The TLR9 agonist CpG fails to enhance the acquisition of Plasmodium falciparum-specific memory B cells in semi-immune adults in Mali.
Antibodies play a key role in controlling blood stage malaria infections, and an effective blood stage malaria vaccine will likely require that it induce vaccine-specific memory B cells (MBCs). Our previous studies showed that the addition of the TLR9 agonist CpG to Plasmodium falciparum protein subunit vaccines greatly increased their efficacy in inducing MBCs in nonimmune U.S. volunteers. Here we show that in contrast the same CpG-containing malaria vaccine did not enhance the acquisition of MBCs in semi-immune adults living in Mali. Understanding the molecular basis of this apparent refractoriness to TLR9 agonist will be of significant interest in vaccine design.
Traore
Boubacar
B
Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odonto-Stomatology, Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases-BP 1805 Bamako, Mali. Bouba.traore@mrtcbko.org
Koné
Younoussou
Y
Doumbo
Safiatou
S
Doumtabé
Didier
D
Traoré
Abdramane
A
Crompton
Peter D
PD
Mircetic
Marko
M
Huang
Chiung-Yu
CY
Kayentao
Kassoum
K
Dicko
Alassane
A
Sagara
Issaka
I
Ellis
Ruth D
RD
Miura
Kazutoyo
K
Guindo
Agnes
A
Miller
Louis H
LH
Doumbo
Ogobara K
OK
Pierce
Susan K
SK
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008302:Mali; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; C483020:ProMune; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit