Immunoglobulin G antibody reactivity to a group A Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 and protection from P. falciparum malaria

Infect Immun. 2007 May;75(5):2415-20. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00951-06. Epub 2007 Feb 5.

Abstract

Variant surface antigens (VSA) on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of malaria and are key targets for acquired immunity. The best-characterized VSA belong to the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family. In areas where P. falciparum is endemic, parasites causing severe malaria and malaria in young children with limited immunity tend to express semiconserved PfEMP1 molecules encoded by group A var genes. Here we investigated antibody responses of Tanzanians who were 0 to 19 years old to PF11_0008, a group A PfEMP1. PF11_0008 has previously been found to be highly transcribed in a nonimmune Dutch volunteer experimentally infected with NF54 parasites. A high proportion of the Tanzanian donors had antibodies against recombinant PF11_0008 domains, and in children who were 4 to 9 years old the presence of antibodies to the PF11_0008 CIDR2beta domain was associated with reduced numbers of malaria episodes. These results indicate that homologues of PF11_0008 are present in P. falciparum field isolates and suggest that PF11_0008 CIDR2beta-reactive antibodies might be involved in protection against malaria episodes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Logistic Models
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / prevention & control*
  • Prevalence
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Tanzania / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum