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Erythrocytes infected with mature stages of Plasmodium falciparum express variant surface antigens (VSAs) of parasite origin, including P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1. Anti-VSA antibodies protect against clinical malaria caused by parasites bearing VSAs to which they are specific (homologous), but their role in protecting against heterologous infection is unclear. Here, we report that, among 256 Kenyan children involved in a 1-year active case surveillance study, asymptomatic parasitemia was associated with an enlarged repertoire of anti-VSA immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies specific to apparently heterologous parasite isolates, as measured by flow cytometry. Together, asymptomatic infection and anti-VSA IgG were associated with reduced odds of experiencing an episode of clinical malaria during follow-up, whereas, independently, they were associated with increased susceptibility. These results support previous findings and underline the importance of considering the parasitological status of study participants when examining the role that immune responses to VSAs and other malaria antigens play.

Original publication

DOI

10.1086/424675

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Infect Dis

Publication Date

01/11/2004

Volume

190

Pages

1527 - 1533

Keywords

Animals, Antibodies, Protozoan, Antigens, Protozoan, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Erythrocyte Membrane, Erythrocytes, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Infant, Kenya, Malaria, Parasitemia, Plasmodium falciparum, Protozoan Proteins