Kinetidoplastid membrane protein-11 and Hydrophilic acylated surface protein B (KMP-11 / HASPB)

Kinetidoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11) and Hydrophilic acylated surface protein B (HASPB) are key antigens derived from Leishmania parasites, used primarily in the development of therapeutic vaccines (PMID: 28416655). KMP-11 is a highly conserved 11 kDa protein essential for parasite motility and cytokinesis, while HASPB is a surface protein expressed during the infective stages of the parasite life cycle (UniProt P27157, Q27691). Unlike traditional pharmacological targets that involve direct drug binding to inhibit an enzyme or receptor, these proteins serve as immunogens designed to be expressed by vaccine vectors like ChAd63 (PMID: 33452242). The primary therapeutic goal is to drive robust CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses that can recognize and eliminate parasite-infected macrophages (PMID: 28416655). This approach is particularly relevant for treating visceral leishmaniasis and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, where cellular immunity is critical for parasite clearance (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02894008). Clinical studies have demonstrated that vaccines encoding these antigens can safely induce the necessary Th1-biased immune responses in human subjects (PMID: 33452242).

Other names

KMP11HASPBKMP-11HASP-BSmall hydrophilic surface proteinKinetidoplastid membrane protein 11Hydrophilic acylated surface protein B

Induction of antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses via viral vector delivery of genetic sequences encoding the antigens to stimulate cellular immunity against Leishmania-infected cells.