Detection of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites by employing synthetic peptides.
A new achievement in the immunodiagnosis of malaria has been reached after the knowledge of the molecular structure of some plasmodial antigens has become available. One example is given by the repetitive immunodominant epitope of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein, which consists of 4 tandemly repeated aminoacids (Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro = NANP). A large synthetic peptide reproducing 40 NANP repeats, (NANP)40, has been shown to reproduce efficiently the native antigen in the CS protein and has been used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antisporozoite antibodies in individuals from malaria-endemic countries. This (NANP)40 ELISA has been employed in a longitudinal study in a rural community in Tanzania. The results obtained have shown (i) that the presence of anti-(NANP) antibodies is associated with a certain degree of protective immunity; and (ii) that genetic factors could play a role in the host immune responsiveness to (NANP). Such an ELISA can be easily applied to field research and can be useful for monitoring the immune status of populations participating, in the future, to malaria vaccination trials employing P. falciparum sporozoite peptides.
Del Giudice
G
G
WHO-Immunology Research and Training Centre, Department of Pathology, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Biro
S
S
Degrémont
A A
AA
Engers
H D
HD
Lambert
P H
PH
Pessi
A
A
Tougne
C
C
Verdini
A S
AS
Weiss
N
N
Tanner
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D013636:Tanzania; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D014612:Vaccines