Genetic diversity and immunogenicity of MAEBL amongst Plasmodium vivax field isolates

• Grant number: 15/02808-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
• Grantee: Najara Carneiro Bittencourt
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Each year, the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax infects 70 to 80 million people worldwide. In Brazil, P. vivax accounts for 83.6% of malaria cases, being considered as the most frequent species of Plasmodium in the country. Unlike Plasmodium falciparum, infections caused by P. vivax are rarely lethal. However, P. vivax has a significant impact on the productivity of the local population as the course of the infection is usually prolonged and the development of acquired immunity in endemic areas takes several years. The recent emergence of drug-resistant strains and complications on P. vivax infection leads to intensified research on definitive control methods such as the development of vaccines. MAEBL is a chimeric molecule expressed on infected erythrocytes and has an amino terminal rich in cysteine, transmembrane domain, cytoplasmic domain and two other domains (M1 and M2). Although both domains are involved in the binding to erythrocyte, M2 domain is essential for merozoite invasion, and exhibits higher adhesiveness. Recently, it was shown that MAEBL is also expressed in the salivary gland sporozoites and infected hepatocytes. Moreover, the gene that codifies MAEBL was identified in different Plasmodium species, including P. vivax. These features of MAEBL open perspectives for the development of an experimental vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stages of the parasite. Knowing that genetic diversity of an antigen can jeopardize the effectiveness of a vaccine, herein, we aim to characterize the diversity of MAEBL from Brazilian P. vivax field isolates. Furthermore, this design will evaluate the immunogenicity of the main variants of this protein in a population exposed to vivax malaria. The results of this project will be of great value for understanding and validation of MAEBL as a vaccine candidate in vivax malaria. (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)

BITTENCOURT, NAJARA CARNEIRO; IUNG ENEMBRECK DA SILVA, ANA BEATRIZ; VIRGILI, NATALIA SILVEIRA; SCHAPPO, ANA PAULA; GERVASIO, JOAO HENRIQUE D. B.; PIMENTA, TAMIRYS S.; KUJBIDA JUNIOR, MARIO A.; VENTURA, ANA MARIA R. S.; LIBONATI, ROSANA M. F.; SILVA-FILHO, JOAO LUIZ; DOS SANTOS, HELLEN GEREMIAS; LOPES, STEFANIE C. P.; LACERDA, MARCUS V. G.; MACHADO, RICARDO L. D.; COSTA, FABIO T. M.; ALBRECHT, LETUSA. Plasmodium vivaxAMA1: Implications of distinct haplotypes for immune response. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 14, n. 7 JUL 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

BITTENCOURT, NAJARA C.; LEITE, JULIANA A.; SILVA, ANA BEATRIZ I. E.; PIMENTA, TAMIRYS S.; SILVA-FILHO, JOAO LUIZ; CASSIANO, GUSTAVO C.; LOPES, STEFANIE C. P.; DOS-SANTOS, JOAO C. K.; BOURGARD, CATARINA; NAKAYA, HELDER I.; REVOREDO DA SILVA VENTURA, ANA MARIA; LACERDA, MARCUS V. G.; FERREIRA, MARCELO U.; MACHADO, RICARDO L. D.; ALBRECHT, LETUSA; COSTA, FABIO T. M. Genetic sequence characterization and naturally acquired immune response to Plasmodium vivax Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 (PvRON2). Malaria Journal, v. 17, OCT 31 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.

Academic Publications

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

BITTENCOURT, Najara Carneiro. Genetic diversity and immunogenicity analysis of MAEBL and RON2 of Plasmodium vivax. 2017. Master's Dissertation.