• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Immunization with full-length Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 is safe and elicits functional cytophilic antibodies in a randomized first-in-human trial
  • Contributor: Blank, Antje; Fürle, Kristin; Jäschke, Anja; Mikus, Gerd; Lehmann, Monika; Hüsing, Johannes; Heiss, Kirsten; Giese, Thomas; Carter, Darrick; Böhnlein, Ernst; Lanzer, Michael; Haefeli, Walter E.; Bujard, Hermann
  • Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020
  • Published in: npj Vaccines, 5 (2020) 1
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-0160-2
  • ISSN: 2059-0105
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: AbstractA vaccine remains a priority in the global fight against malaria. Here, we report on a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo and adjuvant-controlled, dose escalation phase 1a safety and immunogenicity clinical trial of full-lengthPlasmodium falciparummerozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) in combination with GLA-SE adjuvant. Thirty-two healthy volunteers were vaccinated at least three times with MSP1 plus adjuvant, adjuvant alone, or placebo (24:4:4) to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity. MSP1 was safe, well tolerated and immunogenic, with all vaccinees sero-converting independent of the dose. The MSP1-specific IgG and IgM titers persisted above levels found in malaria semi-immune humans for at least 6 months after the last immunization. The antibodies were variant- and strain-transcending and stimulated respiratory activity in granulocytes. Furthermore, full-length MSP1 induced memory T-cells. Our findings encourage challenge studies as the next step to evaluate the efficacy of full-length MSP1 as a vaccine candidate against falciparum malaria (EudraCT 2016-002463-33).
  • Access State: Open Access