The effect of adjuvants on the immune response induced by a DBL4ɛ-ID4 VAR2CSA based Plasmodium falciparum vaccine against placental malaria

► Antibodies against the DBL4ɛ-ID4 subunit of the VAR2CSA protein can inhibit parasite binding to the placental ligand chondroitin sulphate A. ► We tested the ability of DBL4ɛ-ID4 to induce binding-inhibitory antibodies when formulated with adjuvants approved for human use. ► We have characterized the immune response of DBL4ɛ-ID4 in combination with Freund's adjuvant, Montanide® ISA 720, Alhydrogel® and CAF01. ► The results demonstrate that the DBL4ɛ-ID4 antigen is highly immunogenic and that binding inhibitory antibodies are induced when formulated with any of the tested adjuvants.