Optimization of chimeric multi-stage immunogens for malaria vaccine development

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Malaria is one of the most widespread infectious diseases, prevalent in over 100 countries worldwide. Half of the human population is living in areas with risk of transmission. Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent of the human malaria parasites outside Africa with an estimated 80% of the cases in South and Southeast Asia and 70% in the Americas. According to the World Health Organization malaria parasites are responsible for over 3% of the years of life lost. The economic impact is also enormous with an estimated average loss of 1.3% of annual economic growth in high transmission areas. The development of effective vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and the implementation of anti-vector measures are global health priorities to control the disease. The overall goal of this research proposal is to develop an effective multi-stage P. vivax vaccine. We have recently shown that a hybrid protein vaccine designed by genetic fusion of pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stage components induced a robust protective immune response in a very sensitive rodent system. Functional antibodies and CD4+ T cells are required for protection. We have also used a novel chimeric adenovirus vector to deliver such protective antigen and have confirmed that heterologous immunization regimens enhanced vaccine potency. The corresponding orthologous sequences in P. vivax have also been expressed as chimeric recombinant proteins. A critical biological feature of P. vivax is the development of dormant forms in the liver that cause subsequent blood infections known as relapses. We hypothesize that the multi-stage P. vivax vaccine proposed here will have a significant impact on malaria relapses. To test this hypothesis, we will conduct in vitro and in vivo studies with P. cynomolgi, a simian malaria parasite that reproduces the biological and clinical features of the human parasite P. vivax. The studies proposed are aimed at: (1) developing multi-stage P. cynomolgi experimental vaccine constructs, (2) assessing the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the P. cynomolgi multi-stage constructs in rhesus macaques and (3) optimizing a P. vivax multi-stage vaccine candidate and evaluating efficacy in non-human primates (Saimiri boliviensis). This rigorous testing, using two unique and complementary non-human primate models, will determine if the approach is promising and will offer the potential for subsequent clinical pathway development. Given the dramatic impact of malaria with increasing attention on the widespread and severe nature of P. vivax and the urgent need of novel control measures, our proposal is both significant and timely.