Antibody and T cell responses in reciprocal prime-boost studies with full-length and truncated merozoite surface protein 1-42 vaccines

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 30;8(9):e75939. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075939. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The P. falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 1-42 (MSP1-42) is one of the most studied malaria subunit vaccine candidates. The N-terminal fragment of MSP1-42, MSP1-33, is primarily composed of allelic sequences, and has been shown to possess T helper epitopes that influence protective antibody responses toward the C-terminal region, MSP1-19. A truncated MSP1-42 vaccine, Construct 33-I, consisting of exclusively conserved T epitope regions of MSP1-33 expressed in tandem with MSP1-19, was previously shown to be a more effective immunogen than the full-length MSP1-42 vaccine. Here, by way of reciprocal priming/boosting immunization regimens, we studied the immunogenicity of Construct 33-I in the context of recognition by immune responses induced by the full-length native MSP1-42 protein, in order to gauge the effects of pre- and post-exposures to MSP1-42 on vaccine induced responses. Judging by immune responsiveness, antibody and T cell responses, Construct 33-I was effective as the priming antigen followed by full-length MSP1-42 boosting, as well as the boosting antigen following full-length MSP1-42 priming. In particular, Construct 33-I priming elicited the broadest responsiveness in immunized animals subsequently exposed to MSP1-42. Moreover, Construct 33-I, with its conserved MSP1-33 specific T cell epitopes, was equally well recognized by homologous and heterologous allelic forms of MSP1-42. Serum antibodies raised against Construct 33-I efficiently inhibited the growth of parasites carrying the heterologous MSP1-42 allele. These results suggest that Construct 33-I maintains and/or enhances its immunogenicity in an allelic or strain transcending fashion when deployed in populations having prior or subsequent exposures to native MSP1-42s.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Immunization / methods*
  • Malaria / immunology
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Malaria Vaccines / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Rabbits
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Subtilisins / genetics
  • Subtilisins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Subtilisins
  • sub-2 protein, Plasmodium falciparum