title: Apical membrane antigen 1: a malaria vaccine candidate in review.
abstract: Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is a micronemal protein of apicomplexan parasites that appears to be essential during the invasion of host cells. Immune responses to Plasmodium AMA1 can have profound parasite-inhibitory effects, both as measured in vitro and in animal challenge models, suggesting AMA1 as a potential vaccine component. However, AMA1 is polymorphic, probably as a result of immune selection operating on an important target of naturally occurring immunity. The current understanding of AMA1 will be presented, particularly in relation to the vaccine potential of AMA1 and the approaches being taken towards clinical development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edmond J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Remarque
authors.forename: Bart W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Clemens H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kocken
authors.forename: Alan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C090077:apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium