About
Claudia DEMARTA-GATSI – Unité de Biologie des interactions hôte-parasite (BIHP)
Whole parasite vaccines such as genetically attenuated parasite (GAP) vaccines that induce cross-stage, long-lasting sterile protection have become the state-of-the-art to target malaria for elimination. Utilizing the P. berghei NK65 strain, which causes severe malaria in rodents, we deleted the histamine-releasing factor (hrf) gene and observed the elimination of the parasite, during the blood stage, through the development of an efficient immune response. Analysis on the innate and acquired immune responses to PbNK65-hrfΔ infection highlighted the role of the cytokine IL-6, the PD1 receptor expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and B cell activation with antigen specific-antibody production. The results indicate that the PbNK65-hrfΔ GAPs can be recommended as effective blood stage malaria vaccines, strengthening the arsenal of the war against lethal Plasmodium parasites.
Contact : Luisa NARDINI (luisa.nardini@pasteur.fr)