Sm‐p80‐based schistosomiasis vaccine: double‐blind preclinical trial in baboons demonstrates comprehensive prophylactic and parasite transmission‐blocking efficacy

• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13942
• Publication Date: 2018-08-10T10:42:00Z
• Authors: Weidong Zhang; Adebayo J. Molehin; Juan U. Rojo; Justin Sudduth; Pramodh K. Ganapathy; Eunjee Kim; Arif J. Siddiqui; Jasmin Freeborn; Souad R. Sennoune; Jordan May; Samra Lazarus; Catherine Nguyen; Whitni K. Redman; Gul Ahmad; Workineh Torben; Souvik Karmakar; Loc Le; Kameswara R. Kott...; Pratibha Kottapalli; Roman F. Wolf; James F. Papin; David Carey; Sean A. Gray; Jenn D. Bergthold; Raymond T. Damian; Bryan T. Mayer; Florian Marks; Steven G. Reed; Darrick Carter; Afzal A. Siddiqui
• Keywords: Schistosoma

Abstract Schistosomiasis is of public health importance to an estimated one billion people in 79 countries. A vaccine urgently needed. Here, we report the results four independent, double‐blind studies Sm‐p80‐based baboons. The exhibited potent prophylactic efficacy against transmission Schistosoma mansoni infection and was associated with significantly less egg‐induced pathology, compared unvaccinated control animals. Specifically, resulted a 93.45% reduction pathology‐producing female worms resolved major clinical manifestations hepatic/intestinal schistosomiasis by reducing tissue egg‐load 89.95%. 35‐fold decrease fecal egg excretion vaccinated animals, combined 81.51% hatching eggs into snail‐infective stage (miracidia), demonstrates parasite transmission‐blocking potential vaccine. Substantially higher Sm‐p80 expression Sm‐p80‐specific antibodies baboons appear play important role vaccine‐mediated protection. Preliminary analyses RNA sequencing revealed distinct molecular signatures vaccine‐induced effects baboon immune effector cells. This study provides comprehensive evidence for effectiveness schistosomiasis.