Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M F Good

Publications and source records attributed to M F Good.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Differential non-responsiveness in humans of candidate Plasmodium falciparum vaccine antigens.

Synthetic subunit vaccines to sporozoites, merozoites, and gametes are being developed for malaria. The vaccine strategy assumes that the population to be immunized will respond favorably to these vaccine antigens. Using sera of 35 adults and 50 children from the The Gambia, West Africa, where Plasmodium falciparum is highly endemic, we examined the humoral immune response to candidate malaria vaccine antigens from sporozoites, merozoites, and gametes. We observed widespread restricted immunogenicity to defined parasite antigens in children and adults. HLA typing of adult lymphocytes demonstrated a marked diversity in HLA haplotypes in this population. Our results and those from our studies in mice suggest that genetic factors may partly explain the immunological non-responsiveness. This may necessitate re-evaluation of the malaria vaccine strategy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Limit dilution analysis of peripheral blood T lymphocytes specific to periodontopathic bacteria.

Limit dilution analysis (LDA) was used to determine the presence and frequency of periodontopathic-bacteria-specific T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. Twelve adult periodontitis (AP), 13 marginal gingivitis (MG) and 12 healthy control subjects took part in the study. Bacteroides gingivalis and Actinomyces viscosus were used as test organisms, while tetanus toxoid was used as the control antigen. The median PTL-p frequencies to B. gingivalis were 46.33 x 10(-6), 45.33 x 10(-6) and 58.83 x 10(-6) in the control, gingivitis and AP groups respectively, while the median PTL-p frequencies to A. viscosus were 13.8 x 10(-6), 17.33 x 10(-6) and 11.5 x 10(-6), again in the control, gingivitis and AP groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups. All subjects displayed 'single-hit' kinetics with the control tetanus toxoid antigen and, with three exceptions, 'single-hit' kinetics was also found with the two test organisms. One control subject displayed a 'saw-tooth' curve with A. viscosus and a 'suppressor' curve with B. gingivalis, while two MG subjects had a 'saw-tooth' curve with B. gingivalis. These complex curves suggest that, in some subjects, more than one limiting cell type may exist in the cultures. Nevertheless, the results of the present study illustrate that lymphocytes specific to periodontopathic bacteria exist in the peripheral blood of both diseased and non-diseased subjects.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1988

Limited immunological recognition of critical malaria vaccine candidate antigens.

Current vaccine development strategies for malaria depend on widespread immunological responsiveness to candidate antigens such as the zygote surface antigens and the sporozoite coat protein, the circumsporozoite (CS) protein. Since immunological responsiveness is controlled mainly by genes mapping within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the humoral immune response to the zygote surface antigens and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to the CS protein were examined in MHC-disparate congenic mouse strains. Only two of six strains responded to the 230-kilodalton zygote surface antigen and another two strains responded to the 48/45-kilodalton surface antigen. From two mouse strains, expressing between them five different class I MHC molecules, there was recognition of only a single CTL epitope from the CS protein, which was from a polymorphic segment of the molecule. The restricted CTL response to this protein parallels the restricted antibody response to this protein observed in humans and mice. These findings suggest that subunit malaria vaccines now being developed may be ineffective.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Lack of cross-reactivity between variant T cell determinants from malaria circumsporozoite protein.

The discovery of polymorphism in the T cell determinants of the protein that covers the surface of malaria sporozoites, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), may have a negative effect on the course of development of a sporozoite-derived anti-malaria vaccine. Comparison of CSP gene sequences from Plasmodium falciparum suggests, based on the lack of silent (i.e., synonymous) substitutions, that polymorphism is being biologically selected for in the field. Thus, variation in T cell determinant sequences may actually be a means of immune evasion. The central question addressed here is whether or not the natural polymorphisms found in three identified T cell determinants in the CSP gene of P. falciparum are immunologically significant with regard to T cell stimulation. In support of the immune evasion hypothesis, we show here that animals immunized with peptides based on one sequence (i.e., the 7G8 isolate) will not significantly respond when challenged with variant peptides based on other CSP sequences (i.e., the LE5 and We1 isolates). Polymorphism in T cell determinants thus indicates that infection with sporozoites will not necessarily boost immune (antibody help and/or proliferative) responses stimulated by prior infections or by a particular vaccine construct based on these determinants. The implications of these findings in regard to vaccine development are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Recombinant human IL-2 overcomes genetic nonresponsiveness to malaria sporozoite peptides. Correlation of effect with biologic activity of IL-2.

Current malaria vaccine strategies focus on subunit vaccines that contain one or a limited number of malaria Ag. However, there is widespread nonresponsiveness to many of these Ag probably resulting from Ir gene control. Using a congenic mouse model, we demonstrated that human rIL-2 (as an adjuvant) can overcome Ir gene controlled low immune responsiveness to peptide malaria Ag vaccine candidates [R32tet32, R32LR, and Th2R-NP (NANP)5NA] as determined by the antibody response, providing it is emulsified with the Ag during immunization. This effect is not caused by IL-2 merely acting as a foreign protein and stimulating noncognate help; it requires biologic activity of the IL-2, as determined by studying the effect of inactive rIL-2, which has minimal biologic activity but which has retained its antigenicity. IL-2 does not appear to be working by an effect on priming of specific Th, and IL-2 cannot overcome an Ir gene controlled low T cell proliferative response. IL-2 may have a role to play in human vaccine development where a high titer antibody response to a subunit vaccine is required.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Cytotoxic T cells specific for the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria is initiated by the inoculation of a susceptible host with sporozoites from an infected mosquito. The sporozoites enter hepatocytes and develop for a period as exoerythrocyte or hepatic stage parasites. Vaccination with irradiated sporozoites can provide protective immunity and a recent study shows that this can also be conferred by immunization with a recombinant salmonella expressing only the circumsporozoite protein that normally covers the sporozoites. Protection against infection is likely to be mediated by cytotoxic CD8+ cells, as depletion of CD8+ T cells in a sporozoite-immunized animal can completely abrogate immunity. Here we demonstrate directly the existence of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that recognize the circumsporozoite protein. B10.BR mice immunized with sporozoites or with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the CS protein of Plasmodium falciparum contain CTL that specifically kill L cell fibroblasts transfected with the gene encoding the same CS protein. The peptide epitope from the CS protein that is recognized by CTL from this strain of mice is from a variant region of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Neonatal exposure to immunogenic peptides. Differential susceptibility to tolerance induction of helper T cells and B cells reactive to malarial circumsporozoite peptide epitopes.

The effects of neonatal administration of immunogenic peptides on subsequent T and B cell function were tested using defined T and B cell peptide epitopes from the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. We observed that neonatal exposure of responder strain mice to either of the two major murine T sites on the CS protein resulted in specific tolerance of both helper and proliferating T cells. One of these T sites, (NANP)n, is also the immunodominant B epitope on the CS protein. We took advantage of this fact to directly compare the effects of neonatal peptide administration on B and T cell function and observed that mice whose helper and proliferating T cells were tolerant to (NANP)n nevertheless produced normal levels of anti-(NANP)n antibodies after immunization with keyhole limpet hemocyanin-(NANP)n. Our results demonstrate differential susceptibility of the Th cells and B cells to toleragens and suggest that self-tolerance to peptide epitopes during the neonatal period reflects predominantly Th cell tolerance.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Parasite polymorphism present within minimal T cell epitopes of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein.

Identification of T cell antigenic sites is critical for antisporozoite malarial vaccine design. Here, we present data that define two minimal functional T cell sites present in an immunogenic domain of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. These two sites overlap one another and correlate with polymorphic regions of the molecule. This suggests that these polymorphisms may be a result of pressure from immune T cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Iron status and cellular immune competence.

There is increasing evidence that both iron overload and iron deficiency are associated with significant abnormalities of immune function. In diseases associated with iron overload there is increased susceptibility to both infection and neoplasia. The precise mechanisms are still being unravelled but iron overload has been shown to impair antigen-specific immune responses and to reduce the number of functional helper precursor cells. Similarly, iron in vitro in concentrations reported to be present in the serum of patients with iron overload impairs the generation of cytotoxic T-cells, enhances suppressor T-cell activity and reduces the proliferative capacity of helper T-cells. The predominant tumor seen in iron overload is primary hepatocellular carcinoma; however other aetiological factors appear to be involved in addition to iron overload, especially hepatic cirrhosis. Nevertheless, primary liver cancer occurs much more frequently in hemochromatosis than in other forms of cirrhosis. Iron deficiency is associated with an altered response to infection but the relationship is again a complex one. The cellular mechanisms involved have yet to be clearly defined, although impaired T and B cell function have been demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The main obstacle to a malaria vaccine: the malaria parasite.

The challenge to development of a malaria vaccine will be the variability of the sequences of target antigens. We discuss the variability in the T cell epitopes on the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum and the rapid selection of mutants after immunization with a protein from the asexual erythrocytic stage of P. knowlesi.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

CD8+ T cells (cytotoxic/suppressors) are required for protection in mice immunized with malaria sporozoites.

In recent malaria sporozoite vaccine trials in humans and mice, antibodies to the sporozoite coat protein have given only modest protection against sporozoite challenge. In contrast, irradiated sporozoites can protect mice against massive sporozoite infections. Evidence suggests that immunity in these mice is mediated by T cells. To identify the mechanism of immunity, we used monoclonal antibodies specific for either the CD4 or CD8 molecule to selectively deplete sporozoite-immunized mice of T-cell subsets. Though in vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells did not reduce immunity, depletion of CD8+ T cells abolished protection. Monoclonal antibody treatment did not affect anti-sporozoite antibody levels. Our data indicate that cytotoxic T cells are critical for immunity to large numbers of sporozoites and suggest that vaccine development should be reoriented toward stimulating cellular as well as humoral immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Human T-cell recognition of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum: immunodominant T-cell domains map to the polymorphic regions of the molecule.

The definition of human T-cell antigenic sites is important for subunit vaccine development of a peptide immunogen if the goal is to allow antibody boosting during infection or to stimulate antibody-independent T-cell immunity. To identify such sites on the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum, 29 overlapping synthetic peptides spanning the entire CS protein were made and tested for their ability to stimulate peripheral blood lymphocytes from 35 adults living in a P. falciparum malaria-endemic region of West Africa. Three immunodominant domains were located outside the repetitive region. These domains, however, occurred in the polymorphic regions of the molecule, suggesting that parasite mutation and selection has occurred in response to immune pressure from T cells. Such polymorphism may impose an obstacle for vaccine development.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Human and murine CD4 T cell epitopes map to the same region of the malaria circumsporozoite protein: limited immunogenicity of sporozoites and circumsporozoite protein.

The circumsporozoite (CS) protein is a candidate vaccine antigen for the sporozoite stage in the life cycle of the malaria parasite. Using CS protein purified from recombinant baculovirus-infected cells and a panel of H-2 congenic mice, we are able to demonstrate that this protein is poorly immunogenic in terms of antibody production as a result of Ir gene control. The immune response to the protein is also restricted following immunization with a CS-recombinant vaccinia virus or with sporozoites. Using a panel of overlapping peptides spanning the entire protein, we are able to show that the high responder mice recognize helper T cell epitopes from the same region of the protein as do humans. This region, however, is the polymorphic segment of the protein, which has implications for vaccine development. However, the close overlap of human and murine T cell epitopes demonstrates that murine models may be very useful in epitope mapping and vaccine development for human pathogens. The T cell antigenic regions of this protein fulfil the predictive requirements for the amphipathic helicity algorithm.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The 230-kDa gamete surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum is also a target for transmission-blocking antibodies.

Immunization with extracellular sexual stages of the malaria parasites can induce the production of antibodies which block the development of the parasites in the midgut of a mosquito after a blood meal. We have generated a number of monoclonal antibodies against gametes and zygotes of the human malaria Plasmodium falciparum. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reacting with a 230-kDa gamete surface protein (mAb 1B3 and 2B4 both isotype IgG2a) were found to block transmission of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. Blocking was complement dependent and this was verified in vitro by the rapid lysis of newly formed gametes and zygotes in the presence of the mAb and active complement. Both mAb reacted by immunofluorescence with the surface of gametes and zygotes from isolates of P. falciparum from various geographical areas. Each mAb immunoprecipitated a 230-kDa protein from 125I-labeled surface proteins of newly formed gametes and zygotes and immunoblotted a protein doublet of about molecular mass 260 and 230 kDa from gametocytes and gametes of P. falciparum. Only the 230-kDa protein is expressed on the surface of newly formed macrogametes and zygotes. The 230-kDa gamete surface protein forms a molecular complex with two proteins of 48 and 45 kDa. The 48- and 45-kDa gamete surface proteins have previously been shown to be targets of mAb which block infectivity of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. The present study now demonstrates that antibodies against the 230-kDa gamete surface protein block transmission of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. The 230-kDa gamete protein is thus a potential candidate for a gamete vaccine.

Animals↗