Preclinical evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of a vaccine consisting of Plasmodium falciparum liver-stage antigen 1 with adjuvant AS01B administered alone or concurrently with the RTS,S/AS01B vaccine in rhesus primates

Infect Immun. 2008 Jan;76(1):229-38. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00977-07. Epub 2007 Oct 22.

Abstract

Several lines of evidence suggest that targeting pre-erythrocytic-stage parasites for malaria vaccine development can provide sterile immunity. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate preclinically the safety and immunogenicity of a new recombinant pre-erythrocytic-stage antigen, liver-stage antigen 1 (LSA1), in nonhuman primates; and (ii) to investigate the potential for immune interference between LSA1 and the leading malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S, by comparing the immune responses after single-antigen vaccination to responses after simultaneous administration of both antigens at separate sites. Using a rhesus monkey model, we found that LSA1 formulated with the GlaxoSmithKline proprietary adjuvant system AS01B (LSA1/AS01B) was safe and immunogenic, inducing high titers of antigen-specific antibody and CD4+ T-cell responses, as monitored by the production of interleukin-2 and gamma interferon, using intracellular cytokine staining. RTS,S/AS01B vaccination was well tolerated and demonstrated robust antibody and moderate CD4+ T-cell responses to circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and HBsAg. Positive CD8+ T-cell responses to HBsAg were detected, whereas the responses to CSP and LSA1 were negligible. For both LSA1/AS01B and RTS,S/AS01B, no statistically significant differences were observed between individual and concurrent administration in the magnitude or duration of antibody and T-cell responses. Our results revealed that both pre-erythrocytic-stage antigens were safe and immunogenic, administered either separately or simultaneously to rhesus monkeys, and that no significant immune cross interference occurred with concurrent separate-site administration. The comparison of the profiles of immune responses induced by separate-site and single-site vaccinations with LSA1 and RTS,S warrants further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Lipid A / administration & dosage
  • Lipid A / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lipid A / pharmacology
  • Macaca mulatta / immunology*
  • Malaria Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Malaria Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Malaria Vaccines / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / prevention & control*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Saponins / administration & dosage
  • Saponins / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Cytokines
  • Lipid A
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • RTS,S-AS01B vaccine
  • Saponins
  • liver stage-specific antigen, Plasmodium
  • saponin QA-21V1