Human antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 2 is serogroup specific and predominantly of the immunoglobulin G3 subclass.
MSP2 is a merozoite surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum and, as such, is a potential component of a malaria vaccine. In this study, we have used a panel of recombinant MSP2 antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to investigate the recognition of MSP2 by antibodies from malaria-immune human serum. These recombinant antigens include full-length proteins of serogroups A and B and fragments representing the conserved, group-specific, or repeat regions of each serogroup. Ninety-five percent of the serum samples tested contained MSP2-specific antibodies: 81% of serum samples tested responded to serogroup A, and 86% responded to serogroup B. The antibody response is directed almost exclusively towards dimorphic and polymorphic regions of MSP2; the conserved regions are rarely recognized, and antibodies to serogroups A and B do not cross-react. Interestingly, the antibody response is predominately of the cytophilic and complement-fixing subclass immunoglobulin G3.
Taylor
R R
RR
Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Scotland.
Smith
D B
DB
Robinson
V J
VJ
McBride
J S
JS
Riley
E M
EM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012703:Serotyping
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C065974:merozoite surface protein 2, Plasmodium