Vaccination against malaria with live parasites

Despite nearly 80 years of vaccine research and control efforts, malaria remains one of the most prevalent of all infectious diseases. The fact that people living in regions in which malaria is endemic eventually develop immunity to the parasite and the disease suggest that it might be possible to develop vaccines against malaria. Although few vaccination trials were conducted with whole parasites, the only protocol that leads to the induction of sterile immunity in humans relies on immunization with attenuated parasites. This observation has spurred the search for subunit vaccines that aim to reproduce this protection. As yet, none of the current candidate subunit vaccines have achieved complete protection reproducibly. This failure, coupled with the recent advent of the genetically modified Plasmodium parasites, has led to a renewed interest in the use of live parasites for vaccination. This article reviews past studies, summarizes recent developments in this field and discusses the challenges to be overcome before mass immunization with live parasites could be envisaged.     

Interactions between malaria parasites and the host immune system

Malaria remains one of the greatest impediments to development in many tropical regions of the world. Understanding host immune responses to malaria parasites is crucial for the effective design and implementation of new vaccines and drugs. Recent research has seen the identification of the first pattern recognition receptor (TLR9) on dendritic cells for a defined product of malaria infection (hemozoin). In addition, progress has been made in understanding the role of dendritic cell subsets in malaria, and how they promote specific components of the host immune response. Potentially important advances in vaccine design have also been made by inserting a Plasmodium sporozoite epitope into the yellow fever vaccine 17D, as well as using a whole, live-attenuated sporozoite vaccine.     

Co-evolution of parasites and adaptive immune responses

The interplay between evolving host populations and evolving parasite populations is dominated by two key genetically based elements, namely the virulence of parasites and the resistance of their hosts. Here, Graham Mitchell gives a personal overview of ideas on the coevolution of parasite-host relationships and the contributions to immunology that are likely to emerge from systematic studies on this relationship.     

The innate immune response against Leishmania parasites

Parasites of the genus Leishmania are the causative agents of cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis. The parasite species and host genetic factors determine the quality of the immune response and thereby the outcome of the infection. Here, we summarize previously published and present novel data on several aspects of the early innate immune reaction to Leishmania (L.) major, L. braziliensis and L. infantum, which cause cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, respectively. We will focus on (1) the effector molecules that contribute to the control of the parasite in the skin, lymph nodes and/or spleen; and (2) on the pattern recognition receptors (Toll-like receptors, TLRs), cell types (myeloid dendritic cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells), cytokines (IL-12, IFN-alpha/beta), and signaling pathways (Tyk2 kinase) that are necessary for the initial sensing of the parasites and the subsequent development of an efficient NK cell response.     

Mycobacterium-induced potentiation of type 1 immune responses and protection against malaria are host specific

Malaria and tuberculosis are endemic in many regions of the world, and coinfection with the two pathogens is common. In this study, we examined the effects of long- and short-term infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the course of a lethal form of murine malaria in resistant (C57BL/6) and susceptible (BALB/c) mice. C57BL/6 mice coinfected with M. tuberculosis CDC1551 and Plasmodium yoelii 17XL had a lower peak parasitemia and increased survival compared to mice infected with P. yoelii 17XL alone. Splenic microarray analysis demonstrated potentiation of type 1 immune responses in coinfected C57BL/6 mice, which was especially prominent 5 days after infection with P. yoelii 17XL. Splenocytes from coinfected C57BL/6 mice produced higher levels of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha than splenocytes from mice infected with either pathogen alone. Interestingly, mycobacterium-induced protection against lethal P. yoelii is mouse strain specific. BALB/c mice were significantly more susceptible than C57BL/6 mice to infection with P. yoelii 17XL and were not protected against lethal malaria by coinfection with M. tuberculosis. In addition, M. tuberculosis did not augment IFN-gamma responses in BALB/c mice subsequently infected with P. yoelii 17XL. These data indicate that M. tuberculosis-induced potentiation of type 1 immune responses is associated with protection against lethal murine malaria.     

Peptide-based subunit vaccines against pre-erythrocytic stages of malaria parasites.

Malaria currently ranks among the most prevalent infections in tropical and sub-tropical areas throughout the world with relatively high morbidity and mortality particularly in young children. The widespread occurrence and the increased incidence of malaria in many countries, caused by drug-resistant parasites (Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax) and insecticide-resistant vectors (Anopheles mosquitoes), indicate the need to develop new methods of controlling this disease. Experimental vaccination with radiation-attenuated sporozoites can protect animals and humans against the disease, demonstrating the feasibility of developing an effective malaria vaccine. However, vaccines based on radiation-attenuated sporozoites are not feasible for large scale application due to lack of in vitro culture system. Therefore, the development of peptide-based subunit vaccines has been undertaken as an alternative approach. Synthetic peptides containing defined B- and T-cell epitopes of different antigens expressed in sporozoites and/or liver stages have been used as subunit vaccines in experimental animal models. They have been shown to be highly immunogenic and capable of inducing protective immunity mediated by antibodies, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells.     

Uninfected mosquito bites confer protection against infection with malaria parasites

Despite decades of research and multiple initiatives, malaria continues to be one of the world's most debilitating infectious diseases. New insights for malaria control and vaccine development will be essential to thwart the staggering worldwide impact of this disease (A. Bjorkman and A. Bhattarai, Acta Trop. 94:163-169, 2005); ultimately successful vaccine strategies will undoubtedly be multifactorial, incorporating multiple antigens and targeting diverse aspects of the malaria parasites' biology (M. F. Good et al., Immunol. Rev. 201:254-267, 2004). Using a murine model of malaria infection, we show here that exposure to bites from uninfected mosquitoes prior to Plasmodium yoelii infection influences the local and systemic immune responses and limits parasite development within the host. In hosts preexposed to bites from uninfected mosquitoes, reduced parasite burdens in the livers were detected early, and during the blood-stage of the life cycle, these burdens remained lower than those in hosts that received mosquito bites only at the time of infection. Repeated exposure to bites from uninfected mosquitoes skewed the immune response towards a T-helper 1 (Th1) phenotype as indicated by increased levels of interleukin-12, gamma interferon, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. These data suggest that the addition of mosquito salivary components to antimalaria vaccines may be a viable strategy for creating a Th1-biased environment known to be effective against malaria infection. Furthermore, this strategy may be important for the development of vaccines to combat other mosquito-transmitted pathogens.     

Transfected Plasmodium knowlesi produces bioactive host gamma interferon: a new perspective for modulating immune responses to malaria parasites

Transgenic pathogenic microorganisms expressing host cytokines such as gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) have been shown to manipulate host-pathogen interaction, leading to immunomodulation and enhanced protection. Expression of host cytokines in malaria parasites offers the opportunity to investigate the potential of an immunomodulatory approach by generating immunopotentiated parasites. Using the primate malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi, we explored the conditions for expressing host cytokines in malaria parasites. P. knowlesi parasites transfected with DNA constructs for expressing rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) IFN-gamma under the control of the heterologous P. berghei apical membrane antigen 1 promoter, produced bioactive IFN-gamma in a developmentally regulated manner. IFN-gamma expression had no marked effect on in vitro parasite development. Bioactivity of the parasite-produced IFN-gamma was shown through inhibition of virus cytopathic effect and confirmed by using M. mulatta peripheral blood cells in vitro. These data indicate for the first time that it is feasible to generate malaria parasites expressing bioactive host immunomodulatory cytokines. Furthermore, cytokine-expressing malaria parasites offer the opportunity to analyze cytokine-mediated modulation of malaria during the blood and liver stages of the infection.     

Identification of early cellular immune factors regulating growth of malaria parasites in humans

In many host-parasite systems, regulatory T cells (CD4+, CD25+, FOXP3+) have been shown to modulate cellular immunity and pathology. In this issue of Immunity, Walther et al. have now shown that following experimental malaria infection of human volunteers, enhanced TGF-beta and T reg responses are associated with a faster parasite growth rate. The study demonstrates that regulation of cellular immunity must be addressed if we are to develop successful interventions.     

Innate immune defense against malaria infection in the mosquito

Anopheles gambiae, the most important vector of malaria, employs its innate immune system in the fight against Plasmodium. This can affect the propagative capacity of Plasmodium in the vector and, in some cases, leads to total refractoriness to the parasite. The components operating in the mosquito's innate immune system and their potential relevance to antimalarial responses are being systematically dissected.     

DBA/2小鼠感染不同疟原虫Th应答特点的比较研究

目的：探讨不同疟原虫感染DBA/2小鼠的免疫应答特点。方法：DBA/2小鼠经腹腔注射致死型约氏疟原虫（P.y17XL）和夏氏疟原虫（P.c AS）感染的红细胞,计数红细胞感染率;ELISA动态检测感染小鼠脾细胞培养上清中IFNγ-和IL-4水平;采用RT-PCR动态检测脾细胞中Th1和Th2型转录因子T-bet和GATA3 mRNA表达量。结果：两种疟原虫感染小鼠在感染早期T-bet mRNA表达量均明显增加,升高幅度明显高于GATA3,T-bet/GATA3比值明显高于感染前水平;IFNγ-明显升高后伴随IL-4分泌水平增加。但是,P.c AS感染小鼠IFNγ-水平明显高于P.y17XL感染小鼠,且随后的IL-4水平仅出现短暂升高,感染后前8天T-bet/GATA3比值未有明显下降趋势,原虫血症逐渐升高至小鼠全部死亡。相比,P.y17XL感染小鼠T-bet/GA-TA3比值在感染后第3天达峰值,随后缓慢下降但仍高于对照组,原虫血症得到控制至小鼠自愈。结论：抗疟保护性免疫不仅依赖于Th1和Th2型免疫应答的有效建立和协调过渡,而且Th1/Th2型免疫应答的发生时相和效应强度可能影响着疟疾感染的最终结局。     

Avian gut-associated lymphoid tissues and intestinal immune responses to Eimeria parasites.

Coccidiosis, an intestinal infection caused by intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to several different species of Eimeria, seriously impairs the growth and feed utilization of livestock and poultry. Host immune responses to coccidial infection are complex. Animals infected with Eimeria spp. produce parasite-specific antibodies in both the circulation and mucosal secretions. However, it appears that antibody-mediated responses play a minor role in protection against coccidiosis. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that cell-mediated immunity plays a major role in resistance to infection. T lymphocytes appear to respond to coccidial infection through both cytokine production and a direct cytotoxic attack on infected cells. The exact mechanisms by which T cells eliminate the parasites, however, remain unclear. Although limited information is available on the intestinal immune system of chickens, gut lymphoid tissues have evolved specialized features that reflect their role as the first line of defense at mucosal surfaces, including both immunoregulatory cells and effector cells. This review summarizes our current understanding of the avian intestinal immune system and mucosal immune responses to Eimeria spp., providing an overview of the complex cellular and molecular events involved in intestinal immune responses to enteric pathogens.     

Boosting of DNA vaccine-elicited gamma interferon responses in humans by exposure to malaria parasites

A mixture of DNA plasmids expressing five Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocyte-stage antigens was administered with or without a DNA plasmid encoding human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) as an immune enhancer. After DNA immunization, antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) responses were detected by ELISPOT in 15/31 volunteers to multiple class I- and/or class II-restricted T-cell epitopes derived from all five antigens. Responses to multiple epitopes (相似文献   

Mesenchymal stem cells play an important role in host protective immune responses against malaria by modulating regulatory T cells

Plasmodium spp. parasites, the causative agents of malaria, survive and replicate in human hosts by modulating host protective immune responses. In a rodent model, malaria manifests as a severe splenomegaly, with infiltration of cells and lympho‐proliferation as major contributing factors of the immunopathology. However, the cellular contents and the functions of these cells have not been well studied. Here, we report that Plasmodium berghei infection of mice leads to massive recruitment of mesen‐chymal stem cells (MSCs) in secondary lymphoid organs. Infusion of these cells into naïve mice was able to confer host resistance against malaria. Furthermore, MSCs augmented interleukin (IL)‐12 production but suppressed IL‐10 production in recipient animals. In addition, we observed dramatic reductions of regulatory T (Treg) cells in animals that received MSCs. Taken together, our findings have identified recruitment of MSCs as a novel host protective mechanism adopted by the host to combat malaria by modulating Treg‐cell responses.