Specific antibody responses against membrane proteins of erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium falciparum of individuals briefly exposed to malaria

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Fusai Thierry, Lefranc Didier, Rogier Christophe, Durand Claude, Fourquet Patrick, Belghazi Maya, Villard Claude, Bourdon Stéphanie, Pophillat Matthieu, Fontaine Albin, Almeras Lionel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic; Traveller
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-9-276; https://doaj.org/article/52c921cc20f24d0ebfae1f12fd37237c

Abstract Background Plasmodium falciparum infections could lead to severe malaria, principally in non-immune individuals as children and travellers from countries exempted of malaria. Severe malaria is often associated with the sequestration of P. falciparum -infected erythrocytes in deep micro-vascular beds via interactions between host endothelial receptors and parasite ligands expressed on the surface of the infected erythrocyte. Although, serological responses from individuals living in endemic areas against proteins expressed at surface of the infected erythrocyte have been largely studied, seldom data are available about the specific targets of antibody response from travellers. Methods In order to characterize antigens recognized by traveller sera, a comparison of IgG immune response against membrane protein extracts from uninfected and P. falciparum -infected red blood cells (iRBC), using immunoblots, was performed between non exposed individuals ( n = 31 ) and briefly exposed individuals (BEI) (n = 38 ) to malaria transmission. Results Immune profile analysis indicated that eight protein bands from iRBC were significantly detected more frequently in the BEI group. Some of these antigenic proteins were identified by an original immuno-proteomic approach. Conclusion Collectively, these data may be useful to characterize the singular serological immune response against a primary malaria infection in individuals briefly exposed to transmission.