation CSP malaria vaccines.
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Oyen D, Torres JL, Wille-Reece U, Ockenhouse CF, Emerling D, Glanville J, Volkmuth W, Flores-Garcia Y, Zavala F, Ward AB, King CR, Wilson IA. Structural basis for antibody recognition of the NANP repeats in Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E10438-45. [PMID: 29138320 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715812114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been studied for decades as a potential immunogen, but little structural information is available on how antibodies recognize the immunodominant NANP repeats within CSP. The most advanced vaccine candidate is RTS,S, which includes multiple NANP repeats. Here, we analyzed two functional antibodies from an RTS,S trial and determined the number of repeats that interact with the antibody Fab fragments using isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography. Using negative-stain electron microscopy, we also established how the antibody binds to the NANP repeat region in a recombinant CSP construct. The structural features outlined here provide a rationale for structure-based immunogen design to improve upon the efficacy of the current RTS,S vaccine. Acquired resistance against antimalarial drugs has further increased the need for an effective malaria vaccine. The current leading candidate, RTS,S, is a recombinant circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum that contains 19 NANP repeats followed by a thrombospondin repeat domain. Although RTS,S has undergone extensive clinical testing and has progressed through phase III clinical trials, continued efforts are underway to enhance its efficacy and duration of protection. Here, we determined that two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs 311 and 317), isolated from a recent controlled human malaria infection trial exploring a delayed fractional dose, inhibit parasite development in vivo by at least 97%. Crystal structures of antibody fragments (Fabs) 311 and 317 with an (NPNA)3 peptide illustrate their different binding modes. Notwithstanding, one and three of the three NPNA repeats adopt similar well-defined type I β-turns with Fab311 and Fab317, respectively. Furthermore, to explore antibody binding in the context of P. falciparum CSP, we used negative-stain electron microscopy on a recombinant shortened CSP (rsCSP) construct saturated with Fabs. Both complexes display a compact rsCSP with multiple Fabs bound, with the rsCSP–Fab311 complex forming a highly organized helical structure. Together, these structural insights may aid in the design of a next-generation malaria vaccine.
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35
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Gimenez AM, Lima LC, Françoso KS, Denapoli PMA, Panatieri R, Bargieri DY, Thiberge JM, Andolina C, Nosten F, Renia L, Nussenzweig RS, Nussenzweig V, Amino R, Rodrigues MM, Soares IS. Vaccine Containing the Three Allelic Variants of the Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Antigen Induces Protection in Mice after Challenge with a Transgenic Rodent Malaria Parasite. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1275. [PMID: 29075260 PMCID: PMC5642139 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most common species that cause malaria outside of the African continent. The development of an efficacious vaccine would contribute greatly to control malaria. Recently, using bacterial and adenoviral recombinant proteins based on the P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP), we demonstrated the possibility of eliciting strong antibody-mediated immune responses to each of the three allelic forms of P. vivax CSP (PvCSP). In the present study, recombinant proteins representing the PvCSP alleles (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like), as well as a hybrid polypeptide, named PvCSP-All epitopes, were generated. This hybrid containing the conserved C-terminal of the PvCSP and the three variant repeat domains in tandem were successfully produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris. After purification and biochemical characterization, they were used for the experimental immunization of C57BL/6 mice in a vaccine formulation containing the adjuvant Poly(I:C). Immunization with a recombinant protein expressing all three different allelic forms in fusion elicited high IgG antibody titers reacting with all three different allelic variants of PvCSP. The antibodies targeted both the C-terminal and repeat domains of PvCSP and recognized the native protein on the surface of P. vivax sporozoites. More importantly, mice that received the vaccine formulation were protected after challenge with chimeric Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing CSP repeats of P. vivax sporozoites (Pb/PvVK210). Our results suggest that it is possible to elicit protective immunity against one of the most common PvCSP alleles using soluble recombinant proteins expressed by P. pastoris. These recombinant proteins are promising candidates for clinical trials aiming to develop a multiallele vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Marina Gimenez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Chagas Lima
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katia Sanches Françoso
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscila M A Denapoli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel Panatieri
- Unit of Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Department of Parasitology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Y Bargieri
- Department of Parasitology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Chiara Andolina
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Francois Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Renia
- Singapore Immunology Network, Biopolis, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Mauricio M Rodrigues
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center of Cellular and Molecular Therapy (CTCMol), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Irene S Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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36
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Zhang M, Mandraju R, Rai U, Shiratsuchi T, Tsuji M. Monoclonal Antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein. Antibodies (Basel) 2017; 6:E11. [PMID: 31548526 DOI: 10.3390/antib6030011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium spp. Malaria continues to have a devastating impact on human health. Sporozoites are the infective forms of the parasite inside mosquito salivary glands. Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a major and immunodominant protective antigen on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites. Here, we report a generation of specific monoclonal antibodies that recognize the central repeat and C-terminal regions of P. falciparum CSP. The monoclonal antibodies 3C1, 3C2, and 3D3-specific for the central repeat region-have higher titers and protective efficacies against challenge with sporozoites compared with 2A10, a gold standard monoclonal antibody that was generated in early 1980s.
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Espinosa DA, Christensen D, Muñoz C, Singh S, Locke E, Andersen P, Zavala F. Robust antibody and CD8 + T-cell responses induced by P. falciparum CSP adsorbed to cationic liposomal adjuvant CAF09 confer sterilizing immunity against experimental rodent malaria infection. NPJ Vaccines 2017; 2. [PMID: 28936360 PMCID: PMC5603302 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-017-0011-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite several decades of extensive research, the development of a highly efficacious malaria vaccine has yet to be accomplished. While the RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate shows the potential to prevent a substantial number of clinical malaria cases, significant improvements in protective efficacy are still needed. Multiple studies have shown that RTS,S induces protective antibody and CD4+ T-cell responses, but limited or negligible CD8+ T cells. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective capacity of full-length recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein administered with the novel cationic liposomal adjuvant system CAF09. Using newly developed transgenic rodent malaria parasites expressing the full-length Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein, we demonstrate that this liposome-based protein-in-adjuvant formulation is capable of inducing robust antibody and CD8+ T-cell responses that strongly inhibit parasite infection and development of liver stages, conferring durable sterilizing immunity. These findings underscore the potential of liposome-based adjuvants for inducing robust humoral and CD8+ T-cell responses and warrant further studies toward the development of novel subunit vaccine formulations with this adjuvant system. A vaccine consisting of parasitic proteins enveloped by fatty molecules provides comprehensive protection against malaria in a rodent model, Previous and current malaria vaccines concentrate on priming antibodies to recognize malarial infection, despite evidence that, by activating ‘killer’ CD8+ T cells, greater protection is conferred against the disease. Fidel Zavala, of the Johns Hopkins University, United States, and an international group of researchers developed their vaccine by encapsulating proteins from the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum in fat-based carriers called liposomes. In past experiments, killer T cells recruited via this vaccine-type have effectively protected against other diseases. In this study, the vaccine induced both CD8+ T cell and antibody responses and provided significant immunity against P. falciparum-instigated malaria. As a highly efficacious vaccine against malaria is not yet available, this research will likely prove invaluable in guiding further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Espinosa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dennis Christensen
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Muñoz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Emily Locke
- PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington DC, USA
| | - Peter Andersen
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Wilson KL, Xiang SD, Plebanski M. A Model to Study the Impact of Polymorphism Driven Liver-Stage Immune Evasion by Malaria Parasites, to Help Design Effective Cross-Reactive Vaccines. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:303. [PMID: 27014226 PMCID: PMC4786561 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites engage a multitude of strategies to evade the immune system of the host, including the generation of polymorphic T cell epitope sequences, termed altered peptide ligands (APLs). Herein we use an animal model to study how single amino acid changes in the sequence of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), a major target antigen of pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines, can lead to a reduction of cross reactivity by T cells. For the first time in any APL model, we further compare different inflammatory adjuvants (Montanide, Poly I:C), non-inflammatory adjuvants (nanoparticles), and peptide pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) for their potential capacity to induce broadly cross reactive immune responses. Results show that the capacity to induce a cross reactive response is primarily controlled by the T cell epitope sequence and cannot be modified by the use of different adjuvants. Moreover, we identify how specific amino acid changes lead to a one-way cross reactivity: where variant-x induced responses are re-elicited by variant-x and not variant-y, but variant-y induced responses can be re-elicited by variant-y and variant-x. We discuss the consequences of the existence of this one-way cross reactivity phenomenon for parasite immune evasion in the field, as well as the use of variant epitopes as a potential tool for optimized vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty L Wilson
- Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sue D Xiang
- Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Magdalena Plebanski
- Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Abstract
Since the discovery of circumsporozoite protein (CSP), a major sporozoite surface antigen, by Ruth Nussenzweig and Victor Nussenzweig in the early 1980s, the role of CSP in protection against malaria has been extensively investigated. Several monoclonal antibodies against CSP have been generated to date, with some of them mediating antimalarial protection upon passive transfer into animals. Genetically engineered transgenic mosquitoes producing the anti-CSP antibody have recently been generated to reduce malarial transmission. A monoclonal anti-CSP antibody was produced in mice by adeno-associated virus vector, which protected them from malaria. Phase III trials with RTS,S vaccine that targets CSP of Plasmodium falciparum have shown modest efficacy. Polyclonal anti-CSP antibodies derived from children who received the RTS,S vaccine failed to block malarial transmission through mosquitoes, but passive transfer of monoclonal antibodies raised from RTS,S-vaccinated recipient conferred protection against malaria in mice. Taken together, these findings may imply CSP as an antimalarial target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fernández-Arias
- HIV and Malaria Vaccine Program, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Affiliate of The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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Lee HW, Kang YJ, Cho SH, Na BK, Pak JH, Nam HW, Park YK, Sohn Y, Kim TS. Relationship between Antibody-Positive Rate against Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein and Incidence of Malaria. Korean J Parasitol 2015; 53:169-75. [PMID: 25925175 PMCID: PMC4416367 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.2.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between anti-Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibody levels and the prevalence of malaria in epidemic areas of South Korea was evaluated. Blood samples were collected from inhabitants of Gimpo-si (city), Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (county) in Gyeonggi-do (province), as well as Cheorwon-gun in Gangwon-do from November to December 2004. Microscopic examinations were used to identify malaria parasites. ELISA was used to quantitate anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibodies against P. vivax. A total of 1,774 blood samples were collected. The overall CSP-ELISA-positive rate was 7.7% (n=139). The annual parasite incidences (APIs) in these areas gradually decreased from 2004 to 2005 (1.09 and 0.80, respectively). The positive rate in Gimpo (10.4%, 44/425) was the highest identified by CSP-ELISA. The highest API was found in Yeoncheon, followed by Cheorwon, Paju, and Gimpo in both years. The positive rates of CSP-ELISA were closely related to the APIs in the study areas. These results suggest that seroepidemiological studies based on CSP may be helpful in estimating the malaria prevalence in certain areas. In addition, this assay can be used to establish and evaluate malaria control and eradication programs in affected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeong-Woo Lee
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yoon-Joong Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Jungwon University, Goesan, Chungbuk 367-805, Korea
| | - Shin-Hyeong Cho
- Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 363-951, Korea
| | - Byoung-Kuk Na
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-751, Korea
| | - Jhang Ho Pak
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine Asan Medical Center, Seoul 138-736, Korea
| | - Ho-Woo Nam
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Yun-Kyu Park
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
| | - Youngjoo Sohn
- Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
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Volohonsky G, Terenzi O, Soichot J, Naujoks DA, Nolan T, Windbichler N, Kapps D, Smidler AL, Vittu A, Costa G, Steinert S, Levashina EA, Blandin SA, Marois E. Tools for Anopheles gambiae Transgenesis. G3 (Bethesda) 2015; 5:1151-63. [PMID: 25869647 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.016808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Transgenesis is an essential tool to investigate gene function and to introduce desired characters in laboratory organisms. Setting-up transgenesis in non-model organisms is challenging due to the diversity of biological life traits and due to knowledge gaps in genomic information. Some procedures will be broadly applicable to many organisms, and others have to be specifically developed for the target species. Transgenesis in disease vector mosquitoes has existed since the 2000s but has remained limited by the delicate biology of these insects. Here, we report a compilation of the transgenesis tools that we have designed for the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, including new docking strains, convenient transgenesis plasmids, a puromycin resistance selection marker, mosquitoes expressing cre recombinase, and various reporter lines defining the activity of cloned promoters. This toolbox contributed to rendering transgenesis routine in this species and is now enabling the development of increasingly refined genetic manipulations such as targeted mutagenesis. Some of the reagents and procedures reported here are easily transferable to other nonmodel species, including other disease vector or agricultural pest insects.
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White MT, Bejon P, Olotu A, Griffin JT, Bojang K, Lusingu J, Salim N, Abdulla S, Otsyula N, Agnandji ST, Lell B, Asante KP, Owusu-Agyei S, Mahama E, Agbenyega T, Ansong D, Sacarlal J, Aponte JJ, Ghani AC. A combined analysis of immunogenicity, antibody kinetics and vaccine efficacy from phase 2 trials of the RTS,S malaria vaccine. BMC Med 2014; 12:117. [PMID: 25012228 PMCID: PMC4227280 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-014-0117-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The RTS,S malaria vaccine is currently undergoing phase 3 trials. High vaccine-induced antibody titres to the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antigen have been associated with protection from infection and episodes of clinical malaria. METHODS Using data from 5,144 participants in nine phase 2 trials, we explore predictors of vaccine immunogenicity (anti-CSP antibody titres), decay in antibody titres, and the association between antibody titres and clinical outcomes. We use empirically-observed relationships between these factors to predict vaccine efficacy in a range of scenarios. RESULTS Vaccine-induced anti-CSP antibody titres were significantly associated with age (P = 0.04), adjuvant (P <0.001), pre-vaccination anti-hepatitis B surface antigen titres (P = 0.005) and pre-vaccination anti-CSP titres (P <0.001). Co-administration with other vaccines reduced anti-CSP antibody titres although not significantly (P = 0.095). Antibody titres showed a bi-phasic decay over time with an initial rapid decay in the first three months and a second slower decay over the next three to four years. Antibody titres were significantly associated with protection, with a titre of 51 (95% Credible Interval (CrI): 29 to 85) ELISA units/ml (EU/mL) predicted to prevent 50% of infections in children. Vaccine efficacy was predicted to decline to zero over four years in a setting with entomological inoculation rate (EIR) = 20 infectious bites per year (ibpy). Over a five-year follow-up period at an EIR = 20 ibpy, we predict RTS,S will avert 1,782 cases per 1,000 vaccinated children, 1,452 cases per 1,000 vaccinated infants, and 887 cases per 1,000 infants when co-administered with expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) vaccines. Our main study limitations include an absence of vaccine-induced cellular immune responses and short duration of follow-up in some individuals. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine-induced anti-CSP antibody titres and transmission intensity can explain variations in observed vaccine efficacy.
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Nam HW, Song KJ, Ahn HJ, Yang Z, Chong CK, Cho PY, Ahn SK, Kim TS. Probability of antibody formation against circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax among Korean malaria patients. Korean J Parasitol 2014; 52:143-9. [PMID: 24850957 PMCID: PMC4028451 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2014.52.2.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the seroprevalence against circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium vivax in sera of Korean patients, the central repeating domain (CRD) of CSP was cloned and analyzed. From the genomic DNA of patient's blood, 2 kinds of CSPs were identified to belong to a VK210 type, which is the dominant repeating of GDRA(D/A)GQPA, and named as PvCSPA and PvCSPB. Recombinantly expressed his-tagged PvCSPA or PvCSPB in Escherichia coli reacted well against sera of patients in western blot, with the detecting rate of 47.9% (58/121), which included 15 cases positive for PvCSPA, 6 cases positive for PvCSPB, and 37 cases for both. The mixture of PvCSPA and PvCSPB was loaded to a rapid diagnostic test kit (RDT) and applied with the same set of patient sera, which resulted in detection rates of 57.0% (69/121). When the protein sequences of PvCSPA were compared with those of P. vivax in endemic regions of India and Uganda, they were compatibly homologous to PvCSPA with minor mutations. These results suggested that the recombinant PvCSPA and PvCSPB loaded RDT may be a milestone in latent diagnosis which has been a hot issue of domestic malaria and important for radical therapy in overlapped infections with P. falciparum in tropical and subtropical areas. During the biological process of malarial infection, exposure of CSP to antigen-antibody reaction up to 57.0% is the first report in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Woo Nam
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Kyoung Ju Song
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Hye Jin Ahn
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | - Zhaoshou Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea
| | | | - Pyo Yun Cho
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
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Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhao YO, Li MWM, Zhang L, Dragovic S, Abraham NM, Fikrig E. Anopheles gambiae circumsporozoite protein-binding protein facilitates plasmodium infection of mosquito salivary glands. J Infect Dis 2013; 208:1161-9. [PMID: 23801601 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium species, causes substantial morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Plasmodium sporozoites mature in oocysts formed in the mosquito gut wall and then invade the salivary glands, where they remain until transmitted to the vertebrate host during a mosquito bite. The Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (CSP) binds to salivary glands and plays a role in the invasion of this organ by sporozoites. We identified an Anopheles salivary gland protein, named CSP-binding protein (CSPBP), that interacts with CSP. Downregulation of CSPBP in mosquito salivary glands inhibited invasion by Plasmodium organisms. In vivo bioassays showed that mosquitoes that were fed blood with CSPBP antibody displayed a 25% and 90% reduction in the parasite load in infected salivary glands 14 and 18 days after the blood meal, respectively. These results suggest that CSPBP is important for the infection of the mosquito salivary gland by Plasmodium organisms and that blocking CSPBP can interfere with the Plasmodium life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuling Wang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8022, USA
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Jesuíno BS, Casimiro C, do Rosário VE, Silveira H. Effect of antibodies on the expression of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein gene. Int J Med Sci 2006; 3:7-10. [PMID: 16421624 PMCID: PMC1332198 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.3.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2005] [Accepted: 12/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are known to play an important role in the control of malaria infection. However, they can modulate parasite development enhancing infection. The effect of anti-Plasmodium antibodies on the expression of circumsporozoite protein gene (csp) was investigated. Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 in vitro cultures were submitted to: i) anti- circumsporozoite protein monoclonal antibody (anti-CSP-mAb) [1microg/ml, 0.1microg/ml, 0.01microg/ml and 0.001microg/ml] and ii) purified IgG Fab fragment from a pool of malaria patients [1mg/ml and 1microg/ml]; and compared to control cultures. After 24h the number of ring infected erythrocytes was determined in order to calculate invasion efficacy. At 48h culture supernatant was collected, and the amount of circumsporozoite protein determined by ELISA, parasitaemia was calculated and cells were processed for RNA preparation. Expression of csp gene was quantified using Real time RT-PCR. There was an increase in parasite growth when treated with lower anti-CSP-mAb concentration, which was associated with lower csp expression, while 1mug/ml anti-CSP-mAb treatment presented a growth inhibitory effect accompanied by high csp expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Jesuíno
- Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, UEI Malária, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 96, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
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Kho WG, Park YH, Chung JY, Kim JP, Hong ST, Lee WJ, Kim TS, Lee JS. Two new genotypes of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein found in the Republic of Korea. Korean J Parasitol 1999; 37:265-70. [PMID: 10634043 PMCID: PMC2733204 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.1999.37.4.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The gene encoding Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP) exhibits polymorphism in many geographical isolates. The present study was designed to investigate polymorphism in PvCSP gene of P. vivax isolates in Korea. Thirty isolates, obtained from indigenous cases in Yonchon-gun, Kyonggi-do in 1997, were subjected for sequencing and RFLP analysis of the repeat and post-repeat regions of PvCSP gene and two genotypes (SK-A and SK-B) were identified. The genotype of 19 isolates was SK-A and that of 11 isolates was SK-B. Although the number of 12-base repeats present in SK-A was three while two were found in a Chinese strain CH-5, the repeat sequence of SK-A was identical to that of CH-5 except for one base substitution. Compared with known data there was no identical isolates with SK-B, but the sequence of SK-B was similar to that of a North Korean (NK) isolate. These results indicate that two genotypes of PvCSP coexist in the present epidemic area of Korea and the present parasite may originate from East Asia. RFLP would be useful to classify genotypes of P. vivax population instead of gene sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Kho
- Department of Parasitology, Inje University College of Medicine, Pusan, Korea.
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Sidjanski SP, Vanderberg JP, Sinnis P. Anopheles stephensi salivary glands bear receptors for region I of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1997; 90:33-41. [PMID: 9497030 PMCID: PMC4011076 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(97)00124-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites rupture from oocysts found on the midgut wall, circulate in the hemolymph and invade salivary glands where they wait to be injected into a vertebrate host during a bloodmeal. The mechanisms by which sporozoites specifically attach to and invade salivary glands are not known but evidence suggests that it is a receptor-mediated process. Here we show that the major surface protein of sporozoites, the circumsporozoite protein (CS), binds preferentially to salivary glands when compared to other organs exposed to the circulating hemolymph. In addition, we show that a peptide encompassing region I, a highly conserved sequence found in all rodent and primate Plasmodium CS proteins, inhibits binding of CS to mosquito salivary glands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Photini Sinnis
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 212 2635346; fax: +1 212 2638179;
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Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the agent of malignant malaria, is one of mankind's most severe scourges. Efforts to develop preventive vaccines or remedial drugs are handicapped by the parasite's rapid evolution of drug resistance and protective antigens. We examine 25 DNA sequences of the gene coding for the highly polymorphic antigenic circumsporozoite protein. We observe total absence of silent nucleotide variation in the two nonrepeated regions of the gene. We propose that this absence reflects a recent origin (within several thousand years) of the world populations of P. falciparum from a single individual; the amino acid polymorphisms observed in these nonrepeat regions would result from strong natural selection. Analysis of these polymorphisms indicates that: (i) the incidence of recombination events does not increase with nucleotide distance; (ii) the strength of linkage disequilibrium between nucleotides is also independent of distance; and (iii) haplotypes in the two nonrepeat regions are correlated with one another, but not with the central repeat region they span. We propose two hypotheses: (i) variation in the highly polymorphic central repeat region arises by mitotic intragenic recombination, and (ii) the population structure of P. falciparum is clonal--a state of affairs that persists in spite of the necessary stage of physiological sexuality that the parasite must sustain in the mosquito vector to complete its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Rich
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697-2525, USA
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