Characterization of a novel Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface antigen and potential vaccine target

Journal article

IntroductionDetailed analyses of genetic diversity, antigenic variability, protein localization and immunological responses are vital for the prioritization of novel malaria vaccine candidates. Comprehensive approaches to determine the most appropriate antigen variants needed to provide broad protection are challenging and consequently rarely undertaken.MethodsHere, we characterized PF3D7_1136200, which we named Asparagine-Rich Merozoite Antigen (ARMA) based on the analysis of its sequence, localization and immunogenicity. We analyzed IgG and IgM responses against the common variants of ARMA in independent prospective cohort studies in Burkina Faso (N = 228), Kenya (N = 252) and Mali (N = 195) using a custom microarray, Div-KILCHIP.ResultsWe found a marked population structure between parasites from Africa and Asia. African isolates shared 34 common haplotypes, including a dominant pair although the overall selection pressure was directional (Tajima’s D = -2.57; Fu and Li’s F = -9.69; P DiscussionOur systematic strategy exploits genomic data to deduce the handful of antigen variants with the strongest potential to induce broad protection and may be broadly applicable to other complex pathogens for which effective vaccines remain elusive.

Authors: Niaré, K; Chege, T; Rosenkranz, M; Mwai, K; Saßmannshausen, Z

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
• Volume: 14
• Pages: 1156806-1156806
• Article number: 1156806
• Publication date: 2023-04-14
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1156806
• EISSN: 1664-3224
• ISSN: 1664-3224
• Language: English
• Keywords: Immunology; Malaria; Antigen; Serology; Immunogenicity; Medicine; Population; Malaria vaccine; Antibody; Epitope; Merozoite surface protein; Biology; Virology; Genetics; Plasmodium falciparum