Immunogenic evaluation of recombinant proteins expressed in Pichia pastoris based on Plasmodium vivax antigens from different parasite stages

• Grant number: 09/15099-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Irene da Silva Soares
• Grantee: Luciana Chagas de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Malaria is a serious public health problem worldwide that is recognized as a priority for research and vaccine development. This infectious disease is caused by the parasite Plasmodium. P. vivax is the specie of higher distribution around the world and higher prevalence in the Americas. Despite the intense research efforts in this area, so far, there is no effective vaccine against malaria infection. The complexity of the life cycle and intense antigenic diversity of the parasite infer that it is unlikely that an effective vaccine formulation will be achieved using a single target antigen. In this context, combination of immunodominant regions of antigens from different stages of life cycle of the parasite in a single vaccine formulation has a better prognosis for the induction of protective immune responses. Multistage multi-antigen strategies will aim at improving the anti-parasitic activity and reduce the significant selection of parasites resistant to human immune action. Thus, we propose to evaluate the immunogenic properties in mice of a vaccine formulation composed of pre-erythrocytic and asexual erythrocytic stages of the parasite. Two recombinant proteins, PvAMA-1 and PvCs-All, will be obtained by the yeast expression system Pichia pastoris. They will be purified by affinity chromatography followed by ion exchange chromatography. CS-All chimeric construct is a novel of Circumsporozoite Protein (CS) that merges epitopes mapped in the repeats of central region of three P. vivax strain variants, VK210, VK247 and P. vivax like, permitting coverage of the allelic variability of this immunodominant pre-erythrocytic stage antigen. It is our hypothesis that CS-All is capable of inducing a significant immune response which can be enhanced by the combination with an Apical Membrane Antigen (AMA-1), that has been previously characterized by our group. Immunizations will be performed in the same vaccine formulation with the recombinant proteins inoculated individually or in combination. We will evaluate the specific antibodies by ELISA and by indirect immunofluorescence to confirm the recognition of the native protein. Cellular immune responses will be determined by T cell proliferation and cytokine production. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE CAMARGO, TARSILA MENDES; DE FREITAS, ELISANGELA OLIVEIRA; GIMENEZ, ALBA MARINA; LIMA, LUCIANA CHAGAS; CARAMICO, KARINA DE ALMEIDA; FRANCOSO, KATIA SANCHES; BRUNA-ROMERO, OSCAR; ANDOLINA, CHIARA; NOSTEN, FRANCOIS; RENIA, LAURENT; et al. Prime-boost vaccination with recombinant protein and adenovirus-vector expressing Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) partially protects mice against Pb/Pv sporozoite challenge. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 8, JAN 18 2018. (12/13032-5, 09/15099-7, 14/18102-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LIMA, Luciana Chagas de. Immunogenic evaluation of recombinant proteins expressed in Pichia pastoris based on Plasmodium vivax antigens from different parasite stages. 2014. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) São Paulo.