Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41397983›Full record

ArticleNPJ vaccines2025

mRNA vaccines encoding variant forms of Sm-TSP-2 confer protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni.

Athos Silva de Oliveira, Sevan Alwan, Philip T LoVerde, Ramiz Shaheed, Pranav Mandyam, Rakesh Adhikari, Peter Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Jeroen Pollet

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in NPJ vaccines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Athos Silva de OliveiraDepartment of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Sevan AlwanDepartment of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA. alwan@uthscsa.edu.
Philip T LoVerdeDepartment of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Ramiz ShaheedDepartment of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Pranav MandyamDepartment of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Rakesh AdhikariDepartment of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Peter HotezDepartment of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Maria Elena BottazziDepartment of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Jeroen PolletDepartment of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. jeroen.pollet@bcm.edu.

Funding

Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science: A Partnership to Improve HealthUM1TR004538 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · PI ROBERT A CLARK, Kenneth M Hargreaves · 2023 to 2026
$22.3M
Preclinical Testing of Potential Next-generation Antischistosomal CompoundsR56AI180213 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · PI ALWAN, SEVAN NAJM, CAMERON, MICHAEL DARIN · 2024 to 2024
$810k
NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR004538NIAID NIH HHS R56 AI180213University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio RAID #174597-23092
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study explored the development and evaluation of mRNA vaccine candidates targeting Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanin-2 (Sm-TSP-2). We designed constructs encoding either full-length Sm-TSP-2, or its large extracellular loop (EC2) domain in secretory, membrane-anchored, or cytosolic forms. In a murine model, the secreted and membrane-anchored versions of Sm-TSP-2-EC2 induced the highest antigen-specific antibody titers. These two construct designs, along with full-length Sm-TSP-2 mRNA, also significantly reduced adult worm and egg burden compared to controls. The membrane-anchored Sm-TSP-2-EC2 mRNA was the most effective, lowering worm and egg burdens by 66.7% and 66.9%, respectively. Protective responses induced by the mRNA vaccines were comparable to those elicited by the Sm-TSP-2-EC2 protein formulated with Alum. Histopathological analysis revealed smaller hepatic granulomas surrounding worm eggs, supporting the immunopathological benefit of vaccination. Using a systematic mRNA-based approach, we optimized the presentation of the Sm-TSP-2-EC2 and demonstrated that extracellular exposure of EC2 is essential for eliciting a protective response.

Identifiers

PMID41397983
PMCPMC12714763

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.