title: Identification of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 in the plasma of humans with malaria.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP-2) is a water-soluble protein released from parasitized erythrocytes into in vitro culture supernatants. This study sought to determine whether PfHRP-2 could be detected in the plasma of humans with P. falciparum malaria. A monoclonal antibody (1E1) is described that binds to PfHRP-2. By using monoclonal antibody 1E1, PfHRP-2 was identified by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis in the plasma of 37 of 39 (95%) patients experiencing either a first or repeat episodes of P. falciparum malaria and by dot blot analysis in the plasma of 40 of 41 patients tested. PfHRP-2 was not detected in 30 control, uninfected subjects. The current demonstration of PfHRP-2 in plasma, plus the fact that it is a structurally well-characterized molecule present in all natural isolates of P. falciparum tested, makes PfHRP-2 of interest for its potential effects on the host immune system and as an antigen for specific diagnosis of malaria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011506:Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein