Amy M Mchenry

US Patent:

20130045225, Feb 21, 2013

Filed:

Aug 20, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/589253

Inventors:

John H. Adams - Tampa FL, US
Francis B. Ntumngia - Tampa FL, US
Jesse L. Schloegel - Five Dock, AU
Samantha J. Barnes - Tampa FL, US
Amy M. McHenry - Keene TX, US
Patchanee Chootong - Bangkok, TH

Assignee:

University of South Florida ( A Florida Non-Profit Corporation ) - Tampa FL

International Classification:

A61K 39/015
A61P 37/04
A61P 33/02
C07K 14/445

US Classification:

4241911, 530350

Abstract:

The disclosure provides compositions that are useful for eliciting a strain-transcending immune response in an animal or human directed against the blood-stage of the malarial parasite . The compositions are based on the ligand domain of Duffy binding protein (PvDBPII). Polar charged polymorphic residues within the dominant strain-specific B-cell epitope were mutated to uncharged residues (e.g. serine, alanine and threonine). This DEKnull variant of PvDBPII produced in bacteria can be purified and refolded in vitro to mimic conformation and erythrocyte binding function of native DBPII. Immunogenicity of DEKnull was confirmed by administration to mice. Compared to the naturally-occurring, strain variant DBPII, DEKnull elicits antibodies that are more broadly reactive with different strain variants of DBPII and enhances production of functional inhibitory antibodies to the shared protective epitopes of native DBPII.