UCSD. US: Cheap, green technique advances efforts toward malaria transmission vaccine in humans.
Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
used algae as a mini-factory to produce a malaria parasite protein. The
algae-produced protein, paired with an immune-boosting cocktail
suitable for use in humans, generated antibodies in mice that nearly
eliminated mosquito infection by the malaria parasite. The method,
published Feb. 17 by Infection and Immunity, is the newest attempt to develop a vaccine that prevents transmission of the malaria parasite from host to mosquito.
“Most malaria vaccine approaches are aimed at preventing humans from
becoming infected when bitten by mosquitos that carry the parasite,”
said Joseph M. Vinetz, MD, professor of medicine and senior author of
the study. “Our approach is to prevent transmission of the malaria
parasite from infected humans to mosquitoes. This approach is similar to
that of the current measles vaccine, which is such a hot topic of
discussion these days, because the goal is to generate herd immunity in a
population. We think that this approach is key to global malaria
elimination, too.”
To do this, Vinetz and team wanted to produce a large quantity of
properly folded Pfs25, a protein found on the surface of the malaria
parasite’s reproductive cells, which are only present within the
mosquito’s gut after it feeds on a malaria-infected blood meal. Since
antibodies against Pfs25 can halt the parasite's lifecycle in the
mosquito, they might also block transmission of the parasite to the next
host.
However, properly folded Pfs25 that induces transmission-blocking
antibodies has been difficult to produce in the lab. To overcome this
problem, researchers turned to an algae better known for its ability to
produce sustainable biofuels. They introduced the Pfs25 gene into the
algae by shooting the DNA into the plant cell’s nucleus. Then, after
they let the algae do the work of replicating, building and folding the
protein, the team was able to purify enough functional Pfs25 for
laboratory testing.
Besides its effectiveness as a protein producer, algae is an
advantageous tool for developing vaccines because it’s cheap, easy and
environmentally friendly. The only requirement is simple chemical
nutrients to feed the algae, which can be grown in plastic bags and
easily scaled up to produce large quantities of desired proteins.
Vinetz and collaborators at the Infectious Disease Research Institute
in Seattle also tested several new adjuvants, molecules that help
stimulate the immune system’s response to Pfs25. The best Pfs25/adjuvant
combination elicited a uniquely robust antibody response in mice with
high affinity and avidity — antibodies that specifically and strongly
reacted with the malaria parasite’s reproductive cells.
Mosquitos were fed malaria parasites in the presence of control serum
or immune serum collected from mice vaccinated with algae-produced
Pfs25 in the presence of the new adjuvant. Eight days later, the
researchers examined the mosquitos’ guts for the presence of the malaria
parasite.
The results were dramatic: only one of 24 mosquitos (4.2 percent)
that consumed the Pfs25/adjuvant-treated mouse serum was positive for
the malaria parasite. That’s compared to the 28 infected mosquitoes out
of the 40 in the control group (70 percent).
“We are really excited to see that Pfs25 produced by algae can
effectively prevent malaria parasites from developing within the
mosquito,” said study co-author Stephen P. Mayfield, PhD, professor of
biological sciences and director of the California Center for Algae
Biotechnology at UC San Diego. “With the low cost of algal production,
this may be the only system that can make an economic malaria vaccine.
Now we’re looking forward to comparing algae-produced Pfs25 and adjuvant
head-to-head against other approaches to malaria vaccine production and
administration.”
Malaria is the leading cause of death and disease in many developing
countries. In 2012, there were approximately 207 million cases of
malaria infection worldwide. Young children and pregnant women are most
affected by the disease.
Co-authors of this study also include Kailash P. Patra, Fengwu Li,
Sheyenne Baga, UC San Diego; Darrick Carter, Steven G. Reed, Infectious
Disease Research Institute; and James A. Gregory, formerly at UC San
Diego Division of Biological Sciences, currently at Icahn School of
Medicine at Mount Sinai.
This research was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of
Health (grants U19AI089681, 1R01AI067727, K24AI068903, D43TW007120 and
P30NS047101), U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Energy, San
Diego Foundation, California Energy Commission and Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation.