Cloning, expression and transmission-blocking activity of anti-PvWARP, malaria vaccine candidate, in Anopheles stephensi mysorensis.
BACKGROUND
Notwithstanding progress in recent years, a safe, an effective and affordable malaria vaccine is not available yet. Ookinete-secreted protein, Plasmodium vivax von Willebrand factor A domain-related protein (PvWARP), is a candidate for malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs).


METHODS
The PvWARP was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 using the pET-23a vector and was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography from a soluble fraction. Polyclonal antibody was raised against rPvWARP and transmission blocking activity was carried out in an Anopheles stephensi-P. vivax model.


RESULTS
Expression of full length of PvWARP (minus signal peptide) expression showed a 35-kDa protein. The purified protein was recognized by mouse polyclonal antibody directed against rPvWARP. Sera from the animals displayed significantly a blocking activity in the membrane feeding assay of An. stephensi mysorensis.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on P. vivax WARP expression in E. coli that provides an essential base for development of the malaria TBV against P. vivax. This may greatly assist in malaria elimination, especially in the oriental corner of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO/EMRO) including Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
Department of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran, PO Box 6446-14155, Tehran, Iran.
Saber
S
Gholizadeh
Hamid Reza
HR
Basseri
Sedigheh
S
Zakeri
Hossein
H
Ladoni
Navid Dinparast
ND
Djadid
D000346:Afghanistan; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007492:Iran; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010154:Pakistan; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C434321:WARP protein, Plasmodium