Vaccine-like immunity against malaria by repeated causal-prophylactic treatment of liver-stage Plasmodium parasites.
Liver-stage development of Plasmodium parasites represents a dramatic expansion phase for the malarial parasite between vector transmission and onset of the pathogenic blood-stage cycle. Here, we report that repeated causal-prophylactic primaquine treatment of liver-stage Plasmodium parasites in rodents elicits vaccine-like protective immunity against sporozoite-induced malaria. This regimen differs fundamentally from those involving radiation- or genetically attenuated parasites, in which long-lasting immune responses are dependent on persistence of metabolically active parasites. Pharmacological inhibition of liver-stage parasites in the rodent malaria model offers a potential fast track toward development of a vaccine that targets parasites in preerythrocytic stages.
1Department of Parasitology, Heidelberg University School of Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
Elyzana Dewi
ED
Putrianti
Olivier
O
Silvie
Maximilian
M
Kordes
Steffen
S
Borrmann
Kai
K
Matuschewski
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology*; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000276:immunology*
D017780:Malaria Vaccines