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

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Williams, Andrew Richard
  • Sara E Zakutansky
  • Kazutoyo Miura
  • Matthew J D 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
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.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal for Parasitology
Volume43
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)869-874
ISSN0020-7519
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Jul 2013
Externally publishedYes

ID: 48013191