A mosquito AgTRIO mRNA vaccine contributes to immunity against malaria

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Abstract
Malaria begins when an infected mosquito injects saliva containing Plasmodium sporozoites into the skin of a vertebrate host. To prevent malaria, vaccination is the most effective strategy and there is an urgent need for new strategies to enhance current pathogen-based vaccines. Active or passive immunization against a mosquito saliva protein, AgTRIO, contributes to protection against Plasmodium infection of mice. In this study, we generated an AgTRIO mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and assessed its potential usefulness as a vaccine against malaria. Immunization of mice with an AgTRIO mRNA-LNP generated a robust humoral response, including AgTRIO IgG2a isotype antibodies that have been associated with protection. AgTRIO mRNA-LNP immunized mice exposed to Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes had markedly reduced initial Plasmodium hepatic infection levels and increased survival compared to control mice. In addition, as the humoral response to AgTRIO waned over 6 months, additional mosquito bites boosted the AgTRIO IgG titers, including IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes, which offers a unique advantage compared to pathogen-based vaccines. These data will aid in the generation of future malaria vaccines that may include both pathogen and vector antigens.
Funding Information
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI158615, AI142708, AI145779)
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute

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