Protection of Aotus Monkeys by Plasmodium falciparum EBA-175 Region II DNA Prime—Protein Boost Immunization Regimen

TR Jones, DL Narum, AS Gozalo… - The Journal of …, 2001 - academic.oup.com
TR Jones, DL Narum, AS Gozalo, J Aguiar, SR Fuhrmann, H Liang, JD Haynes, JK Moch…
The Journal of infectious diseases, 2001academic.oup.com
Aotus monkeys received 4 doses of Plasmodium falciparum EBA-175 region II vaccine as
plasmid DNA (Dv-Dv) or recombinant protein in adjuvant (Pv-Pv) or as 3 doses of DNA and
1 dose of protein (Dv-Pv). After 3 doses, antibody titers were∼ 104 in DNA-immunized
monkeys and 106 in protein-immunized monkeys. A fourth dose did not significantly boost
antibody responses in the Dv-Dv only or Pv-Pv only groups, but titers were boosted to∼ 106
in monkeys in the Dv-Pv group. Four weeks after the last immunization, the animals were …
Abstract
Aotus monkeys received 4 doses of Plasmodium falciparum EBA-175 region II vaccine as plasmid DNA (Dv-Dv) or recombinant protein in adjuvant (Pv-Pv) or as 3 doses of DNA and 1 dose of protein (Dv-Pv). After 3 doses, antibody titers were ∼104 in DNA-immunized monkeys and 106 in protein-immunized monkeys. A fourth dose did not significantly boost antibody responses in the Dv-Dv only or Pv-Pv only groups, but titers were boosted to ∼106 in monkeys in the Dv-Pv group. Four weeks after the last immunization, the animals were challenged with 104P. falciparum—parasitizederythrocytes. Peak levels of parasitemia were lower in the 16 monkeys that received region II—containing plasmids or proteins than in the 16 controls (geometric mean: 194,178 and 410,110 parasites/µL, respectively; P = .013, Student's t test). Three of 4 monkeys in the Dv-Pv group did not require treatment. These data demonstrate that immunization with EBA-175 region II induces a significant antiparasite effect in vivo.
Oxford University Press