Carboxypeptidases B of Anopheles gambiae as targets for a Plasmodium falciparum transmission-blocking vaccine.

Anopheles gambiae is the major African vector of Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly species of human malaria parasite and the most prevalent in Africa. Several strategies are being developed to limit the global impact of malaria via reducing transmission rates, among which are transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), which induce in the vertebrate host the production of antibodies that inhibit parasite development in the mosquito midgut. So far, the most promising components of a TBV are parasite-derived antigens, although targeting critical mosquito components might also successfully block development of the parasite in its vector. We previously identified A. gambiae genes whose expression was modified in P. falciparum-infected mosquitoes, including one midgut carboxypeptidase gene, cpbAg1. Here we show that P. falciparum up-regulates the expression of cpbAg1 and of a second midgut carboxypeptidase gene, cpbAg2, and that this up-regulation correlates with an increased carboxypeptidase B (CPB) activity at a time when parasites establish infection in the mosquito midgut. The addition of antibodies directed against CPBAg1 to a P. falciparum-containing blood meal inhibited CPB activity and blocked parasite development in the mosquito midgut. Furthermore, the development of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei was significantly reduced in mosquitoes fed on infected mice that had been immunized with recombinant CPBAg1. Lastly, mosquitoes fed on anti-CPBAg1 antibodies exhibited reduced reproductive capacity, a secondary effect of a CPB-based TBV that could likely contribute to reducing Plasmodium transmission. These results indicate that A. gambiae CPBs could constitute targets for a TBV that is based upon mosquito molecules.

Thirty-five years' experience with the whole-cell pertussis vaccine in France: vaccine strains analysis and immunogenicity.

A resurgence in infant and adult pertussis cases has been observed in many countries around 25 years after the introduction of generalised vaccination. An antigenic differences between circulating isolates and vaccinal strains, due to changes in vaccine procedures, could be due to this resurgence. In this study, we analysed the genome and antigenic expression of vaccinal strains of the Aventis Pasteur whole-cell pertussis vaccine from multiple lots stored since 1984. Despite lyophilisation having been performed on these strains for over 30 years, their genome remain conserved, and they still express the major toxins and adhesins. A study in mice confirmed that vaccine lots were highly immunogenic. In conclusion, there is no evidence to suggest that many years of production have resulted in alteration in the French vaccinal strains which quality has remained consistent since its introduction, this can explain its continued efficacy, effectiveness and the lack of epidemics in France.

Intranasal murine model of Bordetella pertussis infection: II. Sequence variation and protection induced by a tricomponent acellular vaccine.

When pertussis toxin S1 subunit and pertactin structural genes in Bordetella pertussis clinical isolates from France and Germany were sequenced, 3 previously described S1 subunit types (S1 A, B and E), and 4 pertactin types (PRN A, B, C, A*) were found. PRN A*, present in the WHO reference strain 18323, was not described previously. In a respiratory mouse model, a tricomponent acellular pertussis vaccine (Infanrix) was highly effective in promoting lung clearance of all isolates expressing different S1 subunit and pertactin suggesting that use of acellular vaccine will not increase the risks of pertussis infection by these B. pertussis variants.