Phase 1 study of two merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(42)) vaccines for Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and immunogenicity of two vaccines, MSP1(42)-FVO/Alhydrogel and MSP1(42)-3D7/Alhydrogel, targeting blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites.


METHODS
A Phase 1 open-label, dose-escalating study.


METHODS
Quintiles Phase 1 Services, Lenexa, Kansas between July 2004 and November 2005.


METHODS
Sixty healthy malaria-naïve volunteers 18-48 y of age.


METHODS
The C-terminal 42-kDa region of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(42)) corresponding to the two allelic forms present in FVO and 3D7 P. falciparum lines were expressed in Escherichia coli, refolded, purified, and formulated on Alhydrogel (aluminum hydroxide). For each vaccine, volunteers in each of three dose cohorts (5, 20, and 80 microg) were vaccinated at 0, 28, and 180 d. Volunteers were followed for 1 y.


METHODS
The safety of MSP1(42)-FVO/Alhydrogel and MSP1(42)-3D7/Alhydrogel was assessed. The antibody response to each vaccine was measured by reactivity to homologous and heterologous MSP1(42), MSP1(19), and MSP1(33) recombinant proteins and recognition of FVO and 3D7 parasites.


RESULTS
Anti-MSP1(42) antibodies were detected by ELISA in 20/27 (74%) and 22/27 (81%) volunteers receiving three vaccinations of MSP1(42)-FVO/Alhydrogel or MSP1(42)-3D7/Alhydrogel, respectively. Regardless of the vaccine, the antibodies were cross-reactive to both MSP1(42)-FVO and MSP1(42)-3D7 proteins. The majority of the antibody response targeted the C-terminal 19-kDa domain of MSP1(42), although low-level antibodies to the N-terminal 33-kDa domain of MSP1(42) were also detected. Immunofluorescence microscopy of sera from the volunteers demonstrated reactivity with both FVO and 3D7 P. falciparum schizonts and free merozoites. Minimal in vitro growth inhibition of FVO or 3D7 parasites by purified IgG from the sera of the vaccinees was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The MSP1(42)/Alhydrogel vaccines were safe and well tolerated but not sufficiently immunogenic to generate a biologic effect in vitro. Addition of immunostimulants to the Alhydrogel formulation to elicit higher vaccine-induced responses in humans may be required for an effective vaccine.
Malkin
Elissa
E
Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America.
Long
Carole A
CA
Stowers
Anthony W
AW
Zou
Lanling
L
Singh
Sanjay
S
MacDonald
Nicholas J
NJ
Narum
David L
DL
Miles
Aaron P
AP
Orcutt
Andrew C
AC
Muratova
Olga
O
Moretz
Samuel E
SE
Zhou
Hong
H
Diouf
Ababacar
A
Fay
Michael
M
Tierney
Eveline
E
Leese
Philip
P
Mahanty
Siddhartha
S
Miller
Louis H
LH
Saul
Allan
A
Martin
Laura B
LB