Technology ID
TAB-2506
Transmission-Blocking Malaria Vaccine
E-Numbers
E-222-2012-0
Lead Inventor
Barillas-Mury, Carolina (NIAID)
Co-Inventors
Molina-Cruz, Alvaro (NIAID)
Applications
Vaccines
Therapeutics
Research Materials
Diagnostics
Therapeutic Areas
Infectious Disease
Development Status
- Pre-clinical
- In vitro data available
- In vivo data available (animal)
Lead IC
NIAID
ICs
NIAID
There is no vaccine for malaria, and there is growing resistance to existing anti-malarial drugs. Sexual stage-specific antigens are of interest as vaccine candidates because disruption of these antigens would reduce the fertility and, thus, the infectivity of the parasite.
This invention claims methods and compositions for delivering a Plasmodium P47 vaccine or antibody to P47 to prevent Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax malaria. P47 and other antigens have been mentioned as potential transmission-blocking vaccines due to their surface location on gametes. The gene for P47 antigens is also well characterized. Recent discoveries have noted that P47 allows the parasite to suppress or evade the immune system, thereby ensuring the mosquitoes' survival. Recent discoveries have also shown the mechanism by which P47 enables survival of the parasite by manipulation of the mosquito immune system. Based on the critical role of P47 antigens in transmission, the disruption of the function of P47 by various means can be an innovative and forceful means to control and/or reduce the prevalence of malaria.
This invention claims methods and compositions for delivering a Plasmodium P47 vaccine or antibody to P47 to prevent Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax malaria. P47 and other antigens have been mentioned as potential transmission-blocking vaccines due to their surface location on gametes. The gene for P47 antigens is also well characterized. Recent discoveries have noted that P47 allows the parasite to suppress or evade the immune system, thereby ensuring the mosquitoes' survival. Recent discoveries have also shown the mechanism by which P47 enables survival of the parasite by manipulation of the mosquito immune system. Based on the critical role of P47 antigens in transmission, the disruption of the function of P47 by various means can be an innovative and forceful means to control and/or reduce the prevalence of malaria.
Commercial Applications
- Malaria vaccine, diagnostic and therapeutic.
Competitive Advantages
- Single protein malaria transmission-blocking vaccine.
- Cost-effective, simple manufacturing process for vaccine.
- Potentially lower-cost malarial vaccine for developing/developed countries.
Licensing Contact: