Safety and elicitation of humoral and cellular responses in Colombian malaria-naive volunteers by a Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein-derived synthetic vaccine

Abstract

Substantial experimental evidence indicates that the Plasmodium circumsporozoite (CS) protein has great potential as a vaccine candidate. We tested the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines composed of P. vivax CS-derived synthetic peptides. Sixty-nine healthy, malaria-naive volunteers were randomized to receive three injections of placebo or synthetic proteins N, R, or C (10, 30, or 100 μg/dose) in a double-blinded fashion. Vaccines were well tolerated and no serious adverse events were observed. Peptides N and R elicited humoral responses at all doses; peptide C elicicted these responses only at doses of 30 and 100 μg. The N peptide at a dose of 100 μg elicited the greatest antibody response. Antibodies to the three peptides recognized P. vivax sporozoites in an immunofluorescent antibody test. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from most immunized volunteers also produced interferon-γ upon peptide in vitro stimulation. These vaccines appear safe, well tolerated, and immunogenic in malaria-naive volunteers. Further optimization and development of this vaccine is being attempted to conduct phase II clinical trials. Copyright © 2005 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.