Selective recognition of malaria antigens by human serum antibodies is not genetically determined but demonstrates some features of clonal imprinting.
Malaria infection induces the production of serum antibodies to a variety of malaria antigens but the prevalence of antibodies to any particular antigen is typically much less than 100%. It has been assumed that non-responsiveness to defined antigens in malaria immune subjects is due to HLS-mediated restriction of the immune response. In this study we have investigated the role of HLA and non-HLA genes in the antibody response to two merozoite surface antigens (MSP1 and MSP2) and a sexual stage antigen (Ps260/230) of Plasmodium falciparum, and conclude that host genotype is not a major determinant of responsiveness. Although antibody levels vary in accordance with seasonal variations in malaria transmission in semi-immune children, antibody levels remain stable in clinically immune adults. Antigen recognition is selective with individual donors showing consistent high titre responses to some antigens/epitopes whilst consistently failing to recognize adjacent regions/epitopes of the same protein. An alternative explanation, consistent with the data presented here, is that selective antibody responses to malaria antigens in immune individuals result from a process akin to clonal imprinting (original antigenic sin).
Taylor
R R
RR
Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.
Egan
A
A
McGuinness
D
D
Jepson
A
A
Adair
R
R
Drakely
C
C
Riley
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins