Protection against Plasmodium falciparum malaria in chimpanzees by immunization with the conserved pre-erythrocytic liver-stage antigen 3.

In humans, sterile immunity against malaria can be consistently induced through exposure to the bites of thousands of irradiated infected mosquitoes. The same level of protection has yet to be achieved using subunit vaccines. Recent studies have indicated an essential function for intrahepatic parasites, the stage after the mosquito bite, and thus for antigens expressed during this stage.

A novel Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite and liver stage antigen (SALSA) defines major B, T helper, and CTL epitopes.

In the search for subunit vaccines that are able to induce the type of sterile, protective immunity achieved by irradiated sporozoites, there is increasing evidence that defense mechanisms directed at the intrahepatic stage and Ags expressed at this stage are critical. We have initiated a systematic search for such molecules and report here the identification and partial characterization of a novel Plasmodium falciparum gene encoding a 70-kDa protein, expressed in both sporozoite and liver stages (SALSA), with a vaccine potential that stems from its antigenic features. Antigenicity and immunogenicity studies were conducted in individuals exposed to malaria, in immunized mice, and in chimpanzees, using a recombinant protein and two synthetic peptides.

Identification of an Mhc-DPB1 allele involved in susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rhesus macaques.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inducible autoimmune disorder that in rodents is known to be influenced by genetic background, specifically the Mhc class II region. Immunization of a group of outbred rhesus macaques with bovine high homogenate results in induction of the disease in approximately 65% of the animals. No clear association between the Mamu-DR or -DQ subregion of the rhesus macaque MHC (MhcMamu) and susceptibility or resistance to the disease has been documented.

Allelic diversity at the Mhc-DP locus in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Allelic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex class II DP locus of rhesus macaques was studied by sequencing exon 2 of Mamu-DPA1 and -DPB1 genes. The Mamu-DPA1 gene is apparently invariant, whereas the Mamu-DPB1 locus displays polymorphism. Here we report the characterization of 1 Mamu-DPA1 and 13 Mamu-DPB1 alleles which were compared with other available primate Mhc-DPA1 and -DPB1 sequences.