Presentation: High-throughput isolation and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against PfRH5 – the leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate

Presented by: Kirsty McHugh, PhD, Senior Postdoctoral Scientist, University of Oxford

Abstract: Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and new interventions are urgently needed. The P. falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (PfRH5) antigen is a leading blood-stage vaccine candidate. Vaccines targeting PfRH5 have demonstrated antibody-mediated efficacy in clinical trials, but high, durable titers of inhibitory antibodies must be induced, a challenge which is difficult to meet with current generation vaccines. Our group have generated a broad panel of over 200 anti-PfRH5 monoclonal antibodies from PfRH5-vaccinated UK adult volunteers. By combining high throughput epitope binning using the Carterra LSA^® platform with in vitro parasite growth inhibition assays we have revealed the diverse antigenic landscape of PfRH5 and identified inhibitory epitopes to a fine resolution. These results will help inform our next-generation vaccine design.