Chêne A. auteur aut IRD Gangnard S. auteur aut IRD Dechavanne Célia auteur aut IRD Dechavanne S. auteur aut IRD Srivastava A. auteur aut IRD Tétard M. auteur aut IRD Hundt S. auteur aut IRD Leroy O. auteur aut IRD Havelange N. auteur aut IRD Viebig N.K. auteur aut IRD Gamain B. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Over 50 million women are exposed to the risk of malaria during pregnancy every year. Malaria during pregnancy is a leading global cause of maternal morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to placental chondroitin-4-sulfate (CSA) has been linked to the severe disease outcome of placental malaria. Accumulated evidence strongly supports VAR2CSA as the leading placental malaria vaccine candidate. Recombinant proteins encompassing the VAR2CSA high affinity CSA binding site have been generated, and their activity as immunogens that elicit functional (inhibitory) and cross-reactive antibodies against CSA-binding parasites assessed. The expression of His-tagged proteins was compared in four different expression systems and their capacity to bind specifically to CSA was analyzed. CHO cells and E. coli SHuffle cells were the two expression systems able to express some of the recombinant proteins in reasonable amounts. Larger analytical scale production of DBL1x-2× (3D7) and DBL3x-4? (FCR3) best expressed in CHO and E. coli SHuffle cells were performed. Purified proteins were administered to rats either alone or adjuvanted with human approved adjuvants. Analysis of the functionality and cross-reactivity of the induced antibodies allowed us to down-select the DBL1x-2(3D7) expressed in E. coli SHuffle cells as the best antigen to be transitioned to further clinical development in order to protect future pregnant women living in malaria endemic areas against the severe clinical outcomes of placental malaria. specialized AFRIQUE SUBSAHARIENNE 050 052 3 1 28 [11 ] 2018 2059-0105 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091515 10.1038/s41541-018-0064-6 2059-0105 [F B010091515] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091515 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2024-08/010091515.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2024-07-23 2024-08-07 fdi:010091515 fre