Journal article
Safety, infectivity and immunogenicity of a genetically attenuated blood-stage malaria vaccine
R Webster, S Sekuloski, A Odedra, S Woolley, H Jennings, F Amante, KR Trenholme, J Healer, AF Cowman, EM Eriksson, P Sathe, J Penington, AJ Blanch, MWA Dixon, L Tilley, MF Duffy, A Craig, J Storm, JA Chan, K Evans Show all
BMC Medicine | Published : 2021
Abstract
Background: There is a clear need for novel approaches to malaria vaccine development. We aimed to develop a genetically attenuated blood-stage vaccine and test its safety, infectivity, and immunogenicity in healthy volunteers. Our approach was to target the gene encoding the knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP), which is responsible for the assembly of knob structures at the infected erythrocyte surface. Knobs are required for correct display of the polymorphic adhesion ligand P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), a key virulence determinant encoded by a repertoire of var genes. Methods: The gene encoding KAHRP was deleted from P. falciparum 3D7 and a master cell ..
View full abstractRelated Projects (3)
Grants
Awarded by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Funding Acknowledgements
This study was primarily funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC; Program Grant 1132975). The work was also supported by an Australian Research Council Grant (FL150100106), Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support, and NHMRC IRIISS. JSM was supported by a NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship. The funding bodies had no role in the design of the study or collection, analysis, and interpretation of data or in writing the manuscript.