RH5-based blood stage malaria vaccine

RH5-based blood stage malaria vaccines are a class of vaccine candidates designed to target the blood-stage of the *Plasmodium falciparum* parasite, which is responsible for the clinical symptoms and pathology of malaria. The primary antigen, reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5), is a highly conserved and essential parasite protein that binds to the host erythrocyte receptor basigin (CD147) to facilitate merozoite invasion. By inducing high levels of neutralizing antibodies, these vaccines aim to block this critical receptor-ligand interaction and inhibit parasite replication in the blood. Key candidates developed under this platform include RH5.1 (a soluble recombinant protein formulated with adjuvants like Matrix-M or AS01B) and RH5.2-VLP (a next-generation, structure-guided, thermostabilized immunogen conjugated to hepatitis B surface antigen virus-like particles). These vaccines are being developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with organizations like PATH, USAID, and the Serum Institute of India, and have demonstrated promising safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in clinical trials.

Other names

PfRH5 vaccinePfRH-5 vaccinePfRH 5 vaccineRH5.1RH-5.1RH 5.1RH5.1/Matrix-MRH5.2-VLPRH-5.2-VLPRH 5.2-VLPRH5.2-VLP/Matrix-Mblood-stage malaria vaccine