A hybrid gene to express protein epitopes from both sporozoite and merozoite surface antigens of Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

The DNA coding for parts of the repetitive amino acid sequence of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein has been spliced to a sequence encoding part of the precursor to the major merozoite surface antigens, to produce a hybrid gene. Expression in Escherichia coli produces a protein with antigenic determinants from both malaria proteins. Antibodies raised against the expressed material react with both a peptide derived from the circumsporozoite repeat sequence, and the merozoite surface molecule. Hybrid molecules of this type may be the basis of a malaria vaccine.