Overlapping antigenic repertoires of variant antigens expressed on the surface of erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium falciparum

TY - JOUR

T1 - Overlapping antigenic repertoires of variant antigens expressed on the surface of erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium falciparum

AU - Giha, H A

AU - Staalsoe, T

AU - Dodoo, D

AU - Elhassan, I M

AU - Roper, C

AU - Satti, G M

AU - Arnot, D E

AU - Hviid, L

AU - Theander, T G

N1 - Keywords: Antibodies, Protozoan; Antibody Specificity; Antigenic Variation; Antigens, Protozoan; Erythrocyte Membrane; Erythrocytes; Flow Cytometry; Genotype; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Malaria, Falciparum; Protozoan Proteins; Rural Population; Seasons; Sudan

PY - 1999

Y1 - 1999

N2 - Antibodies against variable antigens expressed on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes are believed to be important for protection against malaria. A target for these antibodies is the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1, PfEMP1, which is encoded by around 50 var genes and undergoes clonal variation. Using agglutination and mixed agglutination tests and flow cytometry to analyse the recognition of variant antigens on parasitized erythrocytes by plasma antibodies from individuals living in Daraweesh in eastern Sudan, an area of seasonal and unstable malaria transmission, we show that these antibodies recognize different variant antigens expressed by parasites of different genotype. Comparing the levels and acquisition of antibody to variant antigens in pairs of parasite isolates expressing different variant types, there is a correlation between the acquisition of antibodies to some combinations of variant antigens but not to others. These results indicate that (1) a single infection will induce the production of antibodies recognizing several variants of surface-expressed antigens, (2) the repertoire of variable antigens expressed by different parasites is overlapping and the degree of overlap differs between isolates, and (3) the expression of at least some variant antigens is genetically linked.

AB - Antibodies against variable antigens expressed on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes are believed to be important for protection against malaria. A target for these antibodies is the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1, PfEMP1, which is encoded by around 50 var genes and undergoes clonal variation. Using agglutination and mixed agglutination tests and flow cytometry to analyse the recognition of variant antigens on parasitized erythrocytes by plasma antibodies from individuals living in Daraweesh in eastern Sudan, an area of seasonal and unstable malaria transmission, we show that these antibodies recognize different variant antigens expressed by parasites of different genotype. Comparing the levels and acquisition of antibody to variant antigens in pairs of parasite isolates expressing different variant types, there is a correlation between the acquisition of antibodies to some combinations of variant antigens but not to others. These results indicate that (1) a single infection will induce the production of antibodies recognizing several variants of surface-expressed antigens, (2) the repertoire of variable antigens expressed by different parasites is overlapping and the degree of overlap differs between isolates, and (3) the expression of at least some variant antigens is genetically linked.

U2 - 10.1017/S0031182099004485

DO - 10.1017/S0031182099004485

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 10446700

SN - 0031-1820

VL - 119 ( Pt 1)

SP - 7

EP - 17

JO - Parasitology

JF - Parasitology

ER -