No abstract

We have previously reported primary endpoints of a clinical trial testing two vaccine platforms for delivery of Plasmodium vivax malaria DBPRII: viral vectors (ChAd63, MVA) and protein/adjuvant (PvDBPII with 50ug Matrix-M adjuvant). Delayed boosting was necessitated due to trial halts during the pandemic and provides an opportunity to investigate the impact of dosing regimens. Here, using flow cytometry - including agnostic definition of B cell populations with the clustering tool CITRUS - we report enhanced induction of DBPRII-specific plasma cell and memory B cell responses in protein/adjuvant versus viral vector vaccinees. Within protein/adjuvant groups, delayed boosting further improved B cell immunogenicity as compared to a monthly boosting regimen. Consistent with this, delayed boosting also drove more durable anti-DBPRII serum IgG. In an independent vaccine clinical trial with the P. falciparum malaria RH5.1 protein/adjuvant (50ug Matrix-M) vaccine candidate, we similarly observed enhanced circulating B cell responses in vaccinees receiving a delayed final booster. Notably, a higher frequency of vaccine-specific (putatively long-lived) plasma cells were detected in the bone marrow of these delayed boosting vaccinees by ELISPOT and correlated strongly with serum IgG. Finally, following controlled human malaria infection with P. vivax parasites in the DBPRII trial, in vivo growth inhibition was observed to correlate with DBPRII-specific B cell and serum IgG responses. In contrast, the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were impacted by vaccine platform but not dosing regimen, and did not correlate with in vivo growth inhibition in a challenge model. Taken together, our DBPRII and RH5 data suggest an opportunity for dosing regimen optimisation in the context of rational vaccine development against pathogens where protection is antibody-mediated.

Background RH5 is the leading blood-stage candidate antigen for inclusion in aPlasmodium falciparummalaria vaccine, however, its safety profile and ability to induce functional immune responses in a malaria-endemic population are unknown. Characterising safety and immunogenicity is key to refine and progress next-generation RH5-based blood-stage malaria vaccines to field efficacy assessment. Methods A Phase 1b, single-center, dose-escalation, age de-escalation, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Healthy adults (18-35 years), young children (1-6 years) and infants (6-11 months) were recruited to receive a priming dose of viral-vectored ChAd63 RH5 (or rabies control vaccine) followed by a booster dose of MVA RH5 (or rabies control vaccine) 8 weeks later. The primary outcomes were the number of solicited and unsolicited adverse events following vaccination and the number of serious adverse events over the whole study period. Secondary outcomes included quantitative and qualitative measures of the anti-RH5 immune response. All participants receiving at least one dose of vaccine were included in the primary analyses. Findings Between 12th April and 25th October 2018 a total of 63 adults, children and infants were recruited and primed and 60 of these were boosted, all completing six months of follow-up post-priming vaccination. Vaccinations were well-tolerated with participants reporting predominantly mild reactogenicity, with profiles comparable between ChAd63 RH5, MVA RH5 and rabies vaccine groups, and across the age groups. No serious adverse events were reported during the study period. RH5-specific T cell, B cell and serum antibody responses were induced by vaccination. Higher anti-RH5 serum IgG responses were observed post-boost in the 1-6 year old children (median 93 microgram/mL; range: 31-508 microgram/mL) and infants (median 149 microgram/mL; range: 29-352 microgram/mL) as compared to adults (median 14 microgram/mL; range: 9-15 microgram/mL). These contracted over time post-boost, but the same hierarchy of responses across the age groups was maintained to end of follow-up at 16 weeks post-boost (day 168). Vaccine-induced anti-RH5 antibodies were functional showing growth inhibition activity (GIA)in vitroagainstP. falciparumblood-stage parasites. The highest levels were observed in the 6-11 month old infants, with 6/11 showing >60% GIA following dilution of total IgG to 2.5 mg/mL (median 61%; range: 41-78%). Interpretation The ChAd63-MVA RH5 vaccine regimen shows an acceptable safety and reactogenicity profile and encouraging immunogenicity in children and infants residing in a malaria-endemic area. The levels of functional GIA observed in the RH5 vaccinated 6-11 month old infants are the highest levels reported to-date following human vaccination. These data support onward clinical development of RH5-based blood-stage vaccines that aim to protect against clinical malaria in young African infants. Funding Medical Research Council, London, United Kingdom. Trial Registration ISRCTN registry: 47448832 and ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT03435874.