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Abstract
We are developing a radiation attenuated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (PfSPZ)
malaria vaccine. An important step was to determine the minimum dose of irradiation
required to adequately attenuate each sporozoite. This was studied in the Plasmodium
yoelii rodent model system. Exposure to 100 Gy completely attenuated P. yoelii sporozoites
(PySPZ). Next we demonstrated that immunization of mice intravenously with 3 doses
of 750 PySPZ that had received 200 Gy, double the radiation dose required for attenuation,
resulted in 100% protection. These results support the contention that a radiation
attenuated sporozoite vaccine for malaria will be safe and effective at a range of
radiation doses.