# Development of novel malaria pre-erythrocytic vaccine antigens targeting Plasmodium sporozoite liver infection

> **NIH NIH R21** · MERCER UNIVERSITY MACON · 2023 · $191,349

## Abstract

Previously, using a phage peptide display library, our group has identified Plasmodium parasite ligands and
corresponding host cell receptors important for sporozoite-Kupffer cell interaction in the mammalian liver.
Using a similar approach, we identified the HP1 peptide, a structural mimic of a ligand that the sporozoite
uses to infect hepatocytes. Immunization with the HP1 peptide protects ~ 50 % mice from P. berghei
challenge. Using an anti-HP1 antibody, we identified Plasmodium Phospholipid Scramblase (PLS) as the
sporozoite ligand of hepatocytes and a potential vaccine antigen. We propose 1) to identify PLS protein
epitopes that function in hepatocyte recognition, for use as a vaccine antigen; and 2) to develop a tri-
functional vaccine antigen containing i) a sporozoite circumsporozoite protein (CSP) epitope, targeting liver
sinusoid binding, ii) a sporozoite GAPDH-related epitope, targeting sporozoite exit from the circulation via
Kupffer cell traversal, and iii) sporozoite PLS epitope, targeting hepatocyte infection. We expect that this
approach will lead to enhancement of the moderate protective efficacy of the most advanced RTS,S/AS01
malaria vaccine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10832263
- **Project number:** 7R21AI166451-02
- **Recipient organization:** MERCER UNIVERSITY MACON
- **Principal Investigator:** Sung-Jae Cha
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $191,349
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2023-01-04 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10832263

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10832263, Development of novel malaria pre-erythrocytic vaccine antigens targeting Plasmodium sporozoite liver infection (7R21AI166451-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10832263. Licensed CC0.

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