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Needle-free, spirulina-produced Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite vaccination provides sterile protection against pre-erythrocytic malaria in mice

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Antibodies against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) can block hepatocyte infection by sporozoites and protect against malaria. Needle-free vaccination strategies are desirable, yet most PfCSP-targeted vaccines like RTS,S require needle-based administration. Here, we evaluated the edible algae, Arthrospira platensis (commonly called ‘spirulina’) as a malaria vaccine platform. Spirulina were genetically engineered to express virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the woodchuck hepatitis B core capsid protein (WHcAg) displaying a (NANP)15 PfCSP antigen on its surface. PfCSP-spirulina administered to mice intranasally followed by oral PfCSP-spirulina boosters resulted in a strong, systemic anti-PfCSP immune response that was protective against subcutaneous challenge with PfCSP-expressing P. yoelii. Unlike male mice, female mice did not require Montanide adjuvant to reach high antibody titers or protection. The successful use of spirulina as a vaccine delivery system warrants further development of spirulina-based vaccines as a useful tool in addressing malaria and other diseases of global health importance.

Source: npj Vaccines

DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00534-5