Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.P.H.
Degree Name
MS in Public Health (M.S.P.H.)
Degree Granting Department
Global Health
Major Professor
John H. Adams, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Francis Ntumngia, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Dipak Raj, Ph.D.
Keywords
antibody purification, CSP, malaria vaccine, molecular parasitology
Abstract
Malaria is a disease of global public health importance. Improving treatment methods focus on novel antimalarial drugs to combat parasite resistance and the development of vaccines with effective adjuvants. The current vaccine RTS,S/AS01 is moderately effective only against Plasmodium falciparum. There is no vaccine for Plasmodium vivax to date. The development and implementation of a vaccine against P. vivax would inhibit sporozoite infection of hepatocytes, block development into the blood stage and confer future immune protection. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the most abundant on the surface of sporozoites and protein variants VK210 and VK247 are leading vaccine candidates for P. vivax. To evaluate their immunogenicity, recombinant CSP antigens were produced for murine immunizations, followed by serological assays and antibody affinity purification. Producing high titers of antibodies that are strain transcending, broadly neutralizing and long lasting can prevent vivax malaria infection and reduce its transmission.
Scholar Commons Citation
Cruz Murphy, Eric, "Immunogenicity of a Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Vaccine" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10494
