Genetic Attenuation of Plasmodium by B9 Gene Disruption

摘要

Disclosed herein are mutant Plasmodium-species parasites that are genetically attenuated (GAP). They retain the ability to infect a host and invade host hepatocytes but subsequently their development is completely arrested within the liver stage of Plasmodium development and the parasites do not reach the blood stage of development. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising genetically attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites as well as methods of using the same are likewise provided.

主权项

1. A mutant Plasmodium-species organism genetically engineered to disrupt the functions of a first gene and a second gene, wherein said first gene is a Plasmodium 6-Cys gene, and expression of said second gene is essential for passage of said wild type of said Plasmodium-species organism through the liver stage and into the blood stage of development of said Plasmodium-species organism; wherein said mutant Plasmodium-species organism can infect a host subject and invade host hepatocytes of said subject but said mutant organism developmentally arrests during liver stage and does not enter blood stage.