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Year:: 2019
Contributor:: Villavasso, Kensley (creator); Pond-Tor, Sunthorn (creator); Pond-Tor, Sovanny (creator); Kurtis, Jonathan (advisor); Leadership Alliance-Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) (research program)
Genre:: posters
Subject:: Malaria vaccine; Pathology; Vaccines
Extent:: 1 poster
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26300/j5c7-9e82

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Abstract:: Plasmodium Falciparum, the parasite that causes the human form of malaria, is the leading cause of mortality in many developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, up to half a million children die each year from the infectious disease. Unfortunately, the promise for an effective vaccine still remains unfulfilled. Previous work in the lab has identified pfGARP as a parasite antigen that is distinguished by antibodies present in the plasma of children who are resistant, but not by children who are susceptible to Plasmodium Falciparum. The polypeptide, pfGARP, is encoded within Escherichia coli. It must be expressed and purified in order to be used in a vaccine. The bacteria strain, BL21, was used for transformation and fermentation of pfGARP expression. Western blots were run using TGX 4-15% gels and stained to confirm the presence of the protein. For purification, the microfluidizer was used to filter and begin affinity chromatography. Nickel column (NiNTA), hydrophobic interaction (HIC), anion exchange (AEX), and strep tactin chromatography were completed. Bioassays and protein assays were run to finish up the purification process. We expect to have a fully purified pfGARP antigen to be used as the recombinant protein for a promising malaria vaccine. With success, it can be used in research trials with mice and Aotus monkeys to ensure its effectiveness on being used as a vaccine for humans.

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Use and Reproduction: This work is licensed under a All rights reserved license

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Villavasso, Kensley, Pond-Tor, Sunthorn, and Pond-Tor, Sovanny, "Expressing and Purifying Parasite Antigen pfGARP: Towards a Novel Vaccine for Plasmodium Falciparum" (2019). Summer Research Symposium, The Leadership Alliance Digital Library. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://doi.org/10.26300/j5c7-9e82

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Summer Research Symposium

Each year, Brown University showcases the research of its undergraduates at the Summer Research Symposium. More than half of the student-researchers are UTRA recipients, while others receive funding from a variety of Brown-administered and national programs and fellowships and go …
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The Leadership Alliance Digital Library

A collection of research presentations and posters created by students participating in the Leadership Alliance's Summer Research - Early Identification Program.
When using this resource, please cite the digital object identifier (DOI) for the specific resource as well as the …

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Expressing and Purifying Parasite Antigen pfGARP: Towards a Novel Vaccine for Plasmodium Falciparum