Immunisation against a serine protease inhibitor reduces intensity of Plasmodium berghei infection in mosquitoes.

Abstract

The mosquito innate immune response is able to clear the majority of Plasmodium parasites. This immune clearance is controlled by a number of regulatory molecules including serine protease inhibitors (serpins). To determine whether such molecules could represent a novel target for a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine, we vaccinated mice with Anopheles gambiae serpin-2. Antibodies against Anopheles gambiae serpin-2 significantly reduced the infection of a heterologous Anopheles species (Anopheles stephensi) by Plasmodium berghei, however this effect was not observed with Plasmodium falciparum. Therefore, this approach of targeting regulatory molecules of the mosquito immune system may represent a novel approach to transmission-blocking malaria vaccines.

• Authors: Andrew R Williams, Sara E Zakutansky, Kazutoyo Miura, Matthew D J Dicks, Thomas S Churcher, Kerry E Jewell, Aisling M Vaughan, Alison V Turner, Melissa C Kapulu, Kristin Michel, Carole A Long, Robert E Sinden, Adrian V S Hill, Simon J Draper, Sumi Biswas
• Journal: International journal for parasitology (Int J Parasitol) Vol. 43 Issue 11 Pg. 869-74 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1879-0135 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23872520 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Insect Proteins
• Serpins

Topics

• Animals
• Anopheles (parasitology)
• Immunity, Innate
• Insect Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, immunology)
• Mice
• Plasmodium berghei (growth & development, immunology)
• Serpins (immunology, metabolism)