Immune protection-inducing protein structures (IMPIPS) against malaria: the weapons needed for beating Odysseus

Vaccine. 2015 Dec 22;33(52):7525-37. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.09.109. Epub 2015 Oct 19.

Abstract

The review covers the functional and structural approach followed by our group for more than 34 years in the search for a methodology that allows the rational design of chemically synthesised vaccines. An analogy between Odysseus, the cunning hero of the epic poem Odyssey by Homer, and the elusive Plasmodium parasite has been made, to review our research group's main considerations when developing a rational methodology for designing second generation, modified peptide-based, minimal subunit, multi-antigen, multi-stage, chemically synthesised vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Keywords: IMPIPS; Malaria vaccine; Modified peptides; Synthetic peptides.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Humans
  • Life Cycle Stages / immunology
  • Malaria Vaccines / chemistry*
  • Malaria Vaccines / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / prevention & control*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / physiology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / chemistry
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology*

Substances

  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Peptides
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Vaccines, Synthetic