Discovery of novel blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates based on the molecular function

PfRipr gene was most highly conserved among the four genes investigated. In addition, we expressed recombinant proteins for the four candidates based on P. falciparum laboratory strain 3D7 sequences, immunized rabbits to obtain specific antibodies and performed functional growth inhibition assay (GIA) on the heterologous FVO parasite strain.We expressed 142 putative merozoite specific recombinant proteins with 34 bounded to the RBC surface. We then analyzed extent of polymorphism in four promising RBC-binding proteins, PfRipr, PfRALP1, PfGAMA, and PfMSPDBL1 using clinical isolates from a region of high malaria transmission in Uganda. The GIA activity of anti-PfRipr antibody was highest among the four antibodies even on the polymorphic FVO parasite strain. Thus, PfRipr is regarded as a promising blood-stage malaria vaccine against P. falciparum.

Project details

Vaccines

Jun 2014 — Mar 2017

$362,431

Japan