Influenza virus-like particle vaccine containing both apical membrane antigen 1 and microneme-associated antigen proteins of Plasmodium berghei confers protection in mice.

Background: Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium parasites are important factors involved in host cell invasion.

Methods: In this study, influenza VLP vaccines containing both codon-optimized AMA1 and MIC were generated and the vaccine efficacy was evaluated in mice.

Results: VLPs vaccine immunization elicited higher levels of parasite-specific IgG and IgG2a antibody responses in sera. CD4 and CD8 T cells and germinal center B cells in blood, inguinal lymph nodes (ILN) and spleen were found to be significantly increased. Importantly, VLPs vaccination significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α, decreased parasitemia in blood, resulting in lower body weight loss and longer survival time compared to control.

Conclusion: These results indicated that VLPs containing P. berghei AMA1 and MIC could be a candidate for malaria blood-stage vaccine design.