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Abstract

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) are complex glycolipids present on the surfaces of Plasmodium parasites that may act as toxins during the progression of malaria. GPIs can activate the immune system during infection and induce the formation of anti-GPI antibodies that neutralize their activity. Therefore, an anti-toxic vaccine based on GPI glycoconjugates may prevent malaria pathogenesis. To evaluate the role of three key modifications on Plasmodium GPI glycan in the activity of these glycolipids, we synthesized and investigated six structurally distinct GPI fragments from P. falciparum. The synthetic glycans were conjugated to the CRM197 carrier protein and were tested for immunogenicity and efficacy as antimalarial vaccine candidates in an experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model using C57BL/6JRj mice. Protection may be dependent on both, the antibody and cellular immune response to GPIs, and the elicited immune response depends on the orientation of the glycan, the number of mannoses in the structure and the presence of the phosphoethanolamine and inositol units. This study provides insights into the epitopes in GPIs and contributes to the development of GPI-based anti-toxin vaccine candidates against cerebral malaria.