Recombinant viral-vectored vaccines expressing Plasmodium chabaudi AS apical membrane antigen 1: mechanisms of vaccine-induced blood-stage protection

J Immunol. 2012 May 15;188(10):5041-53. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101106. Epub 2012 Apr 13.

Abstract

Apical membrane Ag 1 (AMA1) is one of the leading candidate Ags for inclusion in a subunit vaccine against blood-stage malaria. However, the efficacy of Ab-inducing recombinant AMA1 protein vaccines in phase IIa/b clinical trials remains disappointing. In this article, we describe the development of recombinant human adenovirus serotype 5 and modified vaccinia virus Ankara vectors encoding AMA1 from the Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi strain AS. These vectors, when used in a heterologous prime-boost regimen in BALB/c mice, are capable of inducing strong transgene-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. We show that this vaccination regimen is protective against a nonlethal P. chabaudi chabaudi strain AS blood-stage challenge, resulting in reduced peak parasitemias. The role of vaccine-induced, AMA1-specific Abs and T cells in mediating the antiparasite effect was investigated by in vivo depletion of CD4(+) T cells and adoptive-transfer studies into naive and immunodeficient mice. Depletion of CD4(+) T cells led to a loss of vaccine-induced protection. Adoptive-transfer studies confirmed that efficacy is mediated by both CD4(+) T cells and Abs functioning in the context of an intact immune system. Unlike previous studies, these results confirm that Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells, induced by a clinically relevant vaccine-delivery platform, can make a significant contribution to vaccine blood-stage efficacy in the P. chabaudi model. Given that cell-mediated immunity may also contribute to parasite control in human malaria, these data support the clinical development of viral-vectored vaccines that induce both T cell and Abs against Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage malaria Ags like AMA1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviruses, Human / genetics
  • Adenoviruses, Human / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Malaria Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Malaria Vaccines / genetics*
  • Malaria Vaccines / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / blood
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / prevention & control
  • Membrane Proteins / blood
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmodium chabaudi / genetics
  • Plasmodium chabaudi / immunology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / blood
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology
  • Vaccines, Subunit / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Subunit / genetics
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vaccinia virus / genetics
  • Vaccinia virus / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JF690775