PROTECTIVE IMMUNE-RESPONSES AGAINST PROTEASE-LIKE ANTIGENS OF THE MURINE MALARIA PARASITE PLASMODIUM-VINCKEI

The Plasmodium falciparum proteins serine repeat antigen (SERA) and se rine repeat protein homologue (SERPH) have similarity in sequence with cysteine proteases in a well-conserved protease domain. We identified three SERA homologues from the murine malaria parasite Plasmodium vin ckei and evaluated immune responses to the protease domains of these p roteins. Mice that developed protective immunity to P, vinckei after s erial infection and cure demonstrated humoral and cell-mediated respon ses against the SERA homologue protease domains, Mice immunized with S almonella typhimurium expressing the protease domain of one of these a ntigens demonstrated cellular responses against the antigen and increa sed survival against lethal challenge with P, vinckei, Our results sug gest that the protease domains of SERA and SERPH are worthy of additio nal study as potential components of a malaria vaccine. (C) 1998 Publi shed by Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.