Age-related prevalence of antibody response against three different, defined Plasmodium falciparum antigens in children from the Haut-Ogooué province in Gabon.
The kinetics of the humoral response to defined Plasmodium falciparum antigens was studied in 543 children, 1 month to 15 years old, living in an area endemic for malaria. The antigens used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were (i) the synthetic peptide (NANP)40 representing the immunodominant repeated region of the circumsporozoite protein, and (ii) the fusion peptide 31.1, representing the N-terminal portion of the 83 kDa polypeptide expressed at the surface of merozoites which is a processed product of the 190-200 kDa glycoprotein. In addition, glutaraldehyde-fixed infected red blood cells (RBC) were used to detect ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) and unfixed infected RBC to detect intra-erythrocytic asexual form (IEF) antigens by immunofluorescence. In the 1 to 2 months age group, 50%, 26% and 21% of the children had antibodies for IEF, (NANP)40 and 31.1 respectively, but none had anti-RESA antibodies. The proportions of positive subjects decreased until 3 to 6 months and then increased progressively for the 4 antigens, approaching, but not reaching, adult values by the age of 15 years. Antibodies against specific antigens were acquired concomitantly. Children born from (NANP)40-positive mothers showed enhanced anti-(NANP)40 IgG responses.
Chizzolini
C
C
Centre International de Recherches Médicales, Franceville, Gabon.
Delaporte
E
E
Kaufmann
M H
MH
Akue
J P
JP
Verdini
A S
AS
Pessi
A
A
del Giudice
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D001386:Azides / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005681:Gabon; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001386:Azides; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C050256:ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA), Plasmodium falciparum; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; C044823:N-4-azido-2-nitrophenylpyridoxyl-5-phosphate