The use of mRNA-based technology platform as a strategy on development of a multi-antigen/multi-stage vaccine formulation against Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium vivax is the most common parasite species that causes human Malaria outside Africa. This species is also the most endemic in Asia, Central and South America and Oceania. Although Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of deaths, P. vivax can lead to severe Malaria, resulting in a significant morbidity and mortality. The development of a protective vaccine will certainly be an important step towards Malaria elimination. There is a strong need to explore new antigens that can promote a wide protection of immunized individuals against Malaria. Whereas the high complexity of the parasite cycle, strategies which have an approach based on multi-antigen/multi-stage, are formulations with greatest chances of success. Thus, it is believed that the use of the Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP), found in the parasite during the pre-erythrocytic stage, in conjunction with E140 protein located in both pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic forms, may be able to prevent infection and/or clinical manifestations of vivax Malaria. The use of this technology platform based on mRNA has already proved to be highly effective in different scenarios, once it is a flexible, scalable and fast. 

Project details

P. vivax

Jan 2022 — Dec 2023

Brazil

Towards a vaccine for Plasmodium vivax