New article published on 17 July 2018 in npj Vaccines: “Down-selection of the VAR2CSA DBL1-2 expressed in E. coli as a lead antigen for placental malaria vaccine development”.
In the article, recombinant proteins have been generated, and their activity as immunogens that elicit functional and cross-reactive antibodies against CSA-binding parasites assessed. Expression of proteins was compared in four different expression systems and larger analytical scale production of DBL1x-2× (3D7) and DBL3x-4ε (FCR3) in CHO and E. coli SHuffle cells were performed. Rats were immunised with purified proteins either alone or adjuvanted with adjuvants. Analysis of the functionality and cross-reactivity of the induced antibodies allowed the down-selection of the DBL1x-2(3D7) expressed in E. coli SHuffle cells as the best antigen to be transitioned to further clinical development. This work was supported by a grant awarded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Germany through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) (KfW Reference No:202060457) and through funding from Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland.
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