The age-specific prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in migrants to Irian Jaya is not attributable to agglutinating antibody repertoire.
Previous observations have shown that individuals migrating from a malaria free area to a malaria endemic region in North Eastern Irian Jaya quickly acquire anti-parasite immunity, in an age-dependent manner. Sera from migrants and long-term residents in this area were examined for their ability to agglutinate a range of Plasmodium falciparum isolates and to disrupt erythrocyte rosettes. Antibody responses to merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) and ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) were also determined. The range of isolates agglutinated by sera from the migrants approached that seen in long-term residents. No difference was found between migrant adults and children in the range of agglutinating antibody, size of agglutinates, nor disruption of rosettes. Anti-MSP2 and anti-RESA antibodies were the only factors examined which showed a correlation with age. We conclude that although antibody to parasite neoantigens expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes may play a role in the acquisition of immunity, the humoral response to other P. falciparum antigens is more likely to account for the age-dependent prevalence of parasitaemia observed.
Reeder
J C
JC
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria. reeder@wehi.edu.au.
Davern
K M
KM
Baird
J K
JK
Rogerson
S J
SJ
Brown
G V
GV
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D002648:Child; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C065974:merozoite surface protein 2, Plasmodium; C050256:ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA), Plasmodium falciparum