Genetic Immunization of BALB/c mice with a Plasmid Bearing the Gene Coding for a Hybrid Merozoite Surface Protein 1-Hepatitis B Virus Surface Protein Fusion Protects Mice against Lethal Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi PC1 Infection

摘要

The genetic immunization of rodents with a plasmid coding for a Plasmodium chabaudi merozoite surface protein 1 (C terminus)-hepatitis B virus surface fusion protein (pPcMSP119-HBs) provided protection of mice against subsequent lethal challenge with P. chabaudi chabaudi PC1-infected red blood cells. The percentage of survivor mice was higher in DNA-immunized mice than in animals immunized with a recombinant rPcMSP119– glutathione S-transferase fusion protein administered in Freund adjuvant. In all mice immunized with the pPcMSP119-HBs, a Th1-specific response, including the production of anti-MSP119-specific immunoglobulins predominantly of the immunoglobulin G2a subtype and reacting almost exclusively against discontinuous epitopes, was elicited. The coinjection of Th1-type cytokine-expressing plasmids (gamma interferon, interleukin-2, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) mostly abolished protection and boosting of MSP119-specific antibodies. The inclusion of a lymph node-targeting signal did not significantly increase protection. These data provide further evidence that MSP119-HBs DNA constructs might be useful as components of a genetic vaccine against the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium.