TY - JOUR

T1 - Antibody reactivity to conserved linear epitopes of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1)

AU - Staalsø, T

AU - Khalil, E A

AU - Elhassan, I M

AU - Zijlstra, E E

AU - Elhassan, A M

AU - Giha, H A

AU - Theander, T G

AU - Jakobsen, P H

N1 - Keywords: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan; Blood Proteins; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epitope Mapping; Erythrocyte Membrane; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Membrane Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Plasmodium falciparum; Protozoan Proteins; Sudan

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family of protein antigens are involved in adhesion of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes to the capillary endothelium of the host. Antibodies to variable regions of these proteins, measured by agglutination, correlates with clinical protection against falciparum malaria. In this study we investigated the occurrence of antibodies to conserved sequences of these very variable proteins in a population living in an area endemic for falciparum malaria. Using the ELISA method, we were able to measure an antibody response to three synthetic peptides derived from conserved regions of PfEMP1. The antibody responses to these peptides increased with age and were higher in individuals with asymptomatic P. falciparum infection compared to individuals presenting with fever attributable to falciparum malaria. This indicates that antibodies recognising the conserved regions of PfEMP1 arise upon exposure to the parasite, and that these may be involved in the development of protection against malaria. Antibodies to the Pfalhesin peptide of the human aniontransporter, band3, were measured by the same method. The magnitude of this antibody response did not correlate with neither age nor clinical protection.

AB - The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family of protein antigens are involved in adhesion of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes to the capillary endothelium of the host. Antibodies to variable regions of these proteins, measured by agglutination, correlates with clinical protection against falciparum malaria. In this study we investigated the occurrence of antibodies to conserved sequences of these very variable proteins in a population living in an area endemic for falciparum malaria. Using the ELISA method, we were able to measure an antibody response to three synthetic peptides derived from conserved regions of PfEMP1. The antibody responses to these peptides increased with age and were higher in individuals with asymptomatic P. falciparum infection compared to individuals presenting with fever attributable to falciparum malaria. This indicates that antibodies recognising the conserved regions of PfEMP1 arise upon exposure to the parasite, and that these may be involved in the development of protection against malaria. Antibodies to the Pfalhesin peptide of the human aniontransporter, band3, were measured by the same method. The magnitude of this antibody response did not correlate with neither age nor clinical protection.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 9557953

VL - 60

SP - 121

EP - 126

JO - Immunology Letters

JF - Immunology Letters

SN - 0165-2478

IS - 2-3

ER -