Expression of Plasmodium falciparum C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein (PfMSP1₁₉), a potential malaria vaccine candidate, in tobacco

Abstract

A gene encoding the C-terminal region of a major surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum referred as PfMSP1₁₉, a leading vaccine candidate for malaria, was cloned in plant transformation vector pBI121. Tobacco leaves were transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying the vector and kanamycin resistant plants were regenerated. The Pfmsp1₁₉ gene, in the transformed plants was identified by polymerase chain reaction amplification, Southern and northern hybridisation techniques. Expression of PfMSP1 ₁₉ protein was analysed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Immunoblot assay, which indicated that transformed plants expressed MSP1 ₁₉ and displayed structural and immunological characteristics identical to the Escherichia coli expressed protein. This result is a step forward towards the development of an edible and low cost subunit vaccine against malaria, which is a fatal disease of the developing countries.