Compositions and Methods for Blocking Transmission of Plasmodium

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.This technology is available for licensing for commercial development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR Part 404, as well as for further development and evaluation under a research collaboration.IC: NIAIDNIH Ref. No.: E-294-2016/0Advantages: Transmission blocking of PlasmodiumTransmission blocking activity based on recruiting the mosquito immune system to kill Plasmodium parasites by blocking Plasmodium immune ev...

Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - January 11, 2018 Category: Research Authors: ajoyprabhu3 Source Type: research