Abstract: A recombinant protein is provided which comprises peptides derived from different stages in the life cycle of parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The protein is useful as a reagent and, when combined with a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle or carrier, is useful as a vaccine against the material parasite Plasmodium falciparum. A genetic construct used to produce this recombinant protein vaccine is also described. In addition, antibodies to this recombinant protein are provided which are useful for the detection and measurement of peptides derived from different stages in the life cycle of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Abstract: The baculovirus homologous region (hr1) sequence has been disclosed as a transcriptional enhancer of foreign gene expression. An additional copy of the hr1 element contained within a recombinant baculovirus has been demonstrated to be capable of further enhancing expression of foreign genes placed under the transcriptional control of a promoter such as the baculovirus polyhedrin and/or Drosophila hsp70 promoter. The recombinant baculovirus is stable for up to 30 passages. This invention can be employed to generate recombinant expression vector plasmids and recombinant baculoviruses that can be used to produce increased levels of recombinant protein products of therapeutic, biomedical or basic science research interest.