title: Humoral immune responses in Gambians to Pfs16, an immunodominant, Plasmodium falciparum integral membrane protein.
abstract: Naturally acquired humoral immune responses to Pfs16, an integral membrane protein expressed in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and sporozoites, were investigated in The Gambia. A high prevalence of antibodies to this molecule was detected by peptide ELISA. Ninety-three per cent of the people taking part in a survey at the end of the rainy season (November) had serum antibodies to one or more synthetic peptides spanning the sequence: 88% reacted with one particular peptide sequence (IMLIILSGIVGFKVK) whereas only one out of ten non-Gambians (taking anti-malarial prophylaxis with no history of infection) reacted with the peptide. Epitope mapping with mouse MoAbs has shown that this peptide is located on a part of the molecule differing from immunodominant regions of the molecule identified in a previous study in Papua New Guinea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Drakeley
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lulat
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Targett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C068959:Pfs16 protein, Plasmodium falciparum