Publications by authors named "Lana Bitencourt Chaves"

The PvCelTOS, PvCyRPA, and Pvs25 proteins play important roles during the three stages of the lifecycle. In this study, we designed and expressed a recombinant modular chimeric protein (PvRMC-1) composed of the main antigenic regions of these vaccine candidates. After structure modelling by prediction, the chimeric protein was expressed, and the antigenicity was assessed by IgM and IgG (total and subclass) ELISA in 301 naturally exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon.

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To eliminate malaria, scalable tools that are rapid, affordable, and can detect patients with low parasitemia are required. Non-invasive diagnostic tools that are rapid, reagent-free, and affordable would also provide a justifiable platform for testing malaria in asymptomatic patients. However, non-invasive surveillance techniques for malaria remain a diagnostic gap.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers analyzed 98 field isolates and found that there was significant genetic polymorphism, with 50 unique haplotypes identified through various genetic analyses.
  • * Key findings indicated that important amino acid variations within predicted B-cell epitopes could affect how effective PvCyRPA might be as a vaccine across different malaria-endemic regions.
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Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) is essential for sporozoite motility and the invasion of mosquitoes' salivary gland and vertebrate's hepatocyte and is, thus, considered a promising pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate. Despite the existence of a few reports on naturally acquired immune response against TRAP (PvTRAP), it has never been explored so far in the Amazon region, so results are conflicting. Here, we characterized the (IgG and IgG subclass) antibody reactivity against recombinant PvTRAP in a cross-sectional study of 299 individuals exposed to malaria infection in three municipalities (Cruzeiro do Sul, Mâncio Lima and Guajará) from the Acre state of the Brazilian Amazon.

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The Plasmodium vivax Ookinete Surface Protein (Pvs25) is one of the leading malaria Transmission-Blocking Vaccine candidates based on its high immunogenicity in animal models, transmission-blocking activity of antibodies elicited in clinical trials and high conservation among P. vivax isolates from endemic areas. However, the polymorphism in gene encoding Pvs25 in endemic areas from South America has been poorly studied so far.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the immune response to the cell-traversal protein CelTOS (specifically PvCelTOS) in 528 individuals from the Brazilian Amazon, highlighting its potential as a target for novel antimalarial vaccines.
  • It was found that 17.8% of participants exhibited specific IgG antibodies to PvCelTOS, with correlations between antibody levels and previous malaria episodes, suggesting stronger immunity with more past infections.
  • B-cell epitope mapping identified five immunogenic regions of PvCelTOS, and a major linear B-cell epitope was confirmed, indicating that PvCelTOS has significant natural immunogenicity in this population.
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The Plasmodium vivax Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PvCelTOS) plays an important role in the traversal of host cells. Although essential to PvCelTOS progress as a vaccine candidate, its genetic diversity remains uncharted. Therefore, we investigated the PvCelTOS genetic polymorphism in 119 field isolates from five different regions of Brazilian Amazon (Manaus, Novo Repartimento, Porto Velho, Plácido de Castro and Oiapoque).

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