A Plasmodium falciparum 48/45 single epitope R0.6C subunit protein elicits high levels of transmission blocking antibodies

作者：Singh Susheel K; Roeffen Will; Andersen Gorm; Bousema Teun; Christiansen Michael; Sauerwein Robert; Theisen Michael^*

来源：Vaccine, 2015, 33(16): 1981-1986.

DOI：10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.02.040

• Plasmodium falciparum
• Pfs48/45
• GLURP
• Transmission blocking
• SMFA

The sexual stage Pfs48/45 antigen is a well-established lead candidate for a transmission blocking (TB) vaccine because of its critical role in parasite fertilization. We have recently produced the carboxyterminal 10C-fragment of Pfs48/45 containing three known epitopes for TB antibodies as a chimera with the N-terminal region of GLURP (R0). The resulting fusion protein elicited high titer TB antibodies in rodents. To increase the relatively low yield of correctly folded Pfs48/45 we have generated a series of novel chimera truncating the 10C-fragments to 6 cysteine residues containing sub-units (6C). All constructs harbor the major epitope I for TB antibodies. One of these sub-units (R0.6Cc), produced high yields of correctly folded conformers, which could be purified by a simple 2-step procedure. Purified R0.6Cc was stable and elicits high titer TB antibodies in rats. The yield, purity and stability of R0.6Cc allows for further clinical development.

• 出版日期2015-4-15