EFFICIENT EXPRESSION OF PLASMODIUM APICAL MEMBRANE ANTIGEN 1 IN YEAST CELLS

The present invention provides a means of efficient expression of Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain or a functional part, derivative and/or analogue thereof in a eukaryotic expression system. Preferably, said Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain is Pf AMA-1 ectodomain. This protein is preferably expressed in yeast, more preferably in Pichia pastoris. Efficient expression is possible using a method for producing mRNA encoding said Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain in a yeast cell, comprising providing said yeast cell with a nucleic acid encoding said Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain, said nucleic acid being modified to utilize said yeast's codon usage. Preferably, at least one putative yeast polyadenylation consensus sequence in said nucleic acid has been modified. More preferably, also at least one site in said protein that is generally glycosylated by eukaryotic expression systems, has been removed. The present invention provides a means of efficient expression of Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain or a functional part, derivative and/or analogue thereof in a eukaryotic expression system. Preferably, said Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain is Pf AMA-1 ectodomain. This protein is preferably expressed in yeast, more preferably in Pichia pastoris . Efficient expression is possible using a method for producing mRNA encoding said Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain in a yeast cell, comprising providing said yeast cell with a nucleic acid encoding said Plasmodium AMA-1 ectodomain, said nucleic acid being modified to utilize said yeast's codon usage. Preferably, at least one putative yeast polyadenylation consensus sequence in said nucleic acid has been modified. More preferably, also at least one site in said protein that is generally glycosylated by eukaryotic expression systems, has been removed. L'invention concerne un moyen d'expression efficace d'ectodomaine d'AMA-1 de Plasmodium (y compris une partie fonctionnelle, un dérivé et/ou un analogue de l'ectomaine) dans un système d'expression eucaryote. De préférence, ledit ectodomaine est un ectodomaine d'AMA-1 du type Pf. De préférence, cette protéine est exprimée dans la levure, et de préférence encore dans Pichia pastoris . Il est possible de réaliser une expression efficace en faisant appel à un procédé qui consiste à élaborer de l'ARNm codant l'ectodomaine considéré dans une cellule de levure, y compris en fournissant à ladite cellule un acide nucléique capable de coder cet ectodomaine. En l'occurrence, on modifie l'acide nucléique considéré pour modif