Expression of Plasmodium falciparum C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein (PfMSP1(19)), a potential malaria vaccine candidate, in tobacco

A gene encoding the C-terminal region of a major surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum referred as PfMSP1(19), 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 Pfmsp1(19) 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. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.