Vectored antibody gene delivery protects against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite challenge in mice

Cailin Deal, Alejandro B. Balazs, Diego A. Espinosa, Fidel Zavala, David Baltimore, Gary Ketner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum kills nearly one million children each year and imposes crippling economic burdens on families and nations worldwide. No licensed vaccine exists, but infection can be prevented by antibodies against the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the major surface protein of sporozoites, the form of the parasite injected by mosquitoes. We have used vectored immunoprophylaxis (VIP), an adeno-associated virus-based technology, to introduce preformed antibody genes encoding anti-P. falciparum CSP mAb into mice. VIP vector-transduced mice exhibited long-lived mAb expression at up to 1,200 μg/mL in serum, and up to 70% were protected from both i.v. and mosquito bite challenge with transgenic Plasmodium berghei rodent sporozoites that incorporate the P. falciparum target of the mAb in their CSP. Serum antibody levels and protection from mosquito bite challenge were dependent on the dose of the VIP vector. All individual mice expressing CSP-specific mAb 2A10 at 1 mg/mL or more were completely protected, suggesting that in this model system, exceeding that threshold results in consistent sterile protection. Our results demonstrate the potential of VIP as a path toward the elusive goal of immunization against malaria.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12528-12532
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume111
Issue number34
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 26 2014

Keywords

  • AAV
  • Vectored gene delivery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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