Overcoming Antigenic Diversity by Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Conserved Epitopes on the Malaria Vaccine Candidate Apical Membrane Antigen-1

Summary

Malaria vaccine candidate Apical Membrane Antigen-1 (AMA1) induces protection, but only against parasite strains that are closely related to the vaccine. Overcoming the AMA1 diversity problem will require an understanding of the structural basis of cross-strain invasion inhibition. A vaccine containing four diverse allelic proteins 3D7, FVO, HB3 and W2mef (AMA1 Quadvax or QV) elicited polyclonal rabbit antibodies that similarly inhibited the invasion of four vaccine and 22 non-vaccine strains of P. falciparum. Comparing polyclonal anti-QV with antibodies against a strain-specific, monovalent, 3D7 AMA1 vaccine revealed that QV induced higher levels of broadly inhibitory antibodies which were associated with increased conserved face and domain-3 responses and reduced domain-2 response. Inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAb) raised against the QV reacted with a novel cross-reactive epitope at the rim of the hydrophobic trough on domain-1; this epitope mapped to the conserved face of AMA1 and it encompassed the 1e-loop. MAbs binding to the 1e-loop region (1B10, 4E8 and 4E11) were ∼10-fold more potent than previously characterized AMA1-inhibitory mAbs and a mode of action of these 1e-loop mAbs was the inhibition of AMA1 binding to its ligand RON2. Unlike the epitope of a previously characterized 3D7-specific mAb, 1F9, the 1e-loop inhibitory epitope was partially conserved across strains. Another novel mAb, 1E10, which bound to domain-3, was broadly inhibitory and it blocked the proteolytic processing of AMA1. By itself mAb 1E10 was weakly inhibitory but it synergized with a previously characterized, strain-transcending mAb, 4G2, which binds close to the hydrophobic trough on the conserved face and inhibits RON2 binding to AMA1. Novel inhibition susceptible regions and epitopes, identified here, can form the basis for improving the antigenic breadth and inhibitory response of AMA1 vaccines. Vaccination with a few diverse antigenic proteins could provide universal coverage by redirecting the immune response towards conserved epitopes.

Introduction

Despite the availability of effective drugs mortality caused by malaria remains a global health and economic concern [1], and drug resistance to front-line antimalarials is increasing. A vaccine that either prevents the disease or can reduce the parasite burden is urgently needed to reduce mortality and morbidity of infants and young children living in many of the world's poorest countries. Human anti-malarial antibodies can inhibit invasion and some studies suggest that growth inhibitory activity is associated with decreased risk of Plasmodium falciparum infection [2]. Antigens that induce invasion inhibitory antibodies are therefore primary candidates for the development of a vaccine that targets parasite blood stages [3], [4]. One such vaccine candidate is Apical Membrane Antigen-1 (AMA1) [5]. Anti-AMA1 antibodies inhibit the invasion of merozoites into red blood cells [6] and this inhibitory activity correlates with protection in non-human primate malaria models [7], [8]. Inhibitory AMA-1 antibodies are also acquired by humans exposed to P. falciparum infection [9], and antibodies to AMA1 are associated with protection from symptomatic malaria [10], [11]. The positive selection of polymorphisms that map to the epitopes of inhibitory antibodies is further evidence that such antibodies have a protective role [12].

In vitro growth inhibitory activity and AMA1-induced protection in animal models and in humans are highly strain-dependent [9], [13]–[16]. When evaluated in a Phase 2b clinical trial in Mali, a monovalent 3D7 AMA1 vaccine [17] formulated in an oil-containing adjuvant AS02 showed significant efficacy, but only against vaccine-like strains [15]. Although disappointing, this result was not surprising given the parasite diversity at the test site [18]. Vaccinating with a yeast-derived bivalent mixture of 3D7 and FVO alleles (AMA1-C1) did not enhance the inhibition against non-vaccine strains [19] and this bivalent vaccine adjuvanted in Alum did not protect in a Phase 2b trial [20].

Synthesized as an 83 kDa trans-membrane protein, native AMA1 undergoes maturation to a 66 kDa form, which then translocates to the merozoite surface [21]. During the invasion process, AMA1 undergoes proteolytic shedding to yield 48 and 44 kDa soluble forms [22] [23]. Once on the merozoite surface, the 66 kDa AMA1 form interacts with the parasite RON proteins, which are integrated into the host cell membrane [24]. A portion of the RON2 protein binds within a trough of exposed hydrophobic residues of AMA1 domain-1, and this interaction is thought to be necessary for triggering formation of an actinomyosin-associated moving junction that drives host cell invasion [25], [26]. The understanding of the biological role of AMA1 during invasion has prompted researchers to target the AMA1-RON2 interaction for vaccine development [27]. However polymorphisms located on loops that surround the hydrophobic trough are the major antigenic escape residues of AMA1 [28], and invasion inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) like 1F9, that map to the rim of hydrophobic trough are highly strain-specific [29]. The crystal structure of AMA1 has revealed that AMA1 polymorphisms cluster on one side of the AMA1 molecule and mAb 4G2, which binds to the opposite “conserved face”, is broadly inhibitory [30]–[33]. Although the epitope for mAb 4G2 offers the potential for rational vaccine design, this epitope is not easily accessible and intact mAb 4G2 is about 40 times less inhibitory than polyclonal AMA1 antibodies [34]. Thus a major problem with applying structural approaches to improve AMA1 vaccines has been the lack of well characterized mAbs that are cross-reactive and whose growth inhibitory activity approaches that of polyclonal AMA1 antibodies.

To be successful, vaccines against pathogens that exhibit antigenic diversity require the inclusion of multiple components. The polio vaccine contains all three circulating serotypes, the influenza vaccine contains three seasonally prevalent serotypes whose antibodies are functionally non cross-reactive and human papilloma virus vaccine contains the four most pathogenic types. However, extreme diversity in AMA1 with over 200 prevailing haplotypes has precluded the inclusion of all AMA1 strains into a multivalent vaccine [18], [35] and several important questions need to be answered before developing the next generation of AMA1 vaccines. For example, if pan-inhibition requires the presence of a multitude of strain-specific antibodies, then most serotypes will have to be present in the vaccine. On the other hand, if the immunogen can induce high levels of broadly inhibitory antibodies, all serotypes need not be present.

A sequence diversity based approach rationally classified AMA1 sequences using a clustering algorithm and suggested that no less than 6 populations would be required in a vaccine [36]. However, Miura et al. showed that these populations do not clearly explain the patterns of cross-strain inhibition in growth or invasion inhibition assays (GIA) and all six populations may not be necessary for a multivalent vaccine to overcome antigenic diversity [37]. Remarque and colleagues have proposed to display majority of AMA1 polymorphisms on artificially designed diversity covering (DiCo) proteins. Vaccination of rabbits and monkeys with mixtures of DiCo proteins elicited broadly cross-reactive antibodies that inhibited several laboratory strains [38], [39]. The DiCo approach has enabled the concentration of 97% of AMA1 polymorphisms on only three proteins and it assumes that all polymorphisms are equally important. This assumption however has not been supported by the literature [28], [37], [40]. DiCo mix vaccine also remains to be evaluated against a broad array of laboratory and recent field isolates. A mixture of two AMA1 alleles, 3D7 and FVO, did not increase non-vaccine strain inhibition, but adding a third allele, HB3, achieved some level of strain-broadening [41], [42]. Further improvements in cross-strain inhibition were reported using mixtures of 4/5 and 6 allele vaccines [37].

In view of the failure of AMA1 vaccines to induce broad protection against malaria, understanding of the structural basis of cross-strain invasion inhibition is required to make a case for developing second generation AMA1 vaccines. The aim of this study was to understand the structural basis of cross-strain invasion inhibition by mixed allele vaccine antibodies. To induce broadly inhibitory antibodies we mixed four diverse AMA1 allelic proteins to constitute the Quadvax or QV. The four allelic components of the QV (3D7, FVO, HB3, W2mef) show limited cross-inhibition in a GIA [9], [14], [19] and a four-way pool of their individual antibodies can inhibit a wide variety of non-vaccine strains [43]. The breadth of inhibitory response of QV, was compared to a bivalent, two trivalent and four monovalent vaccines against a panel of laboratory and recently culture adapted isolates. Broadly inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated against QV were mapped and assayed for biological activities and mAbs and chimeric proteins were used to discern differences between multi-allelic and mono-allelic AMA1 vaccine responses. Understanding the molecular basis of strain broadening would allow for the rational development and testing of a second generation AMA1 vaccine.

Results

Anti-QV inhibited vaccine and non-vaccine strains similarly

Groups of three rabbits were immunized with monovalent 3D7, FVO, HB3 and W2mef AMA1 vaccines or an equivalent total antigen dose of a mixture of all four allelic proteins (QV). To determine the antigenic breadth of the induced antibodies, individual rabbit sera were analyzed by ELISA against recombinant proteins corresponding to seven diverse AMA1 alleles (Fig. 1A). The QV antisera showed a high degree of cross-reactivity (>500,000 mean group titer against all 7 allelic proteins; Fig. 1B) whereas the monovalent vaccine antisera showed the typical strain-specificity of AMA1 antibodies. Mean log₁₀ ELISA titers of the four monovalent vaccines, tested against their respective homologous target strains, were not different from those induced by QV (MANOVA followed by Dunnett's test all p values >0.1). When the monovalent vaccine-induced titers were grouped together, the combined mean homologous strain titer was higher than the heterologous strain titer (ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test; Fig. 1C). In contrast, the QV group showed no difference in homologous and heterologous AMA1 titers. In a GIA that measured parasitemia after one invasion cycle, using a flow-cytometric method (WRAIR GIA) [44], anti-QV showed similarly high levels of inhibition of homologous and four heterologous parasite strains (>49% inhibition at 1∶5 whole serum dilution; Fig. 1D), while the GIA activity of the monovalent vaccines was dependent on the test strain. Homologous strain inhibitions of the QV group were similar to the homologous inhibitions induced by the monovalent vaccines (Dunnett's test p values>0.2). Similar to the grouped ELISA analysis, the combined mean homologous inhibition by the monovalent vaccine antisera was higher than heterologous inhibition, but no such difference for anti-QV was observed (Fig. 1E).

A plot of ‘vaccine to target’ sequence distance showed an inverse correlation between sequence distance and invasion inhibition, for 3D7, HB3 and W2mef vaccines (linear regression, p<0.0001, 0.040 and 0.0006, respectively), which confirmed that GIA was detecting antigenic escape in vitro (Fig. S1). In contrast, the slope for QV and FVO regression lines (drop in GIA per polymorphism) was relatively flat and the correlations were non-significant. Although sequence distance was not predictive of immune escape from anti-FVO, the antibody response and GIA activity induced by FVO AMA1 were significantly lower than anti-QV (t-test, p<0.0001 and 0.0003 respectively; Fig. 1B and 1D).

Using a 4-Way pool of antibodies against the monovalent vaccines, given separately to rabbits using Freund's complete adjuvant, Drew et al. have shown broad inhibitory coverage against diverse strains [43]. Hence we compared the activity of pooled QV rabbit sera to a 4-Way pool of sera from the four highest titer monovalent vaccine group rabbits (anti-3D7+FVO+HB3+W2mef) (Fig. 1F). It is notable that GIA activity across strains for the QV pool was higher than the 4-Way pool (t-test, p = 0.006). This data along with the higher heterologous coverage judged by GIA and ELISA (Fig. 1C and 1E), indicates that anti-QV did not merely represent the sum of strain-specific antibodies and in contrast to the dilution of inhibitory activity observed upon mixing monovalent vaccine antisera the mixed allele vaccine maintained a high level of inhibition across strains.

QV induced higher levels of broadly inhibitory antibodies

Sera from the three QV vaccinated rabbits were pooled to isolate antigen-specific antibodies over a 3D7 AMA1 affinity column. As a control, antibodies from a pool of three monovalent 3D7 AMA1 vaccinated rabbits were affinity purified in parallel. More than 3.5 times as much anti-3D7 IgG was required for 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) of heterologous strains as was required for 50% inhibition of 3D7 parasites (Fig. 2A and Fig. S2). In contrast, the anti-QV IC₅₀ against 3D7, FVO and M24 strains were similarly low. Notably, the flow-through fraction of anti-QV (unbound antibodies) still showed some level of inhibition of FVO and M24 parasites, while the flow-through of anti-3D7 did not (Fig. S2).

Since anti-3D7 and anti-QV sera showed similar inhibitory activities against the 3D7 target strain, we next determined if both antisera targeted a similar proportion of strain-specific and cross-reactive epitopes. A serial dilution of soluble antigens from seven diverse AMA1 strains, were used to selectively deplete cross-reactive antibodies from serum pools of 3 rabbits in a GIA against 3D7 parasites (Fig. 2B). Vaccine strain (solid lines) and non-vaccine strain (dotted lines) AMA1 proteins similarly reversed anti-QV mediated inhibition, whereas the anti-3D7 inhibition was completely reversible only by the homologous antigen. At saturating antigen concentrations, the three non-vaccine allelic proteins 7G8, M24, and 102-1 were significantly less effective at reversing the inhibition of anti-3D7 antibodies than they were at reversing the inhibition of anti-QV antibodies (average reversal 52% vs. 79%; t-test p<0.0001) (Fig. S3).

We also directly compared the relative inhibitory activities of the cross-reactive antibody fraction of anti-3D7 and anti-QV IgG affinity purified from pooled serum of 3 rabbits over a non-vaccine strain M24 AMA1 column (Fig. 2C). The net amount of anti-3D7 that bound to the M24 AMA1 column was lower (8% by weight) than anti-QV (51%) and, despite affinity purification, the cross-reactive fraction of anti-3D7 still showed strain-specific inhibition (highest response against 3D7) which was significantly higher than its inhibition of 7G8, M24 and 102-1 (ANOVA followed by Tukey's test, p = 0.0014, 0.0074 0.0096 respectively). There was no significant difference among the 3D7, 7G8, M24 and 102-1 strains in the level of inhibition by anti-QV IgG (Fig. 2C). These data suggested that, not only did QV induce higher levels of cross-reactive antibodies than the monovalent 3D7 AMA1 vaccine, but a higher proportion of the anti-QV antibodies targeted conserved inhibitory epitopes on the parasite AMA1.

A combination of four AMA1 variants (QV) may be sufficient to overcome global AMA1 diversity

In an independent vaccination experiment, groups of three rabbits were immunized in parallel with 100 µg of QV, or 100 µg mixtures of two (3D7+FVO) or three (3D7+FVO+HB3 and 3D7+FVO+W2mef) allelic proteins. Pooled IgG from each of the four vaccine groups were tested for inhibition of invasion against ten target parasite strains by the National Institutes of Health GIA reference laboratory using a parasite LDH based method following one invasion cycle [45]. The target strains included five recently culture adapted Cambodian isolates (labeled as CP in Fig. 3A). Adding a third allelic protein dramatically improved the cross-strain GIA activity of the bivalent vaccine, and a smaller increase in mean inhibition across strains was observed upon adding the fourth allelic protein to the vaccine, although the mean inhibition across strains for the two trivalent vaccines was not statistically different from the QV. At 2.5 mg/ml total IgG concentration the anti-QV showed uniformly high, >89% inhibition, against all 10 isolates, 8 of which were not included in QV (Fig. S4A). A dose response assay using the pLDH method, determined that a relatively low <0.2 mg/ml total anti-QV IgG resulted in 50% inhibition against the 3D7 target strain (Fig. S4B). When tested for GIA activity against eight P. falciparum strains using the WRAIR flow-cytometric assay, inhibition across strains was significantly greater with the anti-QV IgG pool than with IgG induced by either of the two trivalent (ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test, p = 0.033, 0.028) and the bivalent vaccine (p<0.0001) (Fig. 3B). A high level of cross-strain GIA activity with anti-QV IgG was independently verified in assays performed at the Burnet Institute (Melbourne, Australia) using a flow-cytometric assay that measured inhibition over two invasion cycles [46]. An additional ten parasite strains, five of which were recently culture adapted field isolates from south-east Asia and Africa [43], were all found to be highly inhibited by anti-QV and in this more sensitive assay the two trivalent antisera performed similar to the QV (Fig. 3C).

The full-length AMA1 sequences, visualized on a dendrogram against 175 published AMA1 sequences from Asian, South American and African origin (Fig. 1A), showed that the diversity of the 26 target strains, tested by GIA, was representative of the global AMA1 diversity. Although GIA methodologies used by the three labs were different, they all suggested that a combination of three and preferably four QV allelic proteins may be sufficient to provide coverage against global AMA1 diversity .

Genaration and mapping of monoclonal antibodies against QV

To further characterize QV-induced antibodies, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated (Table 1 and Fig. 4). Binding domains for the mAbs were assigned by Western blot against a panel of chimeric proteins that displayed P. falciparum sequences on a P. berghei AMA1 scaffold (Fig. S5 and Fig. 4C). There is 52% sequence identity between P. falciparum and P. berghei AMA1. This level of identity is similar to that of P. vivax AMA1 (58%) which is known to have an identical fold to P. falciparum AMA1 [47], and is considerably higher than the identity to T. gondii AMA1 (32% identity in domains I and II), known to have an identical fold in the core domain I+II region [48]. Hence, there is precedence for expecting that P. berghei and P. falciparum AMA1 possess identical folds even though their surfaces are antigenically non-cross-reactive (no cross-reactivity between Pf mAbs and PbAMA1; Fig. 4D). The use of chimeric proteins to map epitopes was necessary because of the conformational nature of AMA1 inhibitory epitopes and attempts to express individual domains often results in structural alterations as was shown by differences in the NMR structure of isolated domain-3 and the structure of domain 3 in context of domain-1 and −2 [33] [49], [50]. Chimeras Cry-D1, Cry-D2, Cry-D3 displayed the contiguous surface regions of 3D7 AMA1 domains-1, 2 and 3 based on the crystal structure (Fig. S5). Chimeras POLY and CONS displayed the polymorphic and conserved face of AMA1; chimera D2+1e displayed the domain-2 loop together with the 1e-loop; and chimera HT displayed the rim of the hydrophobic trough and surrounding loops (Fig. S5) [32]. Also displayed on the chimeras were combinations of the three linear domains of P. falciparum AMA1 (Lin-D1, Lin-D2, Lin-D3, LinD1+2 and LinD2+3), as defined by the disulphide bond structure [51]. In addition to Western blot, AMA1 chimeras were useful to generally differentiate the domain/region-specific inhibition patterns of polyclonal sera using a GIA reversal assay (Fig. S5C). Interestingly, all three domains and both the faces of AMA1 had a partial contribution towards invasion inhibition but when combinations of Pf-Pb chimeras encompassing all three domains or both faces of AMA1 were mixed and added, ∼100% reversal of anti-3D7 AMA1-mediated inhibition of 3D7 strain parasites was observed (Fig. S5C).

QV-induced hybridoma supernatants were prescreened for cross-reactivity to the four vaccine homologous allelic proteins by ELISA and domain chimeras by dot blot (not shown). Representative mAbs against each domain, preferably those that cross-reacted with three or more allelic proteins, were expanded and tested in a GIA at 1 mg/ml against the 3D7 target strain. While some domain-1 mAbs were strain-specific and others cross-reactive, mAbs against domain-2 were exclusively strain-specific for 3D7 and mAbs against domain-3 were mostly cross-reactive (Table 1). The two previously characterized AMA1 mAbs 4G2 and 1F9 were accurately mapped by Western blot with chimeric proteins, to regions surrounding the hydrophobic trough (domain-2 loop and domain-1 respectively), validating the chimera based apporoach to epitope mapping. MAb 4G2 bound to chimera Lin-D2 and Cry-D1, and mAb 1F9 bound to Lin-D1 and Cry-D1 (Fig. 4A,B,C). Both of these mAbs were moderately inhibitory in a GIA against the 3D7 strain (Table 1). In contrast, three novel QV mAbs, 1B10, 4E8, 4E11, showed >60% inhibition and all three mapped to domain-1 on chimera Western blots. The domain-2 mAbs demonstrated low level inhibition (10% or less), while one of the domain-3 mAbs, 1E10, showed moderate inhibition, similar to mAb 4G2. The concentration of mAbs needed for 30% inhibition against the 3D7 target parasites (IC₃₀ concentration) was about 10-fold lower for the three domain-1 mAbs, 1B10, 4E8 and 4E11 (0.15, 0.15 and 0.22 mg/ml, respectively) as compared to mAbs binding to other regions of AMA1 (mAb 4G2, 1.8 mg/ml; mAb 5A6, 3.5 mg/ml and mAb 1E10, 1.9 mg/ml) (Fig. S6). However, no individual mAb recapitulated the high level GIA activity of polyclonal anti-3D7 IgG in this assay (IC₃₀ = 0.08 mg/ml).

The most potent inhibitory mAbs mapped to the 1e-loop of AMA1 domain-1

Consistent with the published location of the mAb 4G2 epitope on the domain-2 loop, this mAb reacted with chimeras displaying the conserved face (CONS) and the domain-2 loop (D2+1e chimera) [31] (Fig. 4A,B,C). Likewise, mAb 1F9 reacted with chimeras displaying the C1L or 1d loop on the rim of the hydrophobic trough (HT) [29]. The novel domain-1 mAbs 1B10, 4E8 and 4E11 all had a similar reactivity pattern, mapping to the conserved face. These mAbs also reacted to the D2+1e chimera, displaying the P. falciparum domain-2 and 1e loops, but no reactivity to the Lin-D2 chimera containing the domain-2 loop was observed. This suggested that the epitope of the most potent domain-1 mAbs 1B10, 4E8 and 4E11 encompassed the 1e-loop (confirmed below). The moderately inhibitory domain-3 mAb 1E10 mapped to the polymorphic face (Fig. 4B,C).

Broadly inhibitory AMA1 mAbs mapped to the conserved face and domain-3

Breadth of mAb recognition was tested by a dot blot against 7 AMA1 allelic proteins (Fig. 4D and Table 1). The domain-2 loop-binding mAb, 4G2, and the novel domain-3 mAb, 1E10, bound to all 7 AMA1 alleles. In a parallel invasion assay these two mAbs weakly inhibited the corresponding parasite strains, confirming that they recognized strain-conserved, broadly inhibitory epitopes (Fig. 4E). The three most potent 1e-loop mAbs (1B10, 4E8 and 4E11) recognised most but not all protein variants. GIA confirmed these results as strain W2mef escaped inhibition by mAbs 1B10 and 4E11, and strain M24 was refractory to inhibition by all three 1e-loop mAbs. A negative control mAb, 58F8 which recognizes the N-terminal region of AMA1, did not show significant invasion inhibition and mAb 5A6, which bound to a strain-specific domain-2 epitope, inhibited only the 3D7 strain (Fig. 4E).

Since mAbs 1B10, 4E8 or 4E11 bound to 3D7 AMA1 but not to M24 AMA1, we analyzed the polymorphic differences between 3D7 and M24 AMA1 and found a single difference at residue 230 within the 1e-loop. When residue 230 of the 3D7 AMA1 ectodomain displayed on phage was mutated to alanine all three mAbs showed reduced reactivity to the mutant phage compared to phage displaying wild-type 3D7 AMA1 (Fig. S7). This confirmed that the 1e-loop region was the target of the most potent AMA1 mAbs (1B10, 4E8 and 4E11).

AMA1 antibodies targeted two different biological processes

GIA activity of AMA1 antibodies has been associated with inhibition of two biological processes: RON2 protein binding and AMA1 proteolytic processing. Representative mAbs against all three domains were analyzed to determine if they blocked the interaction of AMA1 with its receptor, RON2 [24], [25], [52], or if they could inhibit the proteolytic cleavage of the 66 kDa membrane bound AMA1 to the 48+44 kDa soluble forms which are shed [22], [34] [53]. The mAbs that bound to loops adjacent to the hydrophobic trough (1F9, 1B10, 4E8, 4E11, 4G2) blocked the binding of RON2 peptide to AMA1 (Fig. 5A). RON2 binding was not altered by mAbs that bound to domain-2 (mAb 5A6), domain-3 (mAb 1E10), or the N-terminal pro-domain (mAb 5G8). Secondary proteolytic processing of AMA1 on 3D7 strain parasites was blocked by mAbs binding to domain-3 (2C6, 1E10). Inhibition of processing was indicated by increased intensity of the merozoite surface associated 66 kDa form combined with reduced intensity of the products of normal processing (co-migrating 44+48 kDa bands). Inhibition of normal processing also resulted in increased levels of the 52 kDa product of anomalous AMA1 processing [54] [34]. In contrast, mAbs binding to domain-1 (1B10, 4E8, 1F9), or domain-2 (1F3, 5A6) did not inhibit AMA1 processing (Fig. 5B). Some alteration of processing was also detectable in presence of the mAb 4G2, probably due to the proximity of the base of the domain-2 loop to the C-terminal processing/shedding site at Thr₅₁₇ (Fig. 4B) [23].

A domain-3 antibody enhanced the inhibitory activity of broadly inhibitory conserved face antibodies

To test if broadly inhibitory antibodies showed additivity or synergistic inhibitory effects, we analyzed selected mAbs in a GIA against 3D7 parasites at their respective 1×IC₃₀ concentration (black bars; average inhibition, 23%) and at 2×IC₃₀ concentration (gray bars; average inhibition, 50%) (Fig. 5C). When pairs of mAbs binding to spatially proximal epitopes were mixed at their respective 1×IC₃₀ concentrations (1e-loop mAb mixtures in green or 1e-loop+domain-2 loop mAb mixtures in blue), the resulting inhibitions were not different from the 2×IC₃₀ concentration of individual mAbs. However, when mAbs binding to spatially distant epitopes were mixed at their IC₃₀ concentration (1e-loop+domain-3 mAbs in orange or domain-2 loop+domain-3 mAb in red), the average inhibitions were significantly higher than that of the 2×IC₃₀ concentration of individual mAbs (p<0.05 corrected for multiple comparisons). The most potent inhibitory combination, mAb 1E10+4G2, was tested to confirm synergy using the “Bliss independence” equation recently used to discern synergistic antibody combinations by Williams et al. [55], [56]. In a GIA against 3D7 parasites, a fixed IC₃₀ concentration of mAb 4G2 was mixed with a range of concentrations of mAb 1E10 (Fig. 5D) and synergy was assumed if the combination inhibited better than predicted by Bliss independence. The observed inhibition of the 4G2+1E10 mAb combination (red line) was higher than the predicted GIA activity (black line), thus confirming synergy (ANOVA followed by Tukeys's test, p<0.0001). In a GIA against 7 diverse parasite strains, only the mAb 1E10+4G2 combination showed enhanced inhibition across strains (Fig. 5E, t test, p = 0.002). Thus domain-3 antibodies, which by themselves were not potent inhibitors, could synergize with antibodies binding to a strain-transcending epitope on the conserved face, domain-2 loop.

QV enhanced the immune response against domain-3 and the conserved face epitopes

Using the strain-specific anti-3D7 as the reference, we conducted differential mapping of the polyclonal anti-QV inhibitory response. In a GIA against 3D7 strain, equivalent final concentration of 3D7 chimeric proteins CryD1, CryD2, CryD3, CryD1+CryD2, Cry D2+CryD3, CryD1+CryD3, CONS and POLY were added to deplete region-specific antibodies against domains-1, 2, 3, 1+2, 2+3, 1+3, conserved face and polymorphic face, respectively (Fig. 6A). The extent of GIA reversal was used to dissect region-specific inhibitory contributions (Fig. 6B). For the anti-3D7 IgG, mAb mapping data would have predicted domain-1 to have the highest inhibitory contribution, however, the D1 chimera caused only 33% reversal as compared to 87% reversal by the mixture of D1 and D2 chimeras. This result was not surprising because vaccination with AMA1 domains has previously shown that antibodies to these two domains are needed for high level GIA [57]. Between the two faces of AMA1, the polymorphic face contributed more towards the inhibition (65% reversal) than the conserved face antibodies (16% reversal).

Comparing anti-3D7 and anti-QV GIA reversal showed increased levels of cross-reactive antibodies in anti-QV correlated with increased GIA reversal by chimera combinations that contained domain-3 (t test; D3, p = 0.0095; D2+3, p = 0.0092) and the overall reversal for D1+3 chimera was the highest for anti-QV (Fig. 6B). Conversely, D2 (not statistically significant) and D1+D2 (p = 0.0035) responses for anti-QV were lower than anti-3D7. Between the two faces, the response to polymorphic face was unchanged while enhanced conserved face inhibitory contribution was observed in anti-QV (p = 0.0006). A region-specific ELISA using chimeric proteins as coat antigens also showed that QV induced higher levels of domain-3 (p = 0.0002) and conserved face (p<0.0001) antibodies and reduced domain-2 antibodies (p = 0.008) (Fig. 6C) and another region-specific ELISA using the M24 AMA1 affinity purified anti-3D7 and anti-QV IgG (tested in Fig. 2C), confirmed this observation (Fig. S8). Thus, as compared to the strain-specific monovalent 3D7 AMA1 vaccine, vaccination with QV enhanced the immunogenicity of two less-polymorphic regions of AMA1: the conserved face and domain-3 while the response to domain-2 was reduced. Since the inhibitory activity of the polymorphic face was unchanged between anti-3D7 and anti-QV, it can be concluded that QV still generated a component of partially strain-specific antibodies targeting polymorphic areas on each strain and additionally it elicited higher levels of cross-strain inhibitory antibodies that mapped to domain-3 and conserved face.

A mAb competition ELISA was performed to determine the ability of anti-3D7 and anti-QV serum pool to inhibit the binding of labelled cross-reactive mAbs (1B10, 4E8, 4E11, 4G2 and 1E10) to a non-vaccine strain 102-1 AMA1 (Fig. 6D). A lower concentration of anti-QV was required to compete out mAbs 1B10, 4E8, 4G2, 1E10 and, strikingly, antibodies competing for at least one broadly inhibitory epitope defined by mAb 4E11 epitope on the conserved face 1e-loop were present only in anti-QV, providing further proof of a partial shift of immunogenicity in favor of conserved epitopes.

Discussion

Given the failure of AMA1 vaccines to protect broadly, this study investigates the molecular basis of anti-AMA1 mediated cross-strain invasion inhibition. Using a mixture of antibodies against monovalent vaccines, Drew et al. have suggested that overlapping strain-specific antibodies can achieve broad inhibition [43]. We show that vaccinating with a mixture of four divergent AMA1 allelic proteins (3D7, FVO, HB3, and W2mef) can outperform the GIA activity of a mixture of monovalent antisera (Fig. 1F) and whilst overlapping strain specific antibodies almost certainly contributed, QV vaccination achieved a kind of mixed-allele immunogenicity bonus, similar to that reported by mixing three alleles of the Duffy binding protein vaccine [58]. The enhanced cross-strain inhibition by anti-QV was associated with no change in polymorphic face response, decrease in domain-2 response and increased response to two relatively non-polymorphic regions, the domain-3 and the conserved face. Reduction in domain-2 response was interesting because polymorphisms within domain-2 are important for antigenic escape in vitro [28], [37] and molecular analysis of a Phase 2b trial showed active selection at a domain-2 polymorphic site [40]. Not surprisingly, all three domain-2 mAbs identified here were also strain-specific (Table 1). Our findings support the further development of multivalent AMA1 vaccines because broad antigenic coverage is achieved not only by expanded antigenic footprint of strain-specific antibodies but by inducing higher levels of antibodies against conserved inhibitory epitopes [41], [42].

While we know of no mechanisms or precedents that would definitively explain our finding that co-administering polymorphic allelic AMA1 proteins increases the immunogenicity of subdominant conserved epitopes, a simple hypothesis based on the observations in influenza can be advanced. During serial influenza virus infections, memory B cells specific for the more abundant strain-specific epitopes on the head of hemagglutinin (HA) are readily expanded while fewer B cells specific for the conserved stem epitopes are crowded out. When a pandemic strain infects that contains a very different HA head, the strain-specific epitopes are replaced by new epitopes but exposure to the conserved stem epitopes continue [59]. Thus serial exposure to diverse viruses enhance antibody responses to conserved stalk epitopes of hemagglutinin [60]–[62], even though the polymorphic HA head epitopes are typically more dominant. Likewise, in AMA1 the more abundant strain-specific epitopes, which may also have a higher affinity for T or B cell receptors, compete better for space on antigen presenting cells, but when strain-specific epitopes are diluted out by mixing of diverse AMA1 proteins, the undiluted concentrations of conserved epitopes can crowd out the polymorphic responses to attract and activate more T and B cells. Indeed, strain-broadening [63] and increased domain-3 responses [64] have been reported in the higher age groups among malaria exposed populations and it may be possible that QV vaccination in children could confer immuno-protection similar to that achieved in adults.

Defining broadly inhibitory epitopes will be critical to apply structural vaccinology approaches to improve the breadth and GIA activity of all AMA1 vaccines. The 1e-loop region (residue 225–235) was identified as the most susceptible mAb target on AMA1. The four QV alleles display the most prevalent polymorphism combination within the 1e-loop (N₂₂₈, K₂₃₀; ∼70% of alleles). It is currently unclear why 1e-loop was the most susceptible target. As compared to the relatively flexible 1b, 1f and domain-2 loop, the loops at the other end of the hydrophobic trough, 1c and 1d/C1L and 1e, are less flexible [29]. In particular the 1e-loop is bounded on one side by the hydrophobic trough, and on another side by a pocket that forms a critical contact with Arg₂₀₄₁ of RON2 [25], [65]. We speculate that the reduced flexibility of the 1e-loop and its proximity to residues involved in RON2 binding are the basis of higher inhibitory activities. Moreover, the intimate nature of the interaction of RON2 wrapping around the 1e-loop places a functional constraint that limits the selection for polymorphisms in recessed regions, but does allow for polymorphisms at the apex of the loop.

In addition to the most potent antibodies mapping close to the receptor binding region, a domain-3 mAb 1E10 was found to be moderately inhibitory yet strain-transcending. Similarly, mAb DV5 generated against a loop peptide on the polymorphic face of domain-3 was shown to be inhibitory [66]. The synergy between mAbs 1E10 and 4G2 was consistent with a report demonstrating that mutations preventing AMA1 processing render the parasites more sensitive to inhibition by RON2-targeting antibodies [67] and this may be the first example of synergy between two mAbs targeting two functional regions on the same malaria antigen. Most importantly, this synergistic mAb combination bound to regions whose immunogenicity was boosted by immunization with the QV. A similar enhancement in neutralization coverage was reported using a combination of HIV mAbs targeting the CD4 binding site and the variable loops-1 and 2 of the Env protein [68].

While the most potent inhibitory QV mAbs were directed against epitopes on domain-1, the chimera mapping of polyclonal sera indicated that inhibitory activity of anti-QV was not concentrated on domain-1 alone. This apparent contradiction may result from differences in mouse and rabbit responses [69], but we also expect polymorphic face epitope gaps in our mAb library due to the screening in favor of cross reactive mAbs. The higher overall GIA activity of the polyclonal antibodies (Fig. S6) as compared to mAbs, suggests the possibility of a complex interplay of antibodies to multiple domains [57], [70], that were not yet fully investigated using mAb combinations. Despite the differences there were several similarities between the two sets of mapping data. Chimera mapping of anti-QV, showed domain-2 to be the least important for cross-strain inhibition; likewise, no cross-reactive inhibitory domain-2 mAbs were identified. Among the paired combinations, the most potent reversal was caused by depleting the domain-1+3 antibodies from anti-QV, again consistent with the observed inhibitory effects of domain-1 and synergistic domain-3 mAbs.

Attempts to engineer an immunogen to elicit high levels of cross-reactive antibodies by silencing a dominant strain-specific epitope on the C1L loop led to loss of immunogen potency [71]. The C1L loop genotype is associated with in vitro susceptibility in GIA [28], [37], [43], susceptibility to malaria in the field [18], and escape from AMA1 vaccine effect in humans [15], [40]. Therefore an ideal AMA1 vaccine would induce high levels of broadly inhibitory antibodies and strain-specific antibodies to match the dominant serotypes. In our studies, anti-QV titers, IC₅₀ and overall GIA activity were no worse than that induced by monovalent vaccines against homologous strains. In contrast, a mixture of two artificially designed DiCo proteins showed lower reactivity against naturally occurring allelic proteins [70], and anti-DiCo mix GIA activity was lower than that induced by natural allele mix antibodies, tested against homologous strains [42]. While both natural allelic proteins and DiCo mix enhance broadly inhibitory antibodies, combinations of polymorphisms within naturally occurring allelic proteins provide an extra measure of inhibitory coverage against their respective homologous strains. Thus far, this matching of polymorphic combinations between the vaccine and the target strain has been shown to be associated with high level GIA, protection in animals [8], [13] and in humans [15]. Hence our results support the use of natural allelic proteins to overcome AMA1 diversity.

The most significant improvement in GIA breadth is observed when going from a bivalent to a trivalent vaccine [19], [41]. We found a smaller but still significant increase in vaccine breadth on going from trivalent to QV. Kusi et al. have reported little improvement going from a 3 protein DiCo mix to a 7 DiCo/natural allele mix [72]. Hence, there appears to be a diminishing marginal improvement in antigenic breadth above 3 proteins and polymorphism dilution beyond an optimum may render the polymorphic residues too dilute to induce functional type-specific antibodies. It is unclear what that optimum number might be. Miura et al. showed a 5-allele vaccine was better than a 4-allele mix, and adding a sixth allele made no further improvement [37]. It is notable, that the three vaccine groups received different antigen doses and this could complicate the interpretation of their results. As compared to the homologous inhibition against 3D7 target, the strains MT/S1, C2A, GB4 and DD2 (homologous to W2mef) were less susceptible to the 5-allele vaccine antibodies, reported by Miura et al. [37]. In our study these strains were inhibited similar to the vaccine homologous strain HB3 by anti-QV in a GIA conducted by the NIH reference laboratory, at equivalent total IgG concentration (Fig. S4A). Anti-QV also potently inhibited all five P. falciparum isolates obtained recently from Cambodian malaria patients [55]. While these results are encouraging, numerical comparisons of GIA results are likely to be confounded by differences in animals, adjuvants, antigen dose, delivery platform and GIA methodology. Only head to head trials can definitively establish how the breadth and potency of QV compares to other AMA1 vaccines or other blood stage vaccine candidates such as Rh5, which induces broad inhibition using a single allelic component [73]. Limiting resources and dwindling field sites available to test blood stage vaccines may soon necessitate such comparisons. Nevertheless, rabbit anti-QV was pan-reactive by ELISA and it inhibited 22 non-vaccine parasite strains that included recent field isolates. Our data taken together with the findings of Drew et al. [43] make a strong case for further development of QV.

Also of significant note, the level of antibody response and GIA activity induced in rabbits, has not yet been achieved in humans, either using recombinant proteins [74], [75] or viral vectored antigens [76] [77]. We anticipate that the identification of inhibition susceptible epitopes will provide a rational framework to design immunogens that induce antibodies with broad reactivity and low IC₅₀, as this may further reduce the number of components required. Another cause of concern has been that polyvalent vaccines, particularly those against viral pathogens, often require geographic and periodic adjustment to match the circulating strains [78]. Although it remains to be seen if a future AMA1 vaccine would also require periodic reformulation, several differences between malaria parasites and viruses suggest that this may not be necessary. AMA1 populations from distant endemic areas have similar diversity [35], [79] and, although the in vitro and in vivo immune pressure can rapidly select for viral escape mutants [80], [81], mutations in the AMA1 gene have not been detected during prolonged culture or among parasite lines serially maintained in AMA1 immunized mice [82]. It is assuring that a major mechanism of broadened inhibition involves refocusing antibody responses towards regions that are structurally conserved. Overall, we agree with previous reports that the vast diversity of AMA1 may be overcome by a vaccine that contains only a few allelic components [37], [38], [43]. In future, human-use formulations of QV need to be evaluated in primate models and in a human blood-stage challenge model [83]. If successful, these trials could lead to QV being combined with the partially efficacious pre-erythrocytic stage malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S [84].

Materials and Methods

Ethics statement

Rabbit immunizations were performed at Spring Valley Laboratories (SVL) (USDA License No. 51-R-0051). SVL animal research facility is accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACi). The vaccine protocol (SVP10-0059) was approved by the SVL Animal Care and Use Committee. The views mentioned are that of the authors and not of the U.S. Department of the Army or Department of Defense.

Diversity analysis

Full-length AMA1 sequence of 175 field isolates (Table S1) and 26 culture adapted strains were aligned by CLUSTAL (Lasergene software). AMA1 diversity was visualized on a dendrogram created using Dendroscope software (http://ab.inf.uni-tuebingen.de/software/dendroscope/).

Expression and purification of recombinant AMA1 proteins

Genes encoding 449 amino acid P. falciparum FVO, M24, 7G8 and 102-1 AMA1 ectodomain (residues 83–531) were codon optimized and the proteins were expressed in E. coli essentially as described previously [17]. The production of HB3 and W2mef AMA1 proteins (residues 25–546) has been described previously [9], [14].

P. falciparum-P.berghei AMA1 chimeras

Crystal structures of AMA1 (PDB references 1W81, 1Z40, 2Q8A) were used to design continuous surface chimeric proteins that displayed the various three dimensional structural elements of P. falciparum AMA1 on the P. berghei AMA1 scaffold. Chimeras were based on AMA1 residues 83_Gly to 531_Glu of P. falciparum 3D7 sequence (accession number XP_001348015) and P. berghei AMA1 ANKA strain sequence (XP_678057 or CAH96497). The chimeras displaying the domain1, domain2, domain3, the hydrophobic trough, the polymorphic face, conserved face and the domain2+1e loop were termed as CryD1, CryD2, CryD3, HT, POLY, CONS and D2+1e respectively [32], [33]. To avoid potential steric clashes CryD1, CryD2 and CryD3 were designed with overlapping (∼7 Å) P. falciparum regions (Table S2). Chimeric proteins displaying the linear domains of Plasmodium falciparum AMA1 on the P. berghei AMA1 scaffold were also produced. To make the linear domain chimeras, sequences of P. falciparum AMA1 gene were PCR amplified using a synthetic gene template of P. falciparum AMA1 (residues 83_Gly to 531_Glu, accession number AAB36701). Scaffold sequences were amplified from the native P. berghei AMA1 genomic DNA using primers that overlapped the P. falciparum DNA fragments. Full-length chimeric genes were then assembled by a PCR stitch reaction using external primers. Residue boundaries 83_Gly–303_Cys were treated as domain-1, residues 304_Arg–418_Cys as domain-2 and residues 419_Leu–531_Glu as domain-3. Five linear domain chimeras displaying the three domains: LinD1, LinD2, LinD3, LinD1+2 & LinD2+3 were produced. The genes for the chimeric proteins were cloned in pET32 based plasmid, expressed in E. coli Tuner strain, grown in superbroth and protein expression was induced by 0.5 mM IPTG for 2 hrs. The chimeric proteins were purified using Ni-NTA affinity, refolded and the purified over an anion exchange column. Mixtures of these chimeric proteins were tested in GIA reversal assays (for example CryD1+CryD2+CryD3 or POLY+CONS) to ensure that together these combinations covered all of the inhibitory epitopes of 3D7 AMA1protein, as was evidenced by ∼100% GIA reversal (Fig. S5C). P. berghei AMA1 showed negligible reversal.

Rabbit immunization

Three rabbits per group each received three doses of 100 µg AMA1 vaccine per dose emulsified in Montanide ISA720 (Seppic Inc, Paris). The Quadrivalent vaccine (Quadvax) consisted of 25 µg each 3D7, FVO, HB3 and W2mef proteins; trivalent vaccines contained 33 µg of three allelic proteins and bi-allelic vaccine contained 50 µg of two allelic proteins. Emulsification was achieved by vigorous vortexing for 10–15 min and 1 ml vaccine was administered at multiple sites, subcutaneously, on the animal's back at four week intervals. Rabbits were bled out 2 weeks after the third vaccination. Sera were heat inactivated and stored at −70°C until used for invasion inhibition assays.

Affinity purification of IgG

Pooled sera (1.33 ml from each of the 3 rabbits within a group) was diluted 5-fold in IgG binding buffer (Pierce, Rockford, IL), and passed over a 1 ml Protein G column (GE, Pittsburgh, PA), the column was washed and bound IgG was eluted using IgG elution buffer (Pierce), neutralized with 1M Tris HCL pH 8.0, dialyzed against PBS and quantified by measuring OD₂₈₀. Five mg of 3D7 or M24 AMA1 protein was covalently linked to 1 ml cyanogen bromide sepharose column according to the manufacturer's instructions (GE). Anti-AMA1 IgG was bound and eluted from this affinity column as described above.

ELISA

ELISA protocol has been previously described [17]. End-point titer was the dilution that gave OD₄₀₅ = 0.5. Region-specific antibody titer was defined as: (End-point titer against a domain chimera/end-point titer against the full-length 3D7 AMA1 protein)×100.

1-cycle Flow-cytometric GIA (WRAIR method)

All inhibition assays in duplicate wells were performed by this method, unless stated otherwise [44]. Synchronized cultures at late-ring stage were diluted to 0.25–0.3% parasitemia and 2% hematocrit by using uninfected cells. The sera were heat inactivated before use and final culture volume was 60 µl. Parasites developed for 40 h at 37°C in static cultures and ring stages formed after the invasion cycle were stained with 1×SYBR green dye (BMA, Rockland, ME) and counted by using BD FACSCalibur flow-cytometer. Controls wells were matched for the test strain and contained equivalent volume of adjuvant immunized serum control or PBS (for mAb and IgG GIA). Percent inhibition of invasion = 1−(% parasitemia in test well/% parasitemia in control well).

GIA reversal using allelic proteins

Serum pool of anti-QV or anti-3D7 AMA1 were diluted to give ∼60% inhibition of the 3D7 parasite. AMA1 allelic proteins derived from 3D7, FVO, HB3, W2mef, 102-1, 7G8, or M24 strains (∼150 µg/ml or 2.8 µM) were added to selectively deplete cross-reactive antibodies. Immunologically non-reactive P. berghei AMA1 protein showed no inhibition reversal, while the homologous 3D7 AMA1 showed complete reversal. GIA reversal = (inhibition in presence of 2.8 µM P. berghei AMA1−inhibition in the presence of 2.8 µM test protein)/inhibition in presence of P. berghei AMA1 at 2.8 µM.

GIA reversal using the chimeras

Region-specific inhibitory contribution of antibodies was determined using protein chimeras to reverse anti-QV or anti-3D7 AMA1 mediated inhibition of 3D7 parasites. To ∼60% inhibitory dose of serum pool, 4 µM chimeric proteins (∼200 µg/ml) were added. Percent GIA reversal = (inhibition in presence of 4 µM P. berghei AMA1−inhibition in the presence of 4 µM test chimera)/inhibition in presence of 4 µM P. berghei AMA1.

2-cycle, purified IgG invasion inhibition assay (Burnet Institute method)

P. falciparum growth inhibition assay was performed as described previously [46], [85]. Parasites were allowed to develop through two cycles of erythrocyte invasion for 72 hours at 37°C, stained with SYBR green dye (Invitrogen) and infected cells counted using a FACSCantoII Flow-cytometer (BD). FACS counts were analyzed using FloJo software (Ver 6.4.7). Percent inhibition of invasion = 1−(% parasitemia in test well/% parasitemia in medium control well). All GIAs were run in a 96-well plate format, with each antibody tested in duplicate wells. Parasite growth inhibition is represented as the combined mean of two separate duplicate well assays set up on different days.

1-cycle, purified IgG invasion inhibition assay (NIH reference center method)

IgGs from rabbits were purified from pooled sera using protein G columns (Pierce Inc., Rockford, IL); the eluted fractions were dialyzed against RPMI 1640 (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD) and concentrated with centrifugal filter devices (Millipore, Billerica, MA). The purified IgGs were preadsorbed with uninfected human O+ erythrocytes, sterilized by filtration through a 0.22-µm filter and heat inactivated at 56°C for 20 min before use in the assay. Late trophozoite and schizont stages of P. falciparum were allowed to develop and invade in the presence of either test or medium only control [45]. Cultures were maintained for 40 to 42 h and relative parasitemia was determined by biochemical determination of parasite lactate dehydrogenase. Percent inhibition of the immune IgG was calculated as 100−[(A₆₅₀ of test IgG−A₆₅₀ of normal RBCs)/(A₆₅₀ of infected RBCs without any IgG−A₆₅₀ of normal RBCs)×100].

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb)

Monoclonal antibodies were developed by immunizing 3 mice multiple times with QV using the Precision Antibody's immunization technology (Columbia, MD). Target specific antibody titers were determined by ELISA and a fusion was performed with B-cells from splenocytes and lymphocytes. The myeloma partner was derived from the cell line P3X63Ag8.653. Fused cells were selected in a HAT media and grown from a single cell. Hybridoma clone supernatants were screened by ELISA for reactivity to the four allelic proteins 3D7, FVO, HB3 and W2mef AMA1. Out of the total 38 clones obtained representative mAbs against all three domains were picked, preferably if they reacted to multiple allelic proteins. Selected mAbs were expanded in vivo using athymic nude mice and mAbs were purified from the ascetic fluid using a Protein G column (GE Healthcare). Other mAbs used in the study were: rat mAb 4G2dc1 that recognizes a cross-reactive conformational epitope [30]; rat mAb 58F8dc1 that recognizes the N-terminal region present only on unprocessed AMA1; and mouse mAb 1F9 which binds to the residues on the C1L loop of 3D7AMA1 [12]. Mab 4G2 and 58F8 were gifts from Dr. Clemens Kocken, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.

Immuno-blot

1 µg of the AMA1 proteins under non-reducing conditions was electrophoretically transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane immune-blots were performed essentially as described previously [17].

RON2 peptide competition ELISA

Two µg/ml of RON2 peptide labeled with biotin at the N-terminus was immobilized on streptavidin plates (Thermal Fisher), followed incubation in BLOTTO Blocking Buffer (Pierce, Rockford, IL) for 1 hr. An equal volume of 0.0015 µg/ml of 3D7 AMA1 and decreasing concentrations (150 µg/ml to 0.15 µg/ml) of mAbs (1E10, 1B10, 4E8, 4E11, 5A6, 1F9, 4G2 and 5G8) were added to the well. After 1 hr incubation the wells were washed and 1∶5000 dilution of rabbit anti-AMA1 polyclonal serum was used to detect bound AMA1. ABTS substrate was added to the well after 1 hr incubation OD₄₅₀ was recorded.

Mutagenesis of Lys₂₃₀ to Ala in the 3D7 form of AMA1

Mutagenesis of Lys₂₃₀ to Ala was carried out by the technique of splice overlap extension. PCR was used to amplify overlapped DNA fragments from the 3D7 AMA1 ectodomain template in PHENH6 plasmid such that both PCR fragments contained the K₂₃₀ mutation. The splice overlapped PCR was performed using PHENH6 forward and reverse primers that incorporate the flanking region from PHENH6. Preparation of phage clones and phage ELISA against the mAbs was essentially as described previously [12].

AMA1 processing inhibition assay

The processing inhibition assay on 3D7 strain parasites was performed essentially as described previously at 200 µg/ml final mAb concentration [86]. Merozoite pellets were harvested and analyzed for membrane-associated forms of AMA1, while soluble forms were trapped by including a non-inhibitory concentration of anti-3D7 AMA1 rabbit serum (1∶2500 dilution) in the processing assay. Proteins were run on a non-reducing SDS-PAGE and AMA-1-specific bands were stained as described [34].

Monoclonal Competition ELISA

MAbs were labeled using Lightning-Link® Horseradish Peroxidase kit (Innova Biosciences, Cambridge UK). AMA1 protein of 102-1 strain was coated on ELISA plates (100 ng/well). Wells were blocked with 1% casein blocker for 2 hrs, washed with PBS-Tween and then 50 µl individual rabbit serum dilutions were added to the wells for 1 hr. To the same well, 50 µl of HRP-labeled mAbs, diluted to yield 1–1.5 OD₄₀₅, were added and incubated for 1 hr. Plates were washed and ABTS substrate was added. After 1 hr incubation, stop solution was added and plates were allowed to sit for 5 min before the OD₄₀₅ was recorded.

Statistical analysis

To compare differences in GIA responses against different strains the data from individual rabbits in each of the vaccine group (explanatory variable) from 3 independent experiments (repeat component) was analyzed by Repeat Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). For ELISA the individual rabbit data was analyzed by MANOVA to discern differences between groups. Dunnett's method is used to adjust p-values for the post hoc testing, when comparing all groups to the QV group. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used if the rabbit data were pooled and p values adjusted using either Dunnett's method (if all groups were compared to the QV) or Tukey's method (for all pair-wise comparisons). When two groups of data were to be compared a 2-sample t-test was used. ELISA data was log₁₀ transformed to obtain close to normal distribution before statistical analysis. Group analysis was conducted using SAS software version 9.3. Correlation between sequence distance and GIA was analyzed by linear regression. For synergy analysis, GIA over a range of 1E10 concentrations (0–4 mg/ml) was measured against 3D7 parasites in the presence or absence of an IC₃₀ concentration of mAb 4G2 (1.8 mg/ml). The observed inhibition by the mixture was compared to that predicted by an equation for Bliss independence as was applied to GIA by Williams et al. [55], [56]. GIA_additive = [1−(1−% GIA_1E10)*(1−%GIA_4G2 at its IC₃₀)]. GIA dose response curves were used to predict the concentration of antibody that would give either 50% or 30% inhibition using non-linear curve function within Graphpad Prism^R software.

Supporting Information

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