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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
The dynamics of naturally acquired immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage antigens Pfs230 & Pfs48/45 in a low endemic area in Tanzania
PLoS ONE, Volume 5, No. 11, Article e14114, Year 2010
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Description
Background: Naturally acquired immune responses against sexual stages of P. falciparum can reduce the transmission of malaria from humans to mosquitoes. These antigens are candidate transmission-blocking vaccines but little is known about the acquisition of sexual stage immunity after exposure to gametocytes, or their longevity and functionality. We conducted a longitudinal study on functional sexual stage immune responses. Methodology/Principal Findings: Parasitaemic individuals (n = 116) were recruited at a health centre in Lower Moshi, Tanzania. Patients presented with gametocytes (n = 16), developed circulating gametocytes by day 7 (n = 69) or between day 7 and 14 (n = 10) after treatment or did not develop gametocytes (n = 21). Serum samples were collected on the first day of gametocytaemia and 28 and 84 days post-enrolment (or d7, 28, 84 after enrolment from gametocyte-negative individuals). Antibody responses to sexual stage antigens Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 were detected in 20.7% (72/348) and 15.2% (53/348) of the samples, respectively, and were less prevalent than antibodies against asexual stage antigens MSP-119 (48.1%; 137/285) and AMA-1 (52.4%; 129/246)(p<0.001). The prevalence of anti-Pfs230 (p = 0.026) and anti-Pfs48/45 antibodies (p = 0.017) increased with longer duration of gametocyte exposure and had an estimated half-life of approximately 3 months. Membrane feeding experiments demonstrated a strong association between the prevalence and concentration of Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 antibodies and transmission reducing activity (TRA, p<0.01). Conclusions/Significance: In a longitudinal study, anti-Pfs230 and Pf48/45 antibodies developed rapidly after exposure to gametocytes and were strongly associated with transmission-reducing activity. Our data indicate that the extent of antigen exposure is important in eliciting functional transmission-reducing immune responses. © 2010 Bousema et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Bousema, Teun
Unknown Affiliation
Roeffen, Will F.G.
Unknown Affiliation
Meijerink, Hinta
Unknown Affiliation
Mwerinde, H.
Unknown Affiliation
Mwakalinga, Steven B.
Unknown Affiliation
van Gemert, Geert Jan A.
Unknown Affiliation
van de Vegte-Bolmer, Marga G.
Unknown Affiliation
Mosha, Franklin W.
Unknown Affiliation
Targett, Geoffrey A.T.
Unknown Affiliation
Riley, Eleanor M.
Unknown Affiliation
Sauerwein, Robert W.
Unknown Affiliation
Drakeley, Chris J.
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 84
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0014114
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Tanzania