title: Plasmodium berghei merozoite surface protein-9: immunogenicity and protective efficacy using a homologous challenge model.
abstract: Merozoite surface protein-9 (MSP-9) from Plasmodium is considered a promising vaccine candidate due to its location and possible role in erythrocyte invasion. We report the identification and characterization of Plasmodium berghei MSP-9 (PbMSP-9) and its properties as an immunogen using a recombinant PbMSP-9 fragment to immunize BALB/c mice. PbMSP-9 was found to harbor erythrocyte binding and serine protease activity. PbMSP-9 formulation in alum was highly immunogenic in BALB/c mice. To evaluate the protective efficacy, immunized mice were submitted to homologous challenge with P. berghei NK65 blood-stage parasites. Protection against the parasite challenge was observed in BALB/c mice immunized with the PbMSP-9 formulation. These results suggest for the first time that MSP-9 based immunogens may constitute part of an effective malaria vaccine.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, PO Box 10504, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Tatiana Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lopera-Mesa
authors.forename: Ashima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kushwaha
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohmmed
authors.forename: Virander Singh
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C455300:merozoite surface protein 9, Plasmodium