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Collaborative Research and Licensing Opportunity: Compositions and Methods for Blocking Transmission of Plasmodium

NIAID inventors have discovered the region of P47 protein responsible for the immune evasion function of this protein. Specific sequences of protein fragments of P47 have proven to be both highly antigenic and shown to be responsible in allowing malaria parasites to evade the mosquito immune system. Proof of concept in a mouse model has demonstrated that vaccination using specific P47 protein fragments blocks Plasmodium transmission by mosquitoes. Immunization with the P47 protein variants of this technology provides a candidate for a potential, effective, transmission blocking malaria vaccine against Plasmodium species.

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Nature Research Custom Media
NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

According to the World Health Organization, about 3.2 billion people – nearly half of the world's population – are at risk of infection by Plasmodium parasites, resulting in malaria. An estimated 214 million cases and 438,000 deaths were due to malaria in 2015.

P47 protein expressed by Plasmodium species allow malaria parasites to evade the mosquito immune system, thereby facilitating the transmission of malaria parasites. NIAID inventors have discovered the region of P47 protein responsible for the immune evasion function of this protein. Specific sequences of protein fragments of P47 have proven to be both highly antigenic and shown to be responsible in allowing malaria parasites to evade the mosquito immune system. Proof of concept in a mouse model has demonstrated that vaccination using specific P47 protein fragments blocks Plasmodium transmission by mosquitoes.

Immunization with the P47 protein variants of this technology provides a candidate for a potential, effective, transmission blocking malaria vaccine against Plasmodium species.

Potential Commercial Applications:

• Transmission blocking malaria vaccine

• Transmission blocking of Plasmodium

• Transmission blocking activity based on recruiting the mosquito immune system to kill Plasmodium parasites by blocking Plasmodium immune evasion

Competitive Advantages:

Development Stage:

• Early-stage.

• In vitro data available.

• In vivo data available (animal).

Inventors: Carolina Veronica Barillas-Mury, Alvaro Molina-Cruz, Gaspar Exequiel Canepa, all of NIAID

Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-294-2016/0 - U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/463,011, filed February 24, 2017

Licensing And Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate or commercialize P47 protein fragments as a transmission blocking vaccine. For collaboration opportunities, please contact Peter Tung at 240-669-5483; peter.tung@nih.gov.

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