Cytokine response to pregnancy-associated recrudescence of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice with pre-existing immunity to malaria

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

During childhood, residents of areas with stable transmission of Plasmodium falciparum parasites acquire substantial protective immunity to malaria, and adults therefore rarely experience clinical disease episodes. However, susceptibility to infection reappears in pregnant women, particularly primigravidae. This is due to appearance of antigenic parasite variants that are restricted to pregnancy. Variant-specific immunity also governs pregnancy-associated recrudescence of Plasmodium berghei infection in pregnant mice. Pregnancy-related changes in the plasma cytokine levels of mice with immunity acquired prior to first pregnancy have not been studied in detail previously, and were the topic of the present study.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftMalaria Journal
Vol/bind12
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)387
ISSN1475-2875
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 nov. 2013

ID: 80639167