title: Genetic immunization of BALB/c mice with a plasmid bearing the gene coding for a hybrid merozoite surface protein 1-hepatitis B virus surface protein fusion protects mice against lethal Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi PC1 infection.
abstract: The genetic immunization of rodents with a plasmid coding for a Plasmodium chabaudi merozoite surface protein 1 (C terminus)-hepatitis B virus surface fusion protein (pPcMSP1(19)-HBs) provided protection of mice against subsequent lethal challenge with P. chabaudi chabaudi PC1-infected red blood cells. The percentage of survivor mice was higher in DNA-immunized mice than in animals immunized with a recombinant rPcMSP1(19)- glutathione S-transferase fusion protein administered in Freund adjuvant. In all mice immunized with the pPcMSP1(19)-HBs, a Th1-specific response, including the production of anti-MSP1(19)-specific immunoglobulins predominantly of the immunoglobulin G2a subtype and reacting almost exclusively against discontinuous epitopes, was elicited. The coinjection of Th1-type cytokine-expressing plasmids (gamma interferon, interleukin-2, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) mostly abolished protection and boosting of MSP1(19)-specific antibodies. The inclusion of a lymph node-targeting signal did not significantly increase protection. These data provide further evidence that MSP1(19)-HBs DNA constructs might be useful as components of a genetic vaccine against the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Ciências Biomédicas 2, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, CEP 05508-900, Brazil. gwunder@usp.br
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wunderlich
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: del Portillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D005982:Glutathione Transferase