Gambaran Histopatologi Ginjal Tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) Pasca Injeksi Variasi Dosis Protein Rekombinan DBL2β-PfEMP1: Pengembangan Vaksin Malaria Berbasis Peptida

Abstract

Malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum causes the highest morbidity and mortality, accounting for more than 90% of malaria deaths worldwide. This is because P. falciparum has PfEMP1 antigen that can specifically bind to the endothelial receptor, including ICAM-1, which is mediated by DBL2b-PfEMP1. Therefore, DBL2b-PfEMP1 is potentially a malaria vaccine candidate. Previous studies reported that the DBL2b-PfEMP1 recombinant protein could induce humoral and cellular immune responses. The study aimed to conduct the safety test to ensure that the administration of the vaccine candidate does not cause undesirable impacts on the body's organs, including the kidneys. This is an experimental study using Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The DBL2b-PfEMP1 recombinant protein was produced, purified, and measured for its concentration using the Bradford protein assay. The recombinant protein is injected in varying doses of 100, 150, and 200 µg three times at a three-week interval. On the 56th day, the rats were terminated, and the kidneys were prepared to examine the histopathological feature based on the necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubule cell nuclei. The statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significance value of p=0.24, indicating no significant difference between the control and the treatment group. In conclusion, there was no change in the kidney histopathological features based on necrosis of proximal convoluted tubule cell nuclei after injection of DBL2b-PfEMP1 recombinant protein in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) as a peptide-based malaria vaccine candidate.