A recombinant baculovirus-expressed Plasmodium falciparum receptor-binding domain of erythrocyte binding protein EBA-175 biologically mimics native protein

EBA-175 of Plasmodium falciparum is a merozoite ligand that binds its receptor glycophorin A on erythrocytes during invasion, The ligand-receptor interaction is dependent on sialic acids as well as the protein backbone of glycophorin A Region II (RII) of EBA-175 has been defined as the receptor-binding domain. RII is divided into regions F1 and F2, which contain duplicated cysteine motifs. We expressed RII in a baculovirus and show that RII binds erythrocytes,vith a specificity identical to that of the native protein. We found that, consistent with the binding of erythrocytes to COS cells expressing F2 recombinant baculovirus expressed F2 bound erythrocytes. About 20% of all baculovirus-expressed RII is N-glycosylated, unlike native P, falciparum proteins that remain essentially unglycosylated, However, glycosylation of recombinant RII did not affect its immunogenicity, Antibodies raised against both glycosylated and unglycosylated baculovirus-expressed RII recognized P. falciparum schizonts in immunofluorescence assays and also gave similar enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers, Furthermore, these antibodies have similar abilities to block native EBA-175 binding to erythrocytes. These results allow the development of RII as a vaccine candidate for preclinical assessment.