New Malaria CD8+ T Cell Targets Offer Cross-Species Vaccine Potential

Immunopeptidomics identified 453 Plasmodium vivax–derived peptides presented by HLA class I on Pv-infected reticulocytes, mapping to 166 parasite proteins. About 75 housekeeping antigens are conserved across Plasmodium species; identical peptides are presented by multiple HLA alleles, including HLA-E. Antigenicity validated in Pv- and Pf-infected humans, with T cell responses observed in blood and liver of non-human primates; two antigens also conferred protective CD8+ T cell immunity in mice. These cross-stage, cross-species antigens hold promise for a universal malaria vaccine. Data are available via ProteomeXchange (PXD077321).