A Multivalent Peptide Vaccine Against Malaria, Targeting <i>Plasmodium</i> Circumsporozoite Protein and Mosquito AgTRIO

Malaria begins when an infected mosquito injects saliva containing Plasmodium sporozoites into the host skin. The immune response against a mosquito saliva protein, AgTRIO, reduces Plasmodium infection and can work in combination with antibody against the Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (CSP). We have now developed a chimeric peptide, PfAg, containing regions from Plasmodium falciparum CSP (PfCSP) and AgTRIO. Mice administered PfAg generated robust humoral responses against both PfCSP and AgTRIO. After exposure to PfCSP-expressing Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes, PfAg-immunized inbred C57BL/6 and outbred CD-1 mice had significantly improved survival compared with control animals. These data will aid in the development of a new malaria vaccine.