University of South Florida

Washington University

Case Western Reserve University

Samantha Jones Barnes

John H Adams

Francis B Ntumngia

Niraj H Tolia

Christopher L King

Nichole Diane Salinas

Edwin Chen

Miriam Thankam George

Jesse L Schloegel

Amy M McHenry

Patchanee Chootong

Provided herein are syntheticantigens, antibodies and pharmaceutical formulations and vaccines thereof. Also provided herein are methods of treating and/or preventinginfection and/or disease by administering the syntheticantigens, antibodies and pharmaceutical formulations and vaccines thereof.

Synthetic plasmodium antigens, compositions, and uses thereof

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 ofDuffy 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.

Synthetic antigen based on the ligand domain of the plasmodium vivax duffy binding protein

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Growing community of inventors

Tampa, FL, United States of America

Samantha Jones Barnes