RTS, S/AS02A malaria vaccine-induced IgG responses equally recognize native-like fucosylated and non-fucosylated Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite proteins.

The RTS, S/AS02A malaria vaccine is based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), which is O-fucosylated on the sporozoite surface. We determined whether RTS, S/AS02A-induced IgGs recognise vaccine-like non-fucosylated PfCSP better than native-like fucosylated PfCSP. Similar to previous vaccine trials, RTS, S/AS02A vaccination induced high anti-PfCSP IgG levels associated with malaria protection. IgG recognition of non-fucosylated and fucosylated PfCSP was equivalent, suggesting that PfCSP fucosylation does not affect antibody recognition.