Immunization with genetically attenuated P. falciparum parasites induces long-lived antibodies that efficiently block hepatocyte invasion by sporozoites

Abstract

Whole-parasite malaria vaccines have shown promise in clinical trials. We recently reported the first human trial of a malaria vaccine based on Plasmodium falciparum genetically attenuated parasites (PfGAP). Herein we report for the first time that PfGAP induces prolonged functional humoral responses in humans. Six volunteers were exposed to 5 bites of PfGAP-infected mosquitoes followed by approximately 200 bites. Plasma collected from all volunteers 3 months after the last exposure efficiently inhibits invasion of hepatocytes by P. falciparum sporozoites. The level of inhibition observed is comparable to that attained using plasma collected after 4–5 intravenously administrations of high numbers of irradiated sporozoites, validating the potential of PfGAP malaria vaccines. Our data highlight the role of antibody responses in pre-erythrocytic stages of human malaria, and suggests that to be protective, malaria vaccines might need to elicit long-lasting functional antibodies in addition to cellular responses.