High prevalence of human antibodies to recombinant Duffy binding-like alpha domains of the Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte membrane protein 1 in semi-immune adults compared to that in nonimmune children

Infect Immun. 2001 Dec;69(12):7603-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.69.12.7603-7609.2001.

Abstract

We used a panel of nine fusion proteins that contain different Duffy binding-like alpha (DBL-alpha) domains of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte membrane protein 1 to assess the levels of antibody activity in serum samples obtained from semi-immune or nonimmune individuals from Lambaréné, Gabon. Recognition was measured in terms of either the prevalence or the magnitude of the response. A strong correlation between the immune status of the patients and reactivity with recombinant proteins was observed, which was interpreted as a reflection of the number of infections acquired over time. The antibody responses were predominantly directed toward variable epitopes of the DBL-alpha domain. Antibody responses could be reduced by preincubation of the sera with various fusion proteins. A portion of individuals who exhibited high-level responses to all fusion proteins also had antibodies which recognized conserved epitopes. The possibility that a synergizing effect of anti-DBL-alpha domain antibodies could support chemotherapy is discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Binding Sites
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Duffy Blood-Group System / immunology*
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / immunology*
  • Gabon
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Malaria, Falciparum / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Duffy Blood-Group System
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF366354
  • GENBANK/AF366355
  • GENBANK/AF366356
  • GENBANK/AF366357
  • GENBANK/AF366359
  • GENBANK/AF366360
  • GENBANK/AF366361
  • GENBANK/AY028941
  • PIR/AF366358