Humoral Immune Responses to P. falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein (Pfcsp) Induced by the RTS, S Vaccine – Current Update

Malaria vaccines targeting the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of the P. falciparum parasite have been overall relatively promising. RTS, S is a pre-erythrocytic recombinant protein-based malaria vaccine that targets CSP. RTS, S effectiveness shows some limited success regardless of its 58% efficacy for severe disease. P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (Pfcsp) has stood to be the main candidate protein for most pre-erythrocytic stage vaccines. Studies on the structural and biophysical characteristics of antibodies specific to CSP (anti-CSP) are underway to achieve fine specificity with the CSP polymorphic regions. More recent studies have proposed the use of different kinds of monoclonal antibodies, the use of appropriate adjuvants, ideal vaccination dose and frequency, and improved targeting of particular epitopes for the robust production of functional antibodies and high complement-fixing activity as other potential methods for achieving long-lasting RTS, S. This review highlights recent findings regarding humoral immune responses to CSP elicited by RTS, S vaccine.