Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein encapsulated in oligomannose-coated liposomes confers protection against sporozoite infection in mice.
BACKGROUND
The design and development of an effective malaria vaccine against the pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic-stages of infection present a great challenge.


METHODS
In the present study, protective efficacy of oligomannose-coated liposome (OML)-entrapped merozoite and sporozoite antigens against Plasmodium berghei challenge infection in BALB/c mice was evaluated.


RESULTS
Subcutaneous immunization with truncated merozoite surface protein 1 entrapped with OML (OML-PbMSP1) prolonged survival, but failed to protect the mice from erythrocytic-stage infection, despite the antigen-specific antibody responses induced by the immunization regimen. In contrast, immunization with circumsporozoite protein entrapped with OML (OML-PbCSP) elicited antigen-specific humoral and cellular responses, which correlated with substantial protection against sporozoite challenge infections.


CONCLUSIONS
The current results represent the use of an oligomannose-coated liposome-based vaccine against pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stages malaria infection. This approach may offer a new vaccination strategy against malaria infection.
Mohamad Alaa
MA
Terkawi
Yasuhiro
Y
Kuroda
Shinya
S
Fukumoto
Sachi
S
Tanaka
Naoya
N
Kojima
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. nisikawa@obihiro.ac.jp.
Yoshifumi
Y
Nishikawa
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008081:Liposomes / Q000276:immunology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D008358:Mannose; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D034101:Sporozoites / Q000276:immunology*
D008081:Liposomes; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C041595:circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan; D008358:Mannose