Plasmodium falciparum Multiple Epitope-Thrombospondin-Related Adhesion Protein (ME-TRAP) (ME-TRAP)

Plasmodium falciparum ME-TRAP is a synthetic fusion protein designed as a pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine candidate (PubMed: 24615461). It combines a 'Multiple Epitope' (ME) string, which includes 20 T-cell and B-cell epitopes from various malaria antigens such as LSA-1 and CS, with the full-length Thrombospondin-Related Adhesion Protein (TRAP) (Nature Communications: 10.1038/ncomms4142). TRAP is a critical transmembrane protein required for the gliding motility and hepatocyte invasion of malaria sporozoites (UniProt: P17072). The ME-TRAP construct is typically delivered via viral vectors, such as Chimpanzee Adenovirus 63 (ChAd63) and Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), in a prime-boost regimen (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01623557). This strategy aims to elicit high frequencies of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells capable of recognizing and destroying infected liver cells, thereby preventing the parasite from progressing to the symptomatic blood stage of infection (PubMed: 24615461).

Other names

TRAPThrombospondin-related anonymous proteinSporozoite surface protein 2SSP2ME-TRAP antigen

Induction of antigen-specific T-cell (CD4+ and CD8+) and B-cell immune responses to prevent sporozoite invasion and eliminate infected hepatocytes (PubMed: 24615461).