Plasmodium falciparum transmission-stage antigen (TBV antigen)

Plasmodium falciparum transmission-stage antigens refer to a group of proteins expressed during the sexual stages of the malaria parasite's life cycle, which are essential for its transmission from humans to Anopheles mosquitoes. The most prominent members of this class include Pfs25, a 25 kDa surface protein expressed on zygotes and ookinetes, and Pfs230, a large cysteine-rich protein expressed on gametocytes and gametes. These antigens are the primary targets for transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), which aim to induce antibodies in the human host that, when ingested by a mosquito during a blood meal, inhibit the parasite's development within the mosquito midgut. By preventing the formation of oocysts and subsequent sporozoites, these interventions can break the cycle of malaria transmission at the population level. While clinical development has faced challenges such as low immunogenicity and the need for potent adjuvants, these antigens remain critical targets in the global effort to eliminate falciparum malaria.

Other names

Pfs25Pfs230Pfs48/45Pfs28Pfs16Transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) antigensSexual-stage antigens

Induction of transmission-blocking antibodies that inhibit parasite development in the mosquito midgut