Safety and immunogenicity of a three-component blood-stage malaria vaccine (MSP1, MSP2, RESA) againstPlasmodium falciparumin Papua New Guinean children

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 30
• Main Authors: Genton, Blaise, Al-Yaman, Fadwa, Betuela, Inoni, Anders, Robin F, Saul, Allan, Baea, Kay, Mellombo, Mata, Taraika, Jack, Brown, Graham V, Pye, David, Irving, David O, Felger, Ingrid, Beck, Hans-Peter, Smith, Thomas A, Alpers, Michael P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Limited 08-12-2003
• Subjects: Antigens; Blood; Immunogenicity; Injection; Malaria; Morbidity; Parasites; Proteins; Vaccines; Vector-borne diseases; Papua New Guinea
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(03)00536-X

Combination B is a malaria vaccine that comprises recombinantPlasmodium falciparum(P. falciparum) blood-stage proteins MSP1, MSP2 and RESA, formulated with the adjuvant Montanide ISA 720. A phase I-IIb double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial was undertaken in 120 children aged 5-9 years. Subjects were randomised in four groups: (i) No sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP)+vaccine, (ii) No SP+placebo, (iii) SP+vaccine, (iv) SP+placebo. 15μg of each protein were given in the thigh, at both first and second injection (4 weeks apart). The placebo was adjuvant emulsified with saline. No serious or severe AEs occurred. Moderate AEs were seen in 3% of the vaccine and 3% of the placebo recipients after first injection and in 12 and 10% after second injection. The vaccine induced significant antibody responses to all three antigens but triggered an IFN-γ response to MSP1 only. At Week 12, the IFN-γ response to MSP1 was substantially higher in the vaccine group where No SP had been given. Combination B proved to be safe and immunogenic in children aged 5-9 years. Vaccine immunogenicity was neither impaired by circulating parasites nor increased after pre-treatment with SP and pre-treatment is not advisable in future trials of malaria vaccines, at least for those including blood-stage antigens.