Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites

TY - JOUR

T1 - Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites

AU - Bejon, Philip

AU - Turner, Louise

AU - Lavstsen, Thomas

AU - Cham, Gerald

AU - Olotu, Ally

AU - Drakeley, Chris J

AU - Lievens, Marc

AU - Vekemans, Johan

AU - Savarese, Barbara

AU - Lusingu, John

AU - von Seidlein, Lorenz

AU - Bull, Peter C

AU - Marsh, Kevin

AU - Theander, Thor G

PY - 2011/1/1

Y1 - 2011/1/1

N2 - Background: Malaria transmission may be considered to be homogenous with well-mixed parasite populations (as in the classic Ross/Macdonald models). Marked fine-scale heterogeneity of transmission has been observed in the field (i.e., over a few kilometres), but there are relatively few data on the degree of mixing. Since the Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) is highly polymorphic, the host's serological responses may be used to infer exposure to parasite sub-populations. Methods and Findings: We measured the antibody responses to 46 individual PfEMP1 domains at four time points among 450 children in Kenya, and identified distinct spatial clusters of antibody responses to individual domains. 35 domains showed strongly significant sero-clusters at p = 0.001. Individuals within the high transmission hotspot showed the greatest diversity of anti-PfEMP1 responses. Individuals outside the hotspot had a less diverse range of responses, even if as individuals they were at relatively intense exposure. Conclusions: We infer that antigenically distinct sub-populations of parasites exist on a fine spatial scale in a study area of rural Kenya. Further studies should examine antigenic variation over longer periods of time and in different study areas.

AB - Background: Malaria transmission may be considered to be homogenous with well-mixed parasite populations (as in the classic Ross/Macdonald models). Marked fine-scale heterogeneity of transmission has been observed in the field (i.e., over a few kilometres), but there are relatively few data on the degree of mixing. Since the Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) is highly polymorphic, the host's serological responses may be used to infer exposure to parasite sub-populations. Methods and Findings: We measured the antibody responses to 46 individual PfEMP1 domains at four time points among 450 children in Kenya, and identified distinct spatial clusters of antibody responses to individual domains. 35 domains showed strongly significant sero-clusters at p = 0.001. Individuals within the high transmission hotspot showed the greatest diversity of anti-PfEMP1 responses. Individuals outside the hotspot had a less diverse range of responses, even if as individuals they were at relatively intense exposure. Conclusions: We infer that antigenically distinct sub-populations of parasites exist on a fine spatial scale in a study area of rural Kenya. Further studies should examine antigenic variation over longer periods of time and in different study areas.

KW - Aging

KW - Animals

KW - Antibody Formation

KW - Cluster Analysis

KW - Humans

KW - Infant

KW - Malaria

KW - Plasmodium falciparum

KW - Principal Component Analysis

KW - Protozoan Proteins

KW - Serologic Tests

KW - Time Factors

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0021711

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0021711

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21747921

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 6

SP - e21711

JO - PLoS Computational Biology

JF - PLoS Computational Biology

IS - 6

ER -