Protection induced by malaria virus-like particles containing codon-optimized AMA-1 of Plasmodium berghei

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Dong-Hun Lee, Ki-Back Chu, Hae-Ji Kang, Su-Hwa Lee, Manika Chopra, Hyo-Jick Choi, Eun-Kyung Moon, Kyung-Soo Inn, Fu-Shi Quan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Plasmodium berghei; Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1); Virus-like particles; Codon-optimized; Vaccine; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-3017-2; https://doaj.org/article/436acf49e9ca4d07bee47461ac02fb4e

Abstract Background Despite the extensive endeavours, developing an effective malaria vaccine remains as a great challenge. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) located on the merozoite surface of parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium is involved in red blood cell invasion. Methods Influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines containing codon-optimized or native (non-codon optimized) AMA-1 from Plasmodium berghei were generated. VLP-induced protective immunity was evaluated in a mouse model. Results Mice immunized with VLP vaccine containing the codon-optimized AMA-1 elicited higher levels of P. berghei-specific IgG and IgG2a antibody responses compared to VLPs containing non-codon optimized AMA-1 before and after challenge infection. Codon-optimized AMA-1 VLP vaccination induced higher levels of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and germinal centre cell responses compared to non-codon optimized AMA-1 VLPs. Importantly, the codon-optimized AMA-1 VLP vaccination showed lower body weight loss, longer survival and a significant decrease in parasitaemia compared to non-codon optimized VLP vaccination. Conclusion Overall, VLP vaccine expressing codon-optimized AMA-1 induced better protective efficacy than VLPs expressing the non-codon optimized AMA-1. Current findings highlight the importance of codon-optimization for vaccine use and its potential involvement in future malaria vaccine design strategies.