Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin-related adhesion protein and multi-epitope string (ME-TRAP)

The Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin-related adhesion protein (TRAP), also known as sporozoite surface protein 2 (SSP2), is a transmembrane protein essential for the gliding motility and hepatocyte invasion of malaria sporozoites (UniProt P17072). The ME-TRAP construct is a synthetic fusion protein that combines a multi-epitope (ME) string—containing 20 B-cell and T-cell epitopes from various P. falciparum antigens—with the full-length TRAP protein (Ewer et al., 2013). This target is the basis for several viral vector-based vaccines, most notably the ChAd63 ME-TRAP and MVA ME-TRAP prime-boost regimen (Kimani et al., 2014). The primary therapeutic goal is to induce a robust cellular immune response, particularly CD8+ T cells, to identify and eliminate malaria-infected hepatocytes during the pre-erythrocytic stage (Ogwang et al., 2015). By preventing the parasite from completing its liver stage, the vaccine aims to block the subsequent blood-stage infection that causes clinical symptoms. While clinical trials have shown high immunogenicity, the efficacy in providing sterile protection in high-transmission areas has been variable (Kimani et al., 2014).

Other names

Thrombospondin-related adhesion proteinTRAPSporozoite surface protein 2SSP2ME-TRAPP. falciparum TRAP

Induction of antigen-specific T-cell mediated immunity (specifically CD8+ and CD4+ T cells) to identify and eliminate Plasmodium falciparum-infected hepatocytes during the pre-erythrocytic stage of infection.