Antibody gene features associated with binding and functional activity in vaccine-derived human mAbs targeting malaria parasites

Adjuvants have been essential to malaria vaccine development, but their impact on the vaccine-induced antibody repertoire is poorly understood. Here, we used cDNA sequences from antigen-specific single memory B cells to express 132 recombinant human anti-Pfs230 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Alhydrogel(®)-induced mAbs demonstrated higher binding to Pfs230D1, although functional activity was similar between adjuvants. All Alhydrogel(®) mAbs using IGHV1–69 gene bound to recombinant Pfs230D1, but none blocked parasite transmission to mosquitoes; similarly, no AS01 mAb using IGHV1–69 blocked transmission. Functional mAbs from both Alhydrogel(®) and AS01 vaccines used IGHV3–21 and IGHV3–30 genes. Antibodies with the longest CDR3 sequences were associated with binding but not functional activity. This study assesses adjuvant effects on antibody clonotype diversity during malaria vaccination.