High, sustained levels of the antibody immunoglobulin G (IgG) are key to the development of an effective blood-stage vaccine. These IgG levels are necessary for neutralizing the invasion of red blood cells by merozoites, which continues to be a critical challenge in clinical and preclinical studies of Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homologue 5 (PfRH5) vaccines.
 
This project aims to define a more robust PfRH5 immunogen, and to improve upon the antibody response generated by the PfRH5 vaccine by using a delivery platform based on a virus-like particle (VLP), rather than on a protein-in-adjuvant formulation alone.

 

Related resources:

Payne RO, Silk SE, Elias SC, Miura K, Diouf A, et al.
Human vaccination against RH5 induces neutralizing antimalarial antibodies that inhibit RH5 invasion complex interactions. JCI Insight 2017; 2(21):e96381.

Hjerrild KA, Jin J, Wright KE, Brown RE, Marshall JM, et al.
Production of full-length soluble Plasmodium falciparum RH5 protein vaccine using a Drosophila melanogaster Schneider 2 stable cell line system. Scientific Reports. 2016; 6:30357.