Development and characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies against allelic variants of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax (VK210, VK247, and Pv-like) and its C-terminal region.

• Grant number: 24/21160-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Beatriz Boscardin
• Grantee: Kenya Elizana de Souza Abreu
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is widely distributed across various regions of the world, posing a challenge for disease control. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP), present on the surface of P. vivax sporozoites, plays a crucial role in hepatocyte invasion. However, the allelic variants of CSP, known as VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like, have distinct sequences that complicate the development of universal vaccines. In this context, the present work aims to produce and characterize murine monoclonal antibodies against these three allelic variants of CSP and the conserved C-terminal region of the protein. C57BL/6 mice will be immunized with recombinant proteins containing the CSP allelic variants. Based on the animals' immune response, monoclonal antibodies will be produced using the hybridoma technique and subsequently undergo purification and characterization processes to evaluate their specificity and affinity for the target proteins. Tests such as ELISA, Western Blot, and Dot Blot will be performed to determine and characterize the specificity of the generated antibodies. The antibodies produced in this study may serve as quality control tools in the development of CSP-based vaccines, as well as enable further studies on the immune response against different P. vivax variants, contributing to progress in combating vivax malaria.