Authors

M P Gibbins²; K Mueller³; K Matuschewski³; O Silvie¹; J C Hafalla²;  ¹ Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Sorbonne Universities, UMPC Univ Paris 06, Paris, France;  ² London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine;  ³ Max Planck Institute of Infection Biology, Berlin

Discussion

The circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the major surface protein of the sporozoite, is an immunodominant antigen of the malaria pre-erythrocytic stages, targeted by neutralising antibodies and CD8+ T cells. It has been the prime candidate for malaria vaccines for the last 50 years and is the basis of the partially efficacious RTS,S vaccine. However despite its immunodominance, several groups have shown that when vaccinating with irradiated whole sporozoites, the absence of CSP expression can still lead to protection in mice. This suggests that CSP is an important antigen in protection but that other antigens also play a role. In corroboration with these findings, we go on to show that in Plasmodium berghei the protective effects of CSP are primarily due to the MHC class I H-2-d restricted epitope SYIPSAEKI, responsible for parasite killing and sterile protection.