Plasmodium yoelii MSP1/8 mRNA vaccine

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of the mRNA platform for blood-stage malaria vaccines. We carried out a proof-of-concept study using the P. yoelii mouse model of malaria. We developed two related mRNA-based vaccine constructs encoding PyMSP1-19 fused to PyMSP8 (PyMSP1/8). One construct, PyMSP1/8-sec, was designed for secretion of the expressed protein, while the second encoded membrane bound protein (PyMSP1/8-mem). We confirmed PyMSP1/8 expression in mRNA-transfected mammalian cells and verified proper secretion versus membrane localization. To determine if the mRNA-based vaccine platform is effective for immunization against blood-stage malaria parasites, we compared the immunogenicity and in vivo efficacy of these two PyMSP1/8 mRNA/LNP vaccines relative to the previously described, potently protective recombinant antigen plus adjuvant rPyMSP1/8 vaccine.