Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

The pathway of the malaria vaccine candidate Plasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen

International Conference & Exhibition on Vaccines & Vaccination

22-24 Nov 2011 Philadelphia Airport Marriott, USA

Nirianne Marie Q. Palacpac, Adoke Yeka, Hiroki Shirai, Edward Ntege, Nahoko Suzuki, Takuya Okada, Tetsutani Kohhei, Shigeharu Ueda, Ken J. Ishii, Thomas G. Egwang and Toshihiro Horii

Posters: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

Malaria, caused by the protozoan genus, Plasmodium , remains as one of the most formidable foe in the tropics for which up to now no vaccine exists. Proteins expressed during the blood-stage of the parasite life cycle has been proposed as good vaccine candidates. Rather than preventing infections, they are expected to reduce mortality and morbidity secondary to P. falciparum infection, and would thus be a valuable strategy in the fi ght against malaria. We present the recent development of the P. falciparum serine repeat antigen 5 (SERA5) as a potential vaccine immunogen. Th e vaccine potential of the N-terminal domain of SERA5 is strongly supported by experimental data and immune responses in vitro , in animal challenge models and in epidemiological studies. Aft er initial assessment in a �naive� population, age de-escalation Phase 1b trial was done in a malaria endemic area in Northern Uganda. Th e primary aim was to reach a safety assessment in the target population, to provide initial clinical validation for future trials, and to identify further strategies on future vaccine development.

Biography :

N. Palacpac is a currently af fi liated with the Production Technology Group, Research Production Technology Division, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University. Her research work on Plasmodium is in collaboration with the Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University and Med Biotech Laboratories, Uganda.