Projects per year
Abstract
The pre-erythrocytic stage of infection by malaria parasites represents a key target for vaccines that aim to eradicate malaria. Two important broad immune evasion strategies that can interfere with vaccine efficacy include the induction of dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction and regulatory T cells (Tregs) by blood-stage malaria parasites, leading to inefficient priming of T cells targeting liver-stage infections. The parasite also uses surgical strike strategies, whereby polymorphism in pre-erythrocytic antigens can interfere with host immunity. Specifically, we review how even single amino acid changes in T cell epitopes can lead to loss of binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC), lack of cross-reactivity, or antagonism and immune interference, where simultaneous or sequential stimulation with related variants of the same T cell epitope can cause T cell anergy or the conversion of effector to immunosuppressive T cell phenotypes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 389-399 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Expert Review of Vaccines |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Mar 2016 |
Keywords
- antagonism
- antigen
- cross-reactivity
- immune evasion
- immune interference
- Malaria
- polymorphism
- pre-erythrocytic
- vaccine
Projects
- 1 Curtailed
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NHMRC Research Fellowship
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia)
30/04/07 → 31/12/17
Project: Research