A human monoclonal antibody blocks malaria transmission and defines a highly conserved neutralizing epitope on gametes

Camila H. Coelho, Wai Kwan Tang, Martin Burkhardt, Jacob D. Galson, Olga Muratova, Nichole D. Salinas, Thiago Luiz Alves e Silva, Karine Reiter, Nicholas J. MacDonald, Vu Nguyen, Raul Herrera, Richard Shimp, David L. Narum, Miranda Byrne-Steele, Wenjing Pan, Xiaohong Hou, Brittany Brown, Mary Eisenhower, Jian Han, Bethany J. JenkinsJustin Y.A. Doritchamou, Margery G. Smelkinson, Joel Vega-Rodríguez, Johannes Trück, Justin J. Taylor, Issaka Sagara, Jonathan P. Renn, Niraj H. Tolia, Patrick E. Duffy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Malaria elimination requires tools that interrupt parasite transmission. Here, we characterize B cell receptor responses among Malian adults vaccinated against the first domain of the cysteine-rich 230 kDa gamete surface protein Pfs230, a key protein in sexual stage development of P. falciparum parasites. Among nine Pfs230 human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that we generated, one potently blocks transmission to mosquitoes in a complement-dependent manner and reacts to the gamete surface; the other eight show only low or no blocking activity. The structure of the transmission-blocking mAb in complex with vaccine antigen reveals a large discontinuous conformational epitope, specific to domain 1 of Pfs230 and comprising six structural elements in the protein. The epitope is conserved, suggesting the transmission-blocking mAb is broadly functional. This study provides a rational basis to improve malaria vaccines and develop therapeutic antibodies for malaria elimination.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1750
JournalNature Communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

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