AUTHOR=Kreutzfeld Oriana , Müller Katja , Matuschewski Kai 

TITLE=Engineering of Genetically Arrested Parasites (GAPs) For a Precision Malaria Vaccine

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00198

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2017.00198

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Continuous stage conversion and swift changes in the antigenic repertoire in response to acquired immunity are hallmarks of complex eukaryotic pathogens, including <italic>Plasmodium</italic> species, the causative agents of malaria. Efficient elimination of <italic>Plasmodium</italic> liver stages prior to blood infection is one of the most promising malaria vaccine strategies. Here, we describe different genetically arrested parasites (GAPs) that have been engineered in <italic>Plasmodium berghei, P. yoelii</italic> and <italic>P. falciparum</italic> and compare their vaccine potential. A better understanding of the immunological mechanisms of prime and boost by arrested sporozoites and experimental strategies to enhance vaccine efficacy by further engineering existing GAPs into a more immunogenic form hold promise for continuous improvements of GAP-based vaccines. A critical hurdle for vaccines that elicit long-lasting protection against malaria, such as GAPs, is safety and efficacy in vulnerable populations. Vaccine research should focus on solutions toward turning malaria into a vaccine-preventable disease, which would offer an exciting new path of malaria control.</p>